Establish yourself among the other Minnesota caterers

The first step in opening your own catering business is finding out where you fit in among other MN caterers. What is going to make your catering business outshine everyone else's? Will you have a unique menu or theme? How will your prices compare to the competition? You need to charge enough to make a profit but not so much that you price yourself out of the local market.

I recommend: Scope out your competition to find out more about their menus and price range. You can find a list of catering companies in Minnesota through the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce, the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce and the Duluth Chamber of Commerce. From there you can visit link to your competitors' websites to look over their menus and prices. If you aren't able to locate a caterer's website, call them directly and ask for information. Also try to see their work up close and personal, such as at a public event. Then you can see and taste their food and see how it rates with your own.

Expand your catering services with a small business loan

Start-up costs aren't too big for catering. Minnesota caterers can often start right out of their own kitchen for the price of food and some disposable containers. However, as your business grows you will need a way to buy big ticket items, such as a van for transportation, warming ovens, coolers and storage racks. The quickest way to buy the bigger items you need to expand your catering business is with a small business loan.

I recommend: The Small Business Development Center of Minnesota provides free consulting to small businesses. Its staff can help you draft a business plan and get you ready to present your ideas to a potential lender. The Small Business Administration of Minnesota can walk you through all the steps of opening a business in Minnesota as well as connect you with a lender.

Stock up on equipment for your food catering company in Minnesota

MN caterers need some basic equipment when they first go into business. Serving platters, serving utensils and chaffing dishes are a must. Beyond that, you can use your home kitchen and paper goods to prepare and serve food. But if you want to grow as a caterer you will eventually need to stock up all sorts of catering equipment, from China and flatware to linen tablecloths and napkins. Plus you may need to upgrade to commercial stoves, coolers and warmers.

I recommend: Find all kinds of catering equipment and supplies at Advanced Contract & Design Services out of Minneapolis and at Lake Equipment, located in Clear Lake, Iowa, which services the Southern Minnesota area.