How to Start a Catering Business
in 2026
📅 Last updated: March 07, 2026
Catering turns a passion for food into serious business income. Corporate lunch contracts, weddings, and private events can each generate $500-$15,000 per booking. Here's how to launch and fill your calendar.
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A catering business can go from home kitchen to first paid event in under a month. Niche focus and venue relationships build the fastest.
Get Your Food Handler Certification
Food safety certification is required before you can legally cater events for pay in most states.
- Food handler permit - Required for anyone handling food commercially. $10-$30. Available online in most states.
- Food manager certification - ServSafe or equivalent. Required for catering businesses in most states. $15-$150.
- Commercial kitchen access - Most states require food businesses to operate from a licensed commercial kitchen. Research shared kitchen facilities in your area.
- Cottage food laws - Some states allow home kitchen operations for low-risk foods. Check your state's specific rules.
Define Your Catering Niche
Picking a niche lets you market more efficiently and charge more.
- Corporate catering - Lunch meetings, office parties, training sessions. Recurring weekly contracts possible. $15-$35 per person.
- Wedding and event catering - Highest per-event revenue. $75-$150+ per person.
- Specialty or dietary-focused - Vegan, gluten-free, allergen-conscious. Premium pricing, less competition.
- Breakfast and brunch catering - Morning meetings and bridal events. High volume potential with right clients.
Equip Your Kitchen
Start with essentials and rent specialty equipment for large events.
- Commercial sheet pans and hotel pans - Foundation of volume cooking. $200-$600.
- Chafing dishes and sternos - For buffet service. $300-$800 for a full set.
- Transport containers (Cambros) - Insulated for hot and cold. $200-$500.
- Serving equipment - Tongs, spoons, ladles. $150-$400.
- Rental relationships - Tables, linens, and specialty items from local event rental companies.
Set Your Pricing
Price to cover food cost (28-35% of revenue), labor, equipment, and profit margin.
- Buffet style (per person): $15-$45 depending on menu complexity
- Plated dinner (per person): $50-$150+
- Corporate box lunch: $15-$30 per person
- Minimum order: Set at $300-$500 to make small orders profitable
- Target gross margin: 40%+ after food cost, labor, and supplies
Build Your Booking Pipeline
Venues, wedding planners, and corporate offices are your best referral sources.
- Venue partnerships - Become a preferred caterer at local event venues. They refer every event they host.
- Wedding planners - One relationship generates 10-30 bookings per year.
- Google Business Profile - "Catering near me" searches generate strong leads. Food photos and reviews drive conversion.
- Corporate office outreach - Direct email to office managers at companies with 20+ employees for recurring lunch orders.
Execute Flawlessly and Get Reviews
Catering reputation is everything. One great event leads to 10 referrals.
- Pre-event confirmation - Confirm all details 48 hours before. Guest count, dietary restrictions, timing.
- Arrive early - Buffer time for setup. Rushed setup leads to mistakes.
- Photograph everything - Beautiful food photos are your best marketing. Document every event.
- Request reviews immediately - Text within 24 hours of a successful event.
Corporate catering clients are your most valuable accounts. One company ordering weekly lunch is worth $15,000-$40,000 per year in recurring revenue.
Bizzby sends automatic review requests and follow-up for repeat bookingsEquipment is your biggest investment. Start lean and scale as revenue grows.
| Item | Budget Start | Professional Setup |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial kitchen access/rental | $200/mo | $800/mo |
| Chafing dishes and buffet equipment | $300 | $1,200 |
| Transport containers (Cambros) | $200 | $600 |
| Serving equipment and smallwares | $150 | $500 |
| Food handler/manager certification | $50 | $200 |
| Business registration (LLC) | varies by state | varies by state |
| General liability insurance | varies by state | varies by state |
| Business license | $50 | $200 |
| Marketing (website, photos, cards) | $200 | $1,500 |
| Business operations (Bizzby) | $199/mo (Starter) | $499/mo (Scale) |
| Total | ~$5,000 | ~$20,000 |
Income scales with event volume and type. Corporate recurring clients and wedding catering are the highest-value niches.
Catering pricing varies by event type, head count, and service level. Price to achieve 40%+ gross margins.
Follow this plan and you'll have paying clients within your first month.
Week 1-2: Foundation
- Complete food handler and manager certification
- Identify and book commercial kitchen access
- Register LLC and get EIN
- Get general liability insurance including product liability
- Set up Google Business Profile with food photos
- Create menu packages and pricing guide
- Build initial portfolio (cook and photograph)
Week 3-4: Launch
- Contact 10 local event venues about preferred caterer status
- Reach out to 5 wedding planners
- Direct outreach to 15 local businesses about corporate lunch
- Post in local Facebook groups and Nextdoor
- Set up online booking and inquiry form
- Book 3 trial events for photos and reviews
- Land your first paid booking 🎉
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