How do you start a catering business in 2027?

Honest 5/10 baseline.

Startup costs: $10K-$50K typical for off-premise catering. Commercial kitchen rental ($25-$60/hr) or commissary membership ($300-$1,200/mo), serving equipment, transport (insulated carriers, hot boxes), liability insurance, marketing site. Higher if buying van or dedicated kitchen.

Permits/licenses: Business license, food handler/manager certification (ServSafe), health department catering permit, sales tax permit, commercial kitchen certification