Set up the terms for catering services: Catering Contract

Even if you are being contracted by a friend or family member, it is always a best practice to create a Catering Contract. Benefits of a contract include:

• Both parties understand the scope of their responsibilities.
• Both parties know when billing will happen.
• Neither party is surprised by how much time is required.

Any caterer choosing not to use a Catering Contract ought to anticipate some issues, including ambiguity about fees and the miscommunication of requirements. This document can be used by anyone who owns a catering business or restaurant or by event planners who are hiring a catering service.

Catering Contracts make sure that everyone is on the same page regarding menu options, when service is expected, payment details, cancellation policies, health and hygiene compliance, and insurance requirements. Specific details to cover include:

• Your client's full name and address.
• The kinds of services that will be provided.
• What food items will be on the menu.
• What fees will be charged and when.
• Whether the event will last for a predetermined period of time and how many people will attend.

As expected, the Catering Contract will also contain standard legal language in relation to the non-employer relationship between the caterer and event organizer, force majeure events or "Acts of God," the method(s) of dispute resolution, and, lastly, indemnity for losses. During the process of making your agreement, you will also be able to pick its state of jurisdiction. With the Rocket Lawyer document tool, you are able to make more custom modifications, as necessary.

During your early conversations with prospective catering clients, they may have questions like:

• How long have you been in business? If you own a restaurant, how long has your restaurant provided catering services?
• Are your staff members employees or temp workers? How experienced are they? How will your staff dress during the event?
• Can you provide options for those with dietary restrictions? How will those items be labeled?
• Will the food be prepared onsite or brought to the event and reheated? Do you need kitchen accommodations?
• Can you provide additional equipment such as tables and chairs?
• Where are your ingredients sourced from?
• Do you have sample menus we can try? How much would sample items cost? Can I tour your kitchen?
• Have you ever provided services at my chosen venue before? What should I know about this venue to be able to better accommodate hired services?
• What happens if I need to make a last-minute change?
• Are there any extra fees I should know about besides the per-plate fee, such as linen fees, charges for ice, or delivery fees?
• What plating options are available? Do you have eco-friendly options? If plating is not provided, what services would you recommend?
• Do you offer discounts or advantages for booking multiple events?

Preparing answers for these questions can help you win business and put your catering clients at ease

Fortunately, you won't need to pay an expensive lawyer to get your agreement in writing. When using Rocket Lawyer, any caterer should feel empowered to create a Catering Contract for free today. Your agreement is built piece by piece as you provide the necessary information along the way. Simply click the button that says "Make document" to begin.

If you've got any hesitations or questions about how to move forward, you can always ask a Legal Pro. You should also feel free to check out our larger selection of business legal documents.

Having a lawyer double-check your agreement might take a lot of time if you attempt to find one on your own. Another approach to consider is to request help from a Rocket Legal Pro. Premium members can request a contract review from an attorney with business experience or pose additional questions. As a small business owner or operator, you can Work Confidently® knowing that Rocket Lawyer is by your side.

Each Catering Contract will come with its own list of next steps you can take once the document is finished. With a Premium membership, you can edit, download, make copies, print out, or sign it electronically with RocketSign® whenever you are ready. Most importantly, you should make sure that everyone has a copy of your final contract. Depending on your specific payment terms, you may find it helpful to make an Invoice as a next step. Your Invoice can include an invoice number, the catering services provided, the tax rate for the transaction, and contact and payment information.

If you are just starting out, we can help you incorporate and write a Business Plan. Since operating a catering company can be tough, it is always a good idea to try to find ways to improve your business, such as:

1. Test your menu items. It may be tempting at times to try to create unique menus based on your client's preferences, but it is always wise to test your recipes. Research ahead of time what substitutions will work should you need to make last-minute changes. If you are catering an event in a remote or unfamiliar area, try to visit the venue in advance to see if your recipes will work in that environment.
2. Get to know your customer. Customers can be fickle and some may not quite know what they want. Remember that for them, this event may be the only large event they have ever hosted. Try to help guide them to a decision that will make them happy.
3. Hire experienced team members. While you may be a great chef, you may need help at leading a team. Find the best support staff you can and let them help you run a top-rated catering company.
4. Learn how to manage your money well. Catering gigs are often seasonal. You'll need to find ways to survive the lean months. If you already own a restaurant, you may try adding food trucks for an additional avenue of income. If you can, find an accountant who has experience with your industry to manage your books and do your taxes.
5. Consider adding additional services. If you have not already, consider offering add-on services such as bartending, cleaning services, or dessert catering. You don't necessarily have to be the person providing the service. You could use a subcontractor and take a portion of what they get paid or perhaps they would agree to paying a referral fee.
6. Learn how to market yourself. This is difficult for many small business owners, but it is necessary. Most experts recommend that you spend about 30 minutes per day just managing your social media. If you are overwhelmed with running the other parts of your business, you may consider hiring a professional.
7. Follow up. Give your clients a few days to recover from the event and then follow up. You may choose to create a standard list of questions you ask or you can customize every follow-up conversation. Make sure to follow up even if things go wrong. If everything goes well, see if you can use your client as a reference and invite them to share your company's information with their associates.
8. Consider B2B (business to business) discount programs. Some companies regularly cater meals for their employees. Consider offering incentives for those that order from your business weekly or monthly. Or, if they have scheduled orders, offer a discounted rate for their large events. Once you know your customers, you'll know what kind of program might be most attractive.
9. Provide online ordering. If you have not already, consider adding an online ordering option. While this option is not suitable for all events, it can be beneficial for increasing day-to-day transactions such as an office ordering 100 sandwiches or a fundraiser ordering simple hors-d'oeuvres for an event.
10. Add a breakfast option. It is becoming increasingly popular for businesses to order breakfast for morning meetings. If it makes sense for your business, consider adding a few breakfast choices to the menu. You may even consider offering a happy hour menu for after-hours corporate events.