How much do you want to have after making the food

If you are a cook or caterer with your own business, at first, you probably will not make much money, but if you continue, you can make a very decent living. I was a caterer several years ago, and after I learned how to manage the food budget, hire the right people to help me with events, and borrow a certified and legitimate location to prepare the food (e.g., the church kitchen), I was able to keep my overhead low and take home at least half of what I made per event.

Before you prepare to take on an event, make sure you check prices on everything you will need. Avoid club stores like Sams Club, Costco and the rest, because the cost benefit will be eaten up. After determining how many people you are feeding, get a budget from the person/group you are catering for and adjust your menu carefully so you do not work for free. Do the shopping for yourself. I asked a friend to pick up a couple of tomatoes for a salad I was preparing. This group was not paying me much so, I expected him to pick up the cheapest tomato, spending about $1.50. He came back with 4 vine-ripened tomatoes that took t much money, costing over $.4.00! In this business, every penny counts. Do not serve cheap food, but use items that cost less and you will take home some money.