Seeking Advice on Starting At-home "Catering" Business

Good idea! I wish you luck with this. I don't know much about this but I recommend you starting with word of mouth. Let your family and friends know about what you want to do, and start from there. Your clients will let you know what they want and then your business will develop from there. As you start doing this more, your business will grow and develop. You'll learn what works and what you like and what your clients like. Good luck to you!

I suggest checking with your local health department about rules they may have. Look on the county's website for information. You really don't want to be shut down before you have a chance to get started. You may be okay with 1-2 clients but more than that could invite problems.

I always tell people to start as a side line business and if they can make $100 from it and demand is building, that would be the time to get your licenses. Before that you could waste a lot of money.

Keep the money you make in a separate account.

Tell people what you specialize in and prepare what is comfortable for you until you learn new recipes. Most people aren't picky, especially men. They just want a home cooked meal.

Charge more for delivery. Place an ad on Craigslist.org or other local classified. Ask if you can post fliers in corporation break rooms.

Yeah--you need to have an approved kitchen if you are going to do that (at least you do in PA) and usually home kitchens are not approved by the health department.....start there! Good luck. Great idea.

There are quite a few here in Austin. I have a few friends that use these services.

I was a Personal Chef at one point. I would cook 5 days a week for a gentleman and his daughter I prepared it in their their home, since I do not have a commercial kitchen. I would send them a menu 2 weeks ahead of time., sometimes, they would make requests. I charged $35. per day, plus the cost of the food. This was about 15 years ago..

Here are some links..

http://www.chefdarla.com/howitworks.shtml

//www.eclectic-eats.com/delivery.html

http://www.appetiteculinaryservice.com/personal-chef-deli...

http://www.dietgourmet.com/Pick-upandDelivery.aspx

Assuming your state's rules are the same as ours, there are some things you need to consider.
First, you probably can't prep/cook the food in your home, you will have to either prep and cook in their home or rent out/obtain a commercial kitchen to do that.
Second, you have to get local Health Board Food Handler's License, and/or a Catering license. Check with your local Health Department office to find out if you need to take a special class to be certified (you probably do).

I wish you luck. I own a catering business with my husband. Feel free to PM me here if you have any specific questions about the trade.