Living in South Africa means that you have likely had a barbecue (or a braai to the locals) at least once or twice in your life. For some, barbecuing is an art itself, and if you know that you have perfected your barbecuing skills, you can use these to create a lucrative catering business. There are many people in the country who enjoy eating freshly grilled meat (without the hassle of having to cook it themselves), so if you have your own griller, you are already halfway there.
You should invest in a gas griller for your barbecue business to succeed. This way, you can braai to your heart’s content without needing to worry about unpleasant odours and smoke from charcoal. Not sure where to start when building a small barbecue business? Below we give some handy advice.
Set Out A Business Plan
You might be itching to fire up your gas griller and start serving the perfect meat dishes, but before you even start thinking about this, you need to create a business plan. This business plan will help you to provide a clear business direction for your barbecue business for your bank and for yourself.
Your business plan should include the following aspects:
- All permits and legal requirements for setting up a food-related business
- The scale of your operation and if you will need one gas griller or two
- An estimate of your costs, including your catering equipment costs
- What menu items you will have
- Your ingredients and where these will be supplied from, including these costs
You should include all possible costs from the simplest item to the most complex, especially if you are applying for a loan.
All About Equipment
Once your business plan has been set out, you will need to go about buying the equipment, such as the gas griller, the gas canister, the serving utensils, a refrigerator for the meat, and any and all condiments. This will help you to easily set up your barbecue business, whether you are going to be serving food at a market or in a store.
The equipment you choose should be in line with your location.For example, a gas griller is ideal for an outdoor location due to its ease-of-use, and an electric griller is better for a permanent restaurant or barbecue stand. Look for equipment that is easy to maintain and clean, as you will need to clean it on a regular basis to maintain the hygiene standards of the industry.
Select A Service-Delivery Method
You have your catering equipment in place, you are ready to fire up the gas griller, but…you have no idea how you are going to serve your delicious food to your customers. You will need to consider whether your small barbecue business is better suited to a storefront or a market stand. If you will only be grilling on certain days, then a market stand or even a food truck is a better option.
However, if you would like to make this business more permanent, you will need to look at a storefront as your base of operation. Barbecues often perform best if they are able to cater at events, so be sure to keep this in mind when you are choosing your service-delivery method. For those with a smaller budget, it might be better to look into a food truck or a market stand, as this will be more affordable.
Hire Helping Hands
While you might be the master of the gas griller, there is only so much you can do alone, which is why you should look into hiring some helping hands. You can train them in how to use the gas griller for busier days when you are dealing with multiple customers, and make sure they know how to plate or package the food to your standards.
Your staff should be customer-oriented and have experience in the food industry. With these assets, you will be able to create a successful barbecue business. Your staff should also provide a positive customer experience by being friendly, upbeat, and willing to help customers with a smile. This is the nature of barbecuing, as many people associate it with family or friend gatherings.
Bring On The Braai
A small barbecue business can bring in a large amount of money if planned right and if you have the right equipment, such as a state-of-the-art gas griller, the right help, and all of the necessary permits and licenses. You should also carefully consider where you will place your barbecue business, based on your market research and budget.
If you would like to start your own lucrative barbecue business, contact Caterwize today to find out how we can help you.