It seems as though the workforce has gone through a very real movement and change over the past couple of years, and that change is the rise of telecommuting and home businesses. According to a recent Gallup survey, there are more employees working from home than ever before, and they are doing it for longer time periods. The survey took a look at 2016 numbers, where it showed that 43% of employees were working remotely at least some of the time. It's a number that seems to increase year after year.

Entrepreneurs are also taking part in the work-from-home trend, as statistics show that 69% of U.S. entrepreneurs now start their business from home. There are all kinds of industries where running your business from home makes total sense. One of these is the catering business. By starting a catering business from home, you don’t have to worry about renting kitchen space, investing in all the tools and equipment, and you don’t have to worry about commuting to and from your business.

If you’ve got a passion and real knack for cooking and you’ve been thinking a home-based catering business is right for you, then here are five helpful tools and tips that can help your business to succeed.

Who is Your Target Market or Customer?
The first thing you need to think about is who your target market or customer will be. It's imperative to identify this market, as it will help you to tailor your menu of offerings. Perhaps you want to focus on the wedding market, maybe you want to do big parties, or then again, maybe you'd rather zone in on the corporate market. Each of these target customers will have its own list of dishes and services that it will be looking for.

If you’re having a hard time picking that target market or customer, think about what recipes you enjoy the most, what style of cooking best suits you, and where you excel. That can help you to narrow down your market.

Invest in the Proper Equipment
In order to create these amazing dishes in large quantities, there’s a good chance you’re going to need to invest in new and additional equipment. Make sure you’ve got at least the bare minimum before you open up your business. You can always upgrade your equipment as business picks up, but you don’t want to have to turn away clients simply because you don’t have the right or enough equipment to get the job done.

Create a User-Friendly Website
Another tip is to create a user-friendly website where potential clients can go and get all the information they want on your offerings. It's a good idea to add details about the menu options, pictures, and general information about catering tips. You may not want to post prices on the website, as food pricing can fluctuate based on many different factors. Instead, you can encourage people to contact you for a quote.

If you are going to provide quotes to customers, make use of a free online estimate template, such as the one you can find on Aynax. This will help to make your services look that much more professional. Attend Local Events to Showcase Your Offerings
Getting the word out about your catering business can be hard at first, so sometimes you need to be creative in your approach. Attending local events is a great way to showcase your offerings through free taste-testing. There is no better way to gain the interest of potential customers than by showing them first-hand what your product looks like, and more importantly, what it tastes like.

Advertise Promotions and Deals through Social Media
Another great way to drum up that initial business is to offer various promotions and deals through social media. These can include discounted prices, free add-ons, free taste testing, or anything else that you choose to offer. Social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are all great places to share promotions and deals.

It Could Make the Perfect Home Business
With so many people looking for ways to work from home and open their own home-based business, it can be hard to find that perfect industry to specialize in. A home-based catering business may be exactly what fits your skills and expertise, and better yet, it might be the industry that makes you feel the most excited about entering. Each of these tips is designed to help make the process as smooth as can be.

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