Are you ready to take your catering company to the next level? Check out these 5 tips and tricks that are guaranteed to help you tackle the busy months head on!

1. Review last year’s data

The first step to updating your services is figuring out what went right and what went wrong during last year’s busy season. Review your sales and inventory reports from the past few years to generate more accurate estimates of the supplies, staff, and vehicles you’ll need on hand to be able to keep up with orders. 

If you don’t have access to your data from last year, take the opportunity to start tracking it this year! There are plenty of online tools like Google Analytics and even Microsoft Excel that can help not only store your records, but also provide insightful reports about your business performance.

2. Try a cloud kitchen

Cloud kitchens, also known as ghost kitchens or virtual kitchens, can be a great money-saving tool, especially for delivery-centric businesses. These kitchens have no physical storefront or seating area for customers. Without the added overhead pressure from a dining area or in-house staff, cloud kitchens allow caterers to focus entirely on preparing food for delivery.

Renting a cloud kitchen lets you expand to meet current needs, no matter how large or small. Don’t turn down a big order just because you don’t have the kitchen space. Rent a ghost kitchen hourly, monthly, or even annually and start accepting all the last minute orders you want! 

Check out this case study on Pauly’s Pretzels, who moved from his home kitchen to a shared kitchen and rapidly expanded his business with the help of Fluid Truck. 

3. Take advantage of digital marketing

Online ordering is a must for growing food delivery services. According to a study done by Deloitte in 2020, 70% of customers prefer to order their food online for delivery. If your website isn’t yet optimized for online ordering, you could be missing out on a lot of potential business.

Plus, even a well-established catering business can benefit from an increased online presence. Practically everyone has at least some exposure to social media these days, especially young people. 

A good digital marketing campaign gives you access to thousands more customers. We recommend building up your brand with a blog, Instagram, or even Youtube channel showcasing your recipes and what makes you unique. 

4. Partner with local businesses

Constructing a network of connections gives you a direct line of access to people who may be looking for a catering service. For example, if you partner with a local florist or hotel, they will likely already have customers organizing events like weddings, showers, parties, graduations, and more. 

Establish a working relationship that allows both companies to refer customers to each other, effectively bumping up sales on each side and helping customers get in touch with the right people to help them.

5. Rent your delivery vehicles

Similar to renting a cloud kitchen for additional space, renting your delivery vehicles allows you to scale up your fleet to meet the needs of any incoming order. And, when the busy season passes, you can easily scale back down to a more manageable size without worrying about storage or maintenance for extra vehicles.

Gain 24/7 access to a variety of vehicle sizes and models with Fluid Truck. Got a big last minute order you need to fill? Hop on the Fluid Truck app to instantly connect with a truck or van near you at any hour on any day of the year, including holidays. With daily rental rates, pay as you go options, and no hidden fees, our ready-to-go fleet gives you the support you need to handle bigger jobs without draining your wallet.