There are lots of amazing perks to being a mobile caterer – working at fantastic events, getting to cook delicious food and then watch people enjoy it… but one of the best is the low start-up costs.
You can start up a mobile catering business with minimal investment. You won’t be able to operate at big festivals without a larger investment, but you will be able to get yourself up and running and making good money at smaller events and markets relatively inexpensively.
It sounds simple but you’d be surprised at how many people spend tens of thousands on equipment when they start up. You don’t need to. There are different ways to find affordable equipment that keep your business safe and finances in good shape.
Different types of food require different types of equipment. And some needs lots.
If you haven’t yet decided whether you want to sell burgers, pizzas, paella or whatever other delicious food you’re a pro at cooking, stop right now and think for a minute.
Some dishes require less equipment than others. The food types that require the least equipment are crepes, waffles, toasties and, well, sandwiches & wraps.
If you’re just setting up and have a minimal amount to invest, does it make more sense to cook food that requires lots of different kit, which you’ll have to buy, clean and maintain? Or does it make more sense to serve food that can be made using fewer pieces of equipment?
Our founder Bob Fox always says ‘buy cheap, buy twice’ – as a caterer he almost always regretted it when he bought a piece of equipment second hand or really cheaply. Don’t make the mistake of buying something when you’re unsure of the quality, because it probably won’t be a good investment.
Similarly, you might find quite a lot of cheap catering products online. Don’t be fooled. Your equipment must meet legal requirements (e.g. gas kit must be CE marked and include a flame failure device) and you need it to be able to stand the test of time. If you find yourself having to replace equipment every year or two, you’re going to waste a lot of money. Always buy the very best you can afford.
This is everything you need
There will always be other things you can think of to add, but here’s a realistic list of things that you will need to spend money on to start up and run your mobile catering business.
Here are the sorts of opportunities that could open up to you through different levels of investment:
The typical street food entrepreneur start-up level. It’s low risk but to stand out from the crowd you’ll need to get your branding and image spot on. What could you get?
A typical investment level for a roadside or small event start-up. What could you get?
This is a serious investment level so you need to be pretty certain about what you’re doing and where you intend to trade. What could you get?
You’re looking at converted vehicles or brand new, purpose-built units that can be used at almost any venue or market. What could you get?
Now we’re talking! You really need to know what you’re doing when investing this kind of money. What could you get?
In this guide, James, Stanley and Co. and The Catering Accounting Co. has provided information, useful hints and tipsto be aware of when tackling VAT as a food business.
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