Hub Cloud Food plays such a major role in our lives far beyond the biological necessity of getting the sustenance you need. From weddings to birthdays, baby showers to family reunions, there is no shortage of events in your life and they all require food to be prepared, cooked and served. Catering companies are there to provide the delicacies and dining options of your dreams.
But just how many catering companies are there in Australia and how easy is it to start a business of your own? Read on to learn more about the catering industry in Australia, and to discover if starting your own catering company is the right career move for you to make today…
How big is the catering industry in Australia?
Along with restaurants and cafes, catering is a huge industry in Australia. The restaurant, cafe and catering sector is a multi-billion dollar industry. And one with huge numbers of employees working and earning money through food service.
Corporate catering alone is an over AU $4 billion market, and that is without including the personal catering that is also incredibly popular here. Caterers and chefs are in high demand, with international chefs being encouraged to make the move and enjoy the thriving job market for themselves.
Personal chefs like Thomas Johns from Dining Abode are moving into the catering market, offering unparalleled cuisine at fantastic prices for you to enjoy. Whether you are celebrating a wedding, hosting an event or simply wishing for an exquisite personal dining experience. You can find it all in Australia’s catering industry.
How many catering businesses are there in Australia?
All told, there are well over 6000 catering businesses in Australia employing almost 80,000 people. There are several major catering companies that do a larger share of the work all the way down to small business start-ups that are just breaking into the industry. Or those that simply prefer to handle all of the work themselves.
Catering is a complex, exhausting and difficult business to be in, so many companies aim to do smaller scale manageable jobs working for themselves or with just a small team. Others employ large amounts of people to work on huge events that may have thousands of attendees. No matter the kind of event you are throwing or the caterer you want, you can find it in Australia.
How do I start a catering business from home in Australia?
Starting a catering business in Australia isn’t as simple as being good at cooking and deciding to try and make a living out of it. You need to understand the industry, and have all the right equipment, starting capital and the will and drive to make it work. Even then, there are certainly no guarantees.
Around 20% of small businesses fail in their first year in Australia including those in the catering sector, but if you do think you have what it takes, here are a few of the first steps to get you started:
- Research the market – knowledge is power, and the more you know about the market the better. You should consider who your target customer is, where they are and what they want. You should check for gaps in the market, especially in your local area, to see where you might fit in among the other, more established catering companies.
- Create a business plan – now you know the market, it is time to consider your specific goals, what you want to achieve and how you will get there.
- Get all the necessary licences, permits and qualifications – in Australia depending on where you live there are certain permits that you may have to obtain before starting your catering business. You must meet food safety standards and the requirements of the Food Act as well as get any other permits and licences.
- Secure somewhere to operate from – certain places don’t allow you to operate out of your home kitchen so you may need to find a premises. Some commercial kitchens allow you to rent for a few hours or days, so check out what you can find and what you are allowed to do in your area.
- You will need to register your business as a LLC – or similar again depending on where you are and what your goals are.
- Equip your kitchen – catering takes a large amount of equipment some of which is specialised, that you will need to buy. You will also need the necessary equipment to meet your food safety standards such as colour-coded chopping boards and a clearly organised and correct temperature fridge.
- Create a menu – you should have already decided the kind of food your target audience may prefer or the niche that you are slotting into. Now it is time to create a menu ready to show people what you have got.
- Get marketing – it is tricky when you start a new business. No one knows that you exist, what you do or why they should choose you over your competitors. You need to show them a targeted and comprehensive marketing strategy that lets you reach your ideal customer.
To be a successful caterer you need to have a passion for food, a strong work ethic, great communication skills, the money to get set up and then a whole lot of luck. Even fantastic, original catering companies that produce delicious food fail. Whether because they can’t find a big enough customer base, can’t make enough profit or just decide to pack it in.
In such a competitive industry that requires so much hard work, you should really take the time to think about whether a business in catering is really for you. With so many incredible catering companies already out there, there is no wonder why so many people are happy to stick with places like Dining Abode for their catering needs.
Final thoughts
Catering is indeed a big business in Australia, producing billions in revenue and employing large numbers of people all over the country. If you want to start your own catering company, make sure that you have really thought through your business plan. And that you understand all you need to know and have before you get started.
For those looking to enjoy the fruits of catering companies’ labour in Australia, be sure to check out some of the incredible options that chefs and caterers are producing in this country today.
