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

Attorney fees for drafting or reviewing a Catering Contract can vary widely. Many lawyers charge hourly rates that may range from around $100 for less experienced attorneys to $350 or more per hour for highly experienced attorneys in major metropolitan areas. For more routine documents, some attorneys may offer flat-fee pricing.

The total cost will depend on several factors, including your location, the attorney’s experience, and the complexity of your agreement. More documents or situations involving negotiation will typically require more time and increase the overall cost.

With Rocket Lawyer, you can create a personalized Catering Contract tailored to your specific needs—without the high cost typically associated with hiring a lawyer. If you have questions or want additional peace of mind, you can also get your document reviewed or ask a Legal Pro for guidance.

It’s smart to have an important agreement reviewed before you sign, so you fully understand the terms and avoid potential risks.

While some attorneys may review documents they didn’t draft, others may decline or require a retainer, hourly billing, or a flat fee. This can make getting a legal document review of your Catering Contract less predictable and more time-consuming.

Rocket Lawyer makes the process simpler. With a Rocket Lawyer membership, you can request a review from a Legal Pro or ask questions about your Catering Contract. You can also use Rocket Copilot to quickly review your agreement, spot potentially risky terms, and make sure everything looks accurate before signing.

Once you’re ready, you can sign your document online with RocketSign—all in one place.

After drafting your Catering Contract, review it carefully. You may also want to review it with the other party to ensure all parties fully understand and agree to the terms of the agreement. Once all parties agree to the terms, the next step is to have all parties sign it, and each party should keep a copy for their records. It’s also a good idea to store it in a safe, accessible place in case you need to reference it later.

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.