So you think you want to be a caterer?

Working out of your home

Your business plan

The legal aspects of your catering business

Setting prices, estimating quantities, and writing proposals

Sales and marketing

Using photos and recipes effectively to sell your home-catering business

Crunching the numbers

Setting the stage for a successful party

Pulling it off with ease

Solving problems

Catering menus and quantity recipes.

So You Think You Want to Be a Caterer?

Do You Have What It Takes?

Opportunities in Catering

Hotels

Airlines

Private Parties

Local Markets and Stores

Special Events

Does It Pay to Go to Cooking School?

Apprenticeships: Learning by Doing

Learning from the Mistakes of Others

Learning from Your Own Mistakes

Getting Organized

Leaving the Security of a Job

Working Out of Your Home

Setting Up an Office

Training Family and Friends to Take You Seriously

Employing Family Members

Complying with City Ordinances

Working with Your Local Health Department

Sharing a Kitchen

Renting a Kitchen on a Per-Day Basis

Outfitting Your Kitchen

Smallwares and Utensils

Finding Used Equipment

What to Look for in a Good Knife

Setting Up Your Pantry

Transportation

Establishing Relationships with Wholesale Purveyors

Your Next Step

Writing a Business Plan

How to Structure Your Business

Writing a Business Plan

Writing the Summary Statement

Defining Your Niche

Drawing Your Organizational Chart

Describing Company Management and Operation

Your Marketing Plan

Creating a Menu

Crunching the Numbers

Projections for the Future

Business Books, Software, Videos, and On-line Resources

The Legal Aspects of Your Catering Business

Why You Need a Good Attorney

Insurance: Can't Live with the Premiums, Can't Live with the Risk

Start-Up Coverage

Product Liability Insurance

Public Liability Insurance

Workers' Compensation Insurance

Written Agreements and Contracts

Working with Subcontractors or Suppliers

Employees

Hiring Versus Leasing Employees

Employees Versus Independent Contractors

Labor Practices

Applications/Job Interviews

Job Descriptions/Policy Manuals

Becoming a Great Manager Booklist

Setting Prices, Estimating Quantities, and Writing Proposals

How to Price Your First Menus

Calculating Your Kitchen Labor

How to Estimate the Right Food Quantities

The Age-Group of the Guests

The Guests' Lifestyle

The Style of the Party

The Time of the Party

The Nature of the Party

Clients' Concern about Running Out of Food

Quoting Other Party Costs

Estimating Wait Staff

Disposables

Floral, Decor, and Subcontractors' Services

The Art of Bidding and Writing a Proposal

How to Stay Profitable When You're Working with a Fixed Price

Closing the Deal

From Computer Software to the Internet: High-Tech Help for Caterers

Sales and Marketing

Sell, Sell, Sell

Defining Your Niche

Social Catering

Corporate Catering

Community Affairs

Choosing a Name and Logo

Designing Promotional Pieces

Making Your Menus Part of Your Marketing Program

Standing Out from the Crowd

Keeping a Portfolio

Putting Together a Promotional Kit

Drumming Up Business

Twenty-five Do-It-Yourself Marketing and Sales Tips

Getting Referrals and Repeat Business

Advertising

Tracking Your Success

Inexpensive Pamphlets from the Small Business Administration

Crunching the Numbers

Making Good Use of Your Accountant

Accounting Systems

Buying Computers and Software

Invoicing

The Artist Versus the Businessperson: Why So Many Caterers Fail

Setting the Stage for a Successful Party

Before the Party

Organizing Your Time and the Party Setup

The Menu and Start-up

Scheduling Staff and Assistants

Arranging Transportation and Packing Out Your Party

Getting Down to the Wire

Pulling It Off with Ease

The Day of the Party

Getting to the Party

Arriving at the Party Site

Winding Down: Why Your Party Has to End on Time

Report Cards from Staff and Clients

How a Staff Report Works

The Day After

Two Days Later

Three Days Later

Two Weeks Later

Solving Problems

Catering Menus and Quantity Recipes

Catering Menus

Baby Shower Buffet Lunch Recipes

Business Lunch Recipes

Traditional Holiday Dinner Recipes

Hors d'Oeuvres Cocktail Party Recipes

Elegant Garden Wedding Recipes

Culinary Schooling/Education

Trade Shows.