Start out with your business license, as any location that you rent from is going to demand your paperwork.
If you are going to use someone else's kitchen, like a church, then find out from them if their insurance covers outside caterers to use their equipment.
I cater some office buildings, and their insurance covers outside vendors as well as it's own personnel.
If it does not, speak with an Insurance company right away to get information.
Once you have a location locked down, get it in writing from the owners of the location.
You would be in a major bind if you began taking orders from your customers, only to be told by the church that they have changed their minds about your business.
Before you begin any work there, check to see when the location has had it's last inspection from the Health Department.
You can even call the Heath Inspector yourself and explain to them that you are a new business that will be operating out of this church, and you would like some feedback from them on any changes that may be necessary for your operation to be active.
You will again be in a major bind if you try starting up your business, only to find that the church was previously warned about a major equipment violation, and still has not fixed the problem.
Take your time and make sure you have covered absolutely all your bases before contacting potential customers.
First impressions with a new business are everything. If yours aren't amazing and professional, then the word will spread quickly that you are an inferior caterer and your clients will not return, nor will they call their friends to recommend you.
Remember, don't just read about it, get out there and talk to anyone and everyone involved in the catering field. They will tell you of problems they have faced that you wouldn't even have thought could happen.
Good Luck with everything..***:D
contact local library for local laws info
So we've read all the books, we've bought all the equipment and now we're ready to start our business- but wait! We need: A business license A commercial kitchen
