7 Catering Business Success Stories [2024]

Updated: November 19th, 2023
Start A Catering Business

A catering business is responsible for providing food & beverage-related services for vast types of events.

Catering businesses are known to be more flexible than other businesses because they don’t have to worry about location or pricing and can even work 24/7. They can cater anywhere and offer any price point that they want.

However, starting a catering business requires a lot of planning.

To start a successful catering business , you'll need to plan and prepare menus, manage budgets, handle clients, and more.

In addition, catering allows you to meet more people and show off your cooking skills.

Here are some real life success stories of starting a catering business:

1. Elegante Catering ($240K/year)

Since the launch, Elegante Catering has focused on online marketing and SEO to attract and retain customers. The founder leveraged their previous experience in online marketing and utilized targeted blog posts and social media to drive traffic to their website. Additionally, they prioritized customer feedback and created menus based on customer preferences to ensure customer satisfaction and retention.

How much they make: $240K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
Current team size: 10

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How I Found Success With A $20K/Month Catering Company After Starting Many Businesses

Elegante Catering founder, Nestor Nidome, details his journey from failed DJ business to a $20k/month catering company, emphasizing the importance of online marketing and customer feedback as key contributors to his success.

Revenue
Nestor grew the business to $20K/month
Costs
It cost Nestor $500 to start the business
Read by 8,163 founders

2. Bradford Bakery ($48K/year)

Amanda Bradford, founder of Bradford Bakery, came up with the idea for her business after years of working in the culinary industry and realizing her passion for baking and providing comfort through food. She used her expertise and access to affordable ingredients to create a menu that catered to the Texas clientele. Through word of mouth, strategic marketing, and community involvement, Bradford Bakery has seen a 550% increase in SEO and a growing client list.

How much they make: $48K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
Current team size: 2

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I Opened My Dream Bakery With Just $500 [Based In Texas]

From pastry chef to owner of a successful bakery, learn how Bradford Bakery achieved a 550% increase in SEO in just a few months through community outreach, building a website, and utilizing social media and advertising on platforms like Facebook and Groupon.

About
Amanda started Bradford Bakery over 3 years ago
Revenue
Amanda grew the business to $4K/month
Costs
It cost Amanda $500 to start the business
Read by 4,065 founders

So... can you actually make money with a catering business?

Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.

But how?

  1. Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
  2. Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
  3. Take action, because now you have the roadmap.

Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:

Start Now

3. Truffle Tangles By ILA ($45K/year)

How much they make: $45K/year
How much did it cost to start: $70
Current team size: 0

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This Baker From Gurgaon Earns In Lakhs Per Month Through Her Home-Run Bakery!

This case study follows Ila Prakash Singh's inspiring journey from a decade-long career in hospitality to establishing her home bakery, Truffle Triangles, which now sells baked items worth approximately Rs. 10,000 per day.

About
They started Truffle Tangles By ILA over 17 years ago
Revenue
They grew the business to $3.75K/month
Costs
It cost $70 to start the business
Read by 888 founders

So... can you actually make money with a catering business?

Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.

But how?

  1. Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
  2. Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
  3. Take action, because now you have the roadmap.

Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:

Start Now

4. Teranga ($580K/year)

How much they make: $580K/year
Current team size: 50

article

Chef Pierre Thiam I African Cuisine Making Moves

Teranga, the African superfood joint and catering business, supplies a fresh take on African food culture, with acclaimed chef Pierre Thiam creating seasonally changing menus with African grains, proteins, and flavors, drawing culinarily curious diners from across New York City.

About
Pierre started Teranga over 6 years ago
Revenue
Pierre grew the business to $48.3K/month
Read by 405 founders