So, you’re thinking of starting your own mobile catering business? You’ve come to the right place, we can help! There is a lot to think about when setting up a business, one thing we can make easy and effortless, is your insurance. It’s important that no matter what you’re doing, you, your employees, and your customers are all protected from any kind of risk, because as we all know, life can be unpredictable.
Where do I start?
Firstly, you need to make a business plan. Ask yourself:
- What kind of business do you want to be?
- What will you need?
- What will your unique selling points be?
- What makes you different?
You should work all these things out first. From there you can pick the type of food you want to serve, and how you want to serve it, whether that’s a trailer, a van, or perhaps you will just work at events with a canopy.
Make sure you consider sustainability, there are small, attainable things that you can do to make your business that little bit greener.
Where will you work?
Think about your location and do some research into local events, markets, festivals or spots where you could pop up. It is worth considering whether you want to stay local or venture further afield.
Once you have a solid list of places you’d like to target, reach out to the relevant people and see what their requirements are. Do you need a licence to be there? How expensive will the pitch fees be? These are important things to factor into the costs of your food. Once you have figured all this out, you can then move on to the next step.
What do you need to consider?
You’ll need suppliers, and this might take some time, you’ll need to find suppliers that work for your business and your company values.
As mentioned above, you will also need a vehicle. Take a look around at all your possible options.
When you’ve sorted all of the above, you’ll have to decide on how many employees you might take on – or any at all? Will you work alone?
What kind of insurance will I need?
With so many different types of insurance out there, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed – that’s where we come in! We can help you to create and select a package that is perfect for the type of business you create.
Do I need insurance when employing people to work for my business?
Yes, this is a legal requirement, you will need to ensure you have Employers’ Liability Insurance, which covers their health and safety for any accidents when it comes to work-related incidents. Keep this in mind when it comes to hiring and working out your team.
How can I promote my new business?
You will need to shout about your business as much as possible, all the time, but more so in the beginning to get it off the ground. This is your time to shine, so let everyone know that you exist.
Social media is a great way to do this, set up some social accounts and share your delicious food, news, and deals.
Tell your friends and family to spread the news, word of mouth is a very traditional marketing technique, but it works, people trust people.
Encourage your customers to leave you a review whenever you can, good reviews mean more to your potential customers than you might think.
Don’t worry if you still have questions, we’re here to help and guide you. Give us a call and we can talk you through your insurance options. Give us a follow on socials, X, Facebook, and Instagram.