You may begin your own catering service business, which can be financially rewarding and enjoyable. You may do this business in a full or part time basis because events that you may cater may vary from the service they will get from you. In this kind of business, opportunities are very great and there are a lot more benefits that you may not expect.
Every catered occasion can be a new experience to meet different kinds of people from all lifestyles. It is important that you have the stamina and the ability to work under pressure because of the demanding work that awaits you. You may need the help of some friends first before you may hire employees who are experienced in this kind of field.
It is a requirement for a catering business to have a license to operate like those permits that are issued to food establishments that have also catering services as well. Catering services are inspected by the Board of Health to see if they have the right materials and the capacity to prepare and handle food that is safe to the public.
You may get your license at the local Health Department. You have to apply first before you obtain the permit to operate a business catering service. An inspection will be needed to check if you will pass the food sanitation requirements. After you have acquired your license, there will be regular check-up routines to ensure that you will sustain cleanliness and sanitation of your catering service.
There are states that require a catering service must have a separate area for the food operation and the kitchen facility of the house. This is important because they will not issue a license if you have a set up wherein they may see food sanitation is not your priority. If you want to remodel the set up, you must pass the plans and remodeled features to the Health Department for confirmation that you are following the required construction to your home facilities and to your food operation area.
It is important to target your market in this business if you are given the permit to operate already. Know your competition and be aware of their strengths and weaknesses. If you are stable with your finances, you may hire applicants that are experienced in this kind of business.
There are two things that no business can do without in order to grow or even just survive. Without employees and customers there essentially is no business and all owners are in a constant battle to retain both. Unfortunately, many business owners do not see this need as important and make some common mistakes that cause them to lose both on a regular basis.
Employee turn over is not new and it is unlikely that any business will ever have a 100 percent retention rate. Between retirements, employees striking out on the own or winning the lottery can never want to work again and these are some of the voluntary reasons people have for leaving an otherwise good job. There is little that employers can do to prevent this type of turn over, but the employees will still have to be replaced. There is what some employers consider good turn over, when a bad hiring decision was made and an employee has a negative attitude that is affecting the morale and productivity of others.
The cost of employee turn over can be high, considering that many employment experts put a price tag of between $2,000 and $3,000 on the search and training efforts to add each new employee. That is just getting them on the job, trained and ready to work and does not consider how long it takes to make them productive enough to become an asset.
Numerous employment surveys have shown that while money is important to many employees, there are other things employers can do to keep them happy, productive and on the job. One of the most common complaints from employees is a lack of training to enable them to fulfill their job duties to the employers expectations. Feeling that they cannot do their job properly leads many to seek out other opportunities.
Feeling appreciated for the job they do is another major complaint among employees and while they may be doing exactly what they are paid to do, just want to know that the boss knows they are there and doing it. Many employers only thank employees if they go above and beyond their normal job description duties, saying they are paid to some to work every day and do their job. Employees agree that yes, that is their responsibility but there is no incentive to do anything extra. Incentive can come from a certificate of appreciation or a certificate of attendance.
Customers are another matter in which some company owners fail to recognize the importance of keeping them happy. Studies have shown that when a customer is happy with a company they tell three or four of their friends. However, if a complaint is not resolved they will tell a dozen or so and word of mouth advertising can go both ways to help or hurt a business. The customer may not always be right, but the owner needs to make them think that they are by making them feel important enough to take the time to explain to them why they are being told no.
Both Ken Charnley & Obinna Heche are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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