Find Business for Your Catering Business

A catering business is a wonderful way to make money, especially if you enjoy cooking. But once you have established your business and created your menu, the next step is to find clients. This may be challenging in the beginning, but if you use the right strategies, you will get more bookings and expand your business.

In this article, we will provide easy and effective ways to find business for your catering service.

Tell Your Friends and Family

Your first customers may be people whom you already know. Let your friends, family, and neighbours know that you have a catering business. You can share your menu with them and give them a small discount to give them a push to try your food.

Word of mouth is powerful. If your food is good, your friends and family will spread the word about your service. This may assist you in getting your first few jobs and earning your reputation.

Use Social Media

Social media is one of the best ways of advertising your catering service. Create pages on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Post photos and videos of your food, behind-the-scenes of you making meals, and customer reviews.

You do not need a large budget to start. Use your phone to snap exquisite pictures of your dishes. Ensure they are clear and they look appetising. Never delay responding to messages and comments, because people should feel welcome.

Tip: Use hashtags such as #CateringSouthAfrica or #EventCatering so that people find your business easily.

Create a WhatsApp Business Profile

WhatsApp Business is free and user-friendly. Using it, you can create a business profile that will have your menu, location, and contact information. You can also send messages to your customers, take orders, and share updates.

Create a broadcast list of your contacts and send them updates about your specials, promotions, or available dates. Just make sure not to spam them; once a week is enough.

Visit Local Offices and Small Businesses

Catering is required by many offices and small businesses for meetings, staff events, and daily lunches. Print flyers or business cards and hand them out to local businesses around your area.

Introduce yourself and tell them what kind of catering you provide, for example, breakfast, lunch packs, platters, etc. Give a free sample or a discount on the first order to make them taste your food.

Register on Online Platforms

There are many websites and apps where people search for catering services. Sign up and create a profile. Some platforms include:

• Google My Business: This helps people find your business on Google when they search for catering near them.
• Yoco Store or Linktree: These will enable you to share your menu and be able to take online orders.
• Local event directories: There are some websites that list service providers for weddings and parties. Make sure that you are also listed there.

Offer Tasting Events

If people haven’t tasted your food, they may not book you. Host a small tasting event at home, in a community centre, or at a pop-up market. Invite potential clients to come and try your food.

Make your food affordable; even a small plate or sample box can impress people.

Take the opportunity to tell about your menu, pricing, and what makes your service unique.

Get Customer Reviews

Request a review from your clients after every event. Positive feedback builds trust. You can post these reviews on your social media pages or website, or print them on flyers.

If your clients are pleased, they may hire you again or tell others about you.

Offer Special Deals

To attract new customers, create limited-time offers. For example:

• “Book for 20 people and get 5 meals free.”
• “10% off on your first catering order.”
• “Free delivery for orders over R1 000.”

People love good deals. Promotions can help you get attention, especially if you are just starting out.

Implement a Loyalty Program

Reward loyal customers with incentives such as discounts on future bookings or referral bonuses. A loyalty program encourages repeat business and helps maintain a steady client base.

Finding clients for your business takes time, effort, and patience. So you need to start small, use free marketing tools like social media and WhatsApp, and focus on building strong relationships with your customers. It is a time-consuming and effortful process to find clients for your catering business. If your food is tasty and your service is reliable. Keep consistent, keep learning, and above all, enjoy the process.