Small Business Opportunities-Mobile Catering

Interested in your own mobile catering small business opportunities? If you are not sure what this is about or would like to know more, stay here and we will do our best to answer all your questions..

Such As:

What is a mobile catering small business
How do I get started?
Legal Requirements and Hours of Work?.
How much money can I make?
Pros and Cons

Tell Me More About Mobile Catering

A Mobile Catering small business opportunity is basically providing hot food/drink service to people or business in a location where this service is not currently available. A remote location perhaps or even when there's no other food service providers locally.

catering van This service is provided by you in the form of your own catering trailer (a catering trailer is a kitchen on wheels where you prepare, cook and serve food ready to sell to the public

People like the convenience of a mobile catering trailer and a good mobile catering trailer should cover a range of hot and cold foods ranging from the usual burgers/rolls to sandwiches to other healthy eating options such as salads and vegetarian snacks.

Food can be prepared to customers requirements so it is not like other typical fast food providers where everything is mass produced in advance, the customer has a far greater say in how their food is cooked.

How Do I Get Started

Your mobile catering small business opportunities most vital requirements is for you to find and secure a site(location) from which you can start trading

This can either take the form of a static site where your trailer is permanently placed or a temporary site where you trade from daily and at the end of your trading day you take your trailer home with you. Most people do the opposite they buy a trailer first then have no where to use it.

Important- Secure Yourself a Pitch First -Then Buy Or Rent a Catering Trailer.

How do you secure a site? Here are some suggestions for you

Ask at the local Sunday Market
Find a Spot On An Industrial Estate
Try Your Neighboring Car Boot Sale
Most DIY Stores Provide Spaces For Catering Trailers

So you need to start looking around you will be surprised where your services are needed...and don't forget you are mobile...so If IT'S NOT THAT BUSY MOVE ON!

Legal Requirements, Hours of Work and Location

You will need to have a current Food and Hygiene Certificate to cook and sell food to the public, this is a document that shows you have passed a test on Food and Hygiene Practices.You are then issued with a certificate and by law you must have it displayed on your catering trailer.

You will also need an LPG Test Certificate (gas)and an Electric Certificate to legally trade from your catering trailer.(ensures appliances are safe on trailer) Again this shows you have conformed to Health and Safety Practices You should also be registered with the local council who will visit you and inspect your trailer to make sure you comply with the food and hygiene laws.

Location as with any brick and mortar small business opportunities is important, and the same applies for this particular business but in a slightly different way. You don't really want to have your mobile catering business near other food service providers if possible.This is your unique advantage after all your business is mobile... and can within reason go where the money is just make sure to obtain a license (if required) or have the relevant permission from the land owners.

Your hours of work are determined by the location or local area that you service.So if you work on a Sunday Market obviously you probably work for just the one day. However if you are catering for people who work on Industrial Estates, then your trading days (5-6) will be substantially longer.

Pros and Cons of Your Small Business Opportunities

Pros

Cheaper start-up costs compared to a shop
No business rates,No lease to tie you down for x amount of years
Cash business
No real competition RIGHT! you picked the location
You Are In Full Control, Your Business
Can Be Very Lucrative
Servicing Your Local Area
Expand Your Catering Trailer Small Business Opportunities At Your Own Pace
Shorter Trading Hours Than Normal Shop
Can Be Personally Satisfying Preparing Food And Getting Compliments

Cons

Initial Outlay Can Be Quiet Expensive
Finding A Site Can Be Difficult
Your Site May Not Have Long-term Prospects
Very Hard Work, Early Start Required
You Are Directly Responsible For Cooking And Food Preparation
Very Hot During The Summer Especially With The Added Heat From Cooking Appliance
Trailer Left Over Night Could Be Stolen
No Real Time Off Except For Christmas Unless You Employ Staff
Working On Your Own
If You Are Sick Or Do Not Work You Will Not Get Paid

Mobile Catering Conclusion

So now you've been briefly introduced to the small business opportunities in mobile catering we have also touched on some basic start-up steps Now that you have a little more insight you can make up your own mind and see if this kind of small business is right for you.

I have tried to be honest with most things here, but there is a lot more detail that I have not gone into on this page.So if you would like to know more or are considering the idea of starting your own catering business but lack the courage to take it any further.

Read Chapter 1 and discover how I got started with no experience and a tiny dose of courage... my own small business in mobile catering

[Chapter (1) Read How I Got Started ] [Chapter (2) Buying My Catering Van Getting Ready]

[Chapter (3) My first Day of Business] [Chapter(4) Resources -Supplies-Wholesalers]

[ Catering Van Insurance More Info]

[ Find Out More About Catering Trailer Insurance More Info]

[ More Info On Catering Liability Insurance]

Mobile Catering Trailers for Sale

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