7 TIPS ON MARKETING

YOUR CATERING BUSINESS

By Anthony Franco

Marketing Your Catering Business

Detailed action plan - contains the specific

strategies and techniques that you need to take to

let everyone know how enticing your products and

services are

Marketing plan – should spell-out what you should

do to deliver and disseminate your marketing

message

1. Analyze your target market

Gather as much significant data as possible that

should provide details on the following:

Size/extent of your market

Possibilities for growth

Competition

Market trends that might affect your operations

2. Consider your marketing promotional budget.

It is a rule of thumb that your

promotional budget shouldn’t

be as much as 10 percent of

your first year’s revenue.

While a lot of people already

consider this as a high

marketing budget, it’s a risk

worth taking because the

moment you’ve established

your name and credibility, the

money will start rolling in.

3. Marketing your business plan

There’s no room for a mediocre marketing plan.

Don’t cut corners and make sure you invest in value-

for-money advertising.

Spend it in the most efficient and productive manner

possible.

Bet on building a good, solid reputation first and

financial compensation will follow later on.

4. Being sensitive to your client’s needs

Running a catering business is also running a services

business and you’re only as good as your last event.

You will eventually meet a lot of personalities:

demanding clients who want only the best, to those

queer ones who would ask you to prepare for exotic

cuisines.

5. Provide added services

You could offer package deals to your client. For example, if

you are catering for weddings, you can offer to take charge

of the floral arrangements, venues, and other facets other than

the food.

6. Learn how to network

Another way of spreading words about your catering business is by joining chambers of commerce, charitable/civic events, church groups, as well as online forums and channels.

Note you’re not here to directly sell your business. Your goal is to establish your presence and build your relationships with other businesses and even prospective clients.

When they’re ready to take advantage of your service, it’s the time when they’ll contact you.

7. Get the Right Tools

The right tools,

facilities and

equipment will really

help you in marketing

your business.

With the right equipment, such as having a catering

software, you can get the confidence of your clients

because they know you can take care of their needs

and provide them with a world-class service that’s

beyond compare.

As the Product Specialist of Better Cater, I’m working hard to develop catering software that will give the caterers power to control food cost and give you the ability, knowledge, and confidence to do your job perfectly and to your specification.

-Anthony Franco

Product Specialist, Better Cater

www.bettercater.com