Frequently
Asked Questions
I love to cook
and have thought about catering, but have never had any formal
training – does that matter?
| Have
you ever heard of Martha Stewart? Well, she started out
of her home kitchen with absolutely no formal training
in cooking. And by the way, so did Kim Bailey, the founder
of Innovative Catering Concepts. It is ICC’s job
to teach you the business…and you’ll be shocked
at just how easy it is to get started in this incredible
industry. |
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You
make it sound so simple. Is it really that easy to get into
the catering business?
Absolutely.
Let us be clear, catering is hard work and long hours, but
what worthwhile isn’t. However, it’s the easiest
business in the world to get into – and probably the
best money-maker. All you need is a kitchen and the drive
to make money.
Ok, let’s
cut to the chase. How much money can I really expect to make?
Catering is a multi-billion dollar business. Is it your desire
to make an annual income of $25,000 or $250,000? It’s
totally up to you. Your earning potential is limitless. You
can start out as fast or as slow as you want; for you control
your own destiny in this business. Work one day a week or
all seven…you decide.
It’s entirely possible to work just one weekend night
a week for 6 months and make $35k to $75k a year. What a great
way to supplement your existing income. You can gradually
begin working a couple of days a month – or every day.
That’s the beauty of this business. You are the boss!
Cooking has never
been my forte, but I do have a sense of style for decorating
and making a table and the food look great – can I still
be in the catering business?
| Certainly.
Many caterers and restaurant owners don’t know how
to cook – and never want to learn either…yet,
are very successful in the food industry. Be assured,
the quality and taste of the food is critical to your
overall success – but you can find a good cook.
Mr. Bailey knew how to cook, but he didn’t know
how to make a beautiful presentation – so he found
someone who did. It’s that simple – if you
don’t know how to do something, hire or partner
with someone who does. Do what you do best, and let someone
else do the rest. |
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How much equipment
will I have to buy?
Very little. Kim Bailey started with a hand-held mixer, a
couple of sheet pans and a few other items that he bought
at Sam’s Club, all for under $100. As his business grew
– he added equipment.
Is it better to
work out of my home, or secure a business location?
That’s a great question. Both have definite benefits.
But frankly, it depends on you, your overall objectives, and
of course, your finances. More often than not, our advice
is to start small and build – it’s always easier
and less expensive to increase than it is to scale down. However,
we consult with many people that know they are going to make
this their life’s business – and want to move
forward with gusto…for those people, we suggest securing
a location.
If I open a catering
company in a business location, do I want to be in a high-traffic
area?
No,
not at all. Unlike a restaurant, you don’t need
a high-visibility location. Since you will deal with your
clients over the phone or email, you can be located in
a less expensive space or complex.
There are many caterers who want to offer fresh daily
“Pick-Up & Take-Home” meals in addition
to catering – if that is the case, an easy access
high-traffic location is more suitable for success. |
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Is the catering
business seasonal?
Catering
is a year-round business opportunity. It is less busy during
the summer months of June, July, and August – which
is perfect for vacations. But if you plan on offering wedding
catering, summer is a very busy season. And if you offer corporate
lunch catering, you’ll stay busy throughout the year.
Catering is the absolute best business, for you can accept
or decline any job you desire.
Can I offer Food
Travel Tours through my catering company?
Sure
you can. Think how wonderful it will be to travel to Tuscany
or San Francisco with a fun group on an eating and cooking
extravaganza…and have all your expenses paid. We’ll
show you how.
If I’m going
to make a profit, isn’t it important to buy cheap food?
In
real estate, they say that the three most important things
to remember is: “location, location, location.”
Well, the three most important things to remember in the catering
and restaurant business are: “Ingredients, Ingredients,
Ingredients.” GREAT food begins with GREAT & FRESH
ingredients. We are going to show you how and where to buy
your food – and how to cut costs without cutting quality.
What is your fee?
Because
we want to talk with you and evaluate your desires and needs,
we discuss our fees on an individual basis. However, you could
recoup our complete package fee by the profits you’ll
receive off just one or two catering event(s)…which
by the way, we are going to be on-site with you for your first
event.
How do I get started?
Give
us a call, or send us an email.
It’s that simple.
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