How do you get more catering clients, and how to grow a catering business? This blog post will share 22 practical ways to attract clients and expand your catering venture.
From boosting your online presence to forming local partnerships, we’ll explore strategies to help you stand out in the catering industry and secure valuable contracts.
Let’s begin your journey to grow your catering business and make a lasting impression on clients and guests.
According to the report of First Research, the catering industry in the United States comprises approximately 12,000 businesses, generating a total yearly income of roughly $11 billion. It is a competitive industry, and you must decide who your clients are.
Ask yourself the following questions
- What is your catering services target market?
- What kind of food do you specialize in? (for example, vegan, gluten-free, Italian cuisine, etc.)
- What differentiates you from your competitors?
- What is your competitive advantage over other catering companies?
- Is your catering company targeting only one group of customers? (for example, corporate clients that require catering for meetings, conferences, seminars, and employee events, wedding and event planners, healthcare facilities like hospitals and clinics, hotels and event venues, etc.)
Once you decide on your target audience, you can focus on the main question:
How to grow a catering business?
Opening a restaurant or a catering company requires preparing a catering business plan. It is a document in which you cover aspects such as the target market we already mentioned above, ways to attract new catering clients, marketing strategy, and financial projections.
A successful catering business starts with a business plan creation. Now, let’s move to the main topic of this article, which is how to increase catering sales. Below, we described 22 ways how to find catering clients.
1. Connect with new event venues
Connecting with new event venues is a great way to find catering clients. When you build relationships with these venues, you can serve people who hold events there. It also helps you become a well-known catering choice in the event world.
2. Create a professional website
To present your catering service, create your catering website. For that purpose, you can use an intuitive website builder, choose one of the professional catering website templates, and add your logo, menu, and contact information.
If you want inspiration, check out these 20+ best catering websites.
3. Optimize your website for local search
Having your catering website created, don’t forget to optimize it for local search. SEO techniques like using the right words on your website and social media can make more people see your business online and attract more potential catering clients.
To learn more about how search engine optimization leads to business growth, check out our guide on restaurant SEO.
4. Enable online ordering from your website
Add an direct online ordering with catering software to make it simple and convenient for customers to order food.
UpMenu provides catering businesses with a built-in online ordering system integrated with a catering business website. Thanks to that, catering customers can easily place orders from a company’s website.
Check this article to learn how to set up an online ordering system.
5. Use social media
Social media channels are a great place to promote your catering business and attract potential customers.
It is a place where you can present your business offer to both new and existing customers, but, what’s more, you can observe your competitors and check their social media posts and how people react to them.
6. Create Google Alerts
A powerful and free-to-use tool is setting up Google Alerts. You can receive email notifications when new information about a specific topic appears in Google Search. This includes updates on news, products, or references, such as your competitor’s name.
- Company name alert: Set up an alert for your catering company’s name, e.g., “Delicious Delights Catering New York”
- Local event alert: Create an alert for “New York corporate events” or “New York wedding receptions.”
- Culinary trends alert: Set an alert for “New York catering trends” to keep up with the latest culinary trends and innovations in the New York catering scene.
Learn more about how to create a Google Alert.
7. Send emails to previous clients and potential leads
Emailing new clients and potential leads can help you gain clients and boost your catering sales. It keeps previous customers returning and lets potential clients know about your catering services and special offers.
8. Establish a Google Business Profile
Establishing your Google Business Profile is essential. It’s like your online business card, and it helps to boost catering sales. It also provides new catering clients with your company’s name, address, opening hours, and contact info.
Check more information on creating Google Business Profile for restaurants.
9. Attend and exhibit at local food and wedding expos
Another way to attract local traffic is by participating and showcasing your catering services at local food and wedding trade shows. These networking events provide an excellent opportunity to directly engage with potential clients seeking catering services for their special occasions.
By presenting your offer and expertise, you can establish credibility, make personal connections, and secure catering contracts, making it a fruitful avenue for client acquisition.
10. Collaborate with event planners
Working with event and wedding planners is a smart way to grow a catering business. These professionals frequently require catering services for their clients’ events and weddings, making them valuable sources of referrals.
