The Definitive Guide to Starting a Catering Business in Mississauga

You have always wanted to have your own catering business but you’re wondering how to start the business and how to grow it? Well, you are in the right place because this article will cover everything you need to know about starting a catering business in Mississauga, Ontario and how to grow it step by step.

What kind of food service business do I want?

Catering is an umbrella term that can refer to many different types of food service businesses. With so many options, it can be tough to decide which one will be the best fit for you. But by considering the following factors, you should be able to find a catering business in Mississauga that perfectly suits your needs.

Licensing, permits and regulations

If you are thinking about starting a catering business, you will need to make sure that you have the proper licenses and permits. For example, if you are creating cakes or other products for sale at your catering event, then you will need to be registered with the Canada Food Inspection Agency.

Get your staff on board

Finding reliable staff is one of the most difficult tasks for any restaurateur. You will have many decisions to make, including determining where you find your kitchen workers and servers, how much you should pay them, what benefits they will get and what hours they should work. Without qualified staff, it's impossible to run a successful catering business.

Finding customers

When you are starting a catering business, it's important to first decide who your customers will be. If you're catering for corporate functions, for example, you might want to advertise on LinkedIn and similar platforms. If your business is geared more towards private events like weddings or retirement parties, the best way to get customers is word of mouth and by getting good reviews on websites like Yelp.