How to Budget Catering for my Event or Business?

Especially if you are new to hiring caterers for an event, it can be hard to determine a reasonable budget. There are various factors to look into, such as the types of food, beverages, and quantity. To help you out with the process of purchasing catering from restaurants, we have put together a list of steps to follow.

 

Make Your Guest List

A guest list will tell you how many people you need to feed and their dietary needs. Take note of the food restrictions, allergies, and preferences of the people on your guest list. Considering food restrictions ahead of time will help you avoid any issues the day of the event. Keep in mind that the more people you need to feed, the higher the final cost. 

 

Plan Your Menu

With the help of your guest list, plan your menu. Your caterer of choice will help with this process too. Your caterer will tell you what food they offer fits that criteria of any dietary restrictions or flavor profiles. Foods that need to be kept warm may have an additional cost due to the equipment required. 

 

If you are not sure what type of cuisine to purchase, ask yourself the following questions:

 

Is the event casual or formal?

If an event is casual, you likely don’t want fancy hors d’oeuvres. This question will help eliminate the food options that don't match your event. 

 

How long is the event?

The guests will expect more than just small snacks for a long event. For a longer event consider several courses.

 

What time is the event?

If your event takes place during a common meal time, you should provide substantial food options to feed guests as a meal. For example, at a 5:00 pm event, the guests will expect dinner rather than snacks or lunch. In between times or late events allow for more snack-like, appetizer food items. 

 

Choose Beverages

Choose what kind of beverages you want to serve. Your guest list and party type will help you decide if you want alcohol at the event or not. Ask your caterer about the cost of alcoholic drinks and regular soft drinks. If you are unsure how many beverages to order, your caterer can help you. If the price is too high for your liking, consider simply providing water or flavored water to refresh guests without breaking the bank.

 

Following these steps will help you get a general idea of how to budget catering for your event. Your caterer will help with any additional questions or issues you have regarding catering.

 

Why Choose To Have an Event Catered

 

It Will Save You Time and Energy

Planning an event is already time-consuming as it is. Providing food and cooking for a group will only add to your stress. The catering company will do all of the hard things like cooking, setting up the food, and cleaning up when the event is over.

 

You Get To Enjoy the Event 

If you are caught up making sure all of the food gets set up and ready on time you will spend more time worrying than enjoying the event. Getting the food prepared is a lot more time-consuming than people think. When you hire caterers, that pressure is taken away from you and you get to appreciate the event too. 

 

Catering Can Save You Money

Professional caterers will have a better idea of how much food you should buy for the number of people. When you have a professional help you out with the amount of food to purchase, you end up with less food waste. Less food waste means less wasted money. With catering, you don't need to provide the dishes to serve your guests, so that will save you the hassle.

 

How To Find the Best Catering From Restaurants

The first thing you want to do is look at the restaurant's menu. Make sure the food they offer is something you and your guests will enjoy. Next, talk to them about your budget and any concerns. Speaking to them will help determine if they are the right fit for you. If a restaurant isn't matching what you want for your event, look at other options.