By building strong relationships and delivering exceptional service, you can become their top choice, which leads to an increase in the number of catering orders.
11. Network with other local businesses
Catering companies should also consider networking with local businesses such as florists, photographers, and bridal shops. These companies can also become a great source of acquiring new customers.
Ask them about the possibility of leaving your marketing materials which they could show to new clients.
12. Join online forums or discussion groups
Being part of online groups where people talk about event planning and catering can help you find new catering customers. These platforms allow you to network with event planners and individuals seeking catering services while showing your expertise, which can lead to valuable catering client acquisitions.
13. Create a loyalty program
Another strategy to grow your catering business is to set up a loyalty program for existing customers who return for your services. You can offer them special rewards like discounts, free menu items, promotions, or other attractive perks to keep them choosing your catering offer. Learn how to increase customer loyalty in a restaurant.
14. Encourage satisfied clients to leave positive online reviews
Most of the customers rely on online reviews while choosing a catering company. That’s why asking happy customers to review your catering online is important.
Having more reviews makes people more likely to trust their decision to choose your catering service, especially when those reviews are mostly positive.
15. Develop a referral program
Creating a referral program can motivate existing clients to recommend your services to others.
By offering rewards or incentives, like discounts or complimentary items, you can encourage them to refer new clients, helping your catering business grow.
16. Collaborate with food bloggers and influencers
Partnering with food bloggers and influencers can boost your catering business. They can provide reviews and promote your catering operation to their followers, expanding your reach and attracting potential new clients.
17. Offer themed catering packages
Creating special catering packages for holidays and events can grow your catering business. It allows customers to enjoy customized menus and experiences tailored to specific celebrations, making their events more memorable and your catering business more attractive.
18. Provide excellent customer service
If you wonder how to get more catering orders, offer outstanding customer service. It will help to ensure customer satisfaction, repeat business, and word-of-mouth referrals.
19. Consider offering delivery
Expanding your catering services to include delivery and drop-off options can be a smart move to grow your catering business. It offers convenience to customers who may prefer your delicious dishes brought to their location, making your services more accessible and attractive.
20. Offer tastings and demonstrations
When you host tasting events, you can generate interest in your business and interact with your potential customers. Such a tasting event lets you showcase your skills and grow your business.
21. Build a portfolio of your catering work
Creating a collection of high-quality photos showing your catering work is a smart move. It helps people see the delicious food you can make and makes them more interested in hiring you for their events.
22. Start a blog
Starting a blog for your catering company is a good idea to get more catering clients. You can share your knowledge, show off your food, and give helpful tips, making people interested in your services.
Check our article on food blogs for inspiration.
Key Takeaways
- Creating a professional website showcasing your catering service and optimizing it for local search is essential for attracting clients in the digital age.
- Enable online ordering from your website to make it convenient for potential clients to request your services.
- Use social media platforms to promote your catering business and engage with a broader audience.
- Connect with new event venues, collaborate with event planners, and attend expos to expand your client base through referrals and networking.
- Encourage satisfied clients to leave positive online reviews and develop a referral program to incentivize current clients to refer new ones.
- Create Google Alerts to stay informed about relevant opportunities, and send emails to previous clients and potential leads to keep them informed about your catering offer.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How to get catering clients?
To get catering clients, consider these strategies:
- Create a professional website and use social media to present your catering services.
- Offer online ordering.
- Implement a loyalty program.
- Collaborate with local businesses and attend community events and industry conferences.
- Provide excellent service.
- Encourage positive online reviews.
- Host themed events.
Check our article on catering marketing ideas for inspiration.
How to get more clients for my catering business?
- Create a catering website and use social media to show your catering services.
- Enable online ordering.
- Implement a program to reward loyal customers.
- Engage with the local community by collaborating with nearby businesses, participating in community events, and attending industry conferences.
- Ensure top-notch customer service to leave a lasting impression.
- Encourage positive reviews from satisfied clients.
- Organize special events with unique themes.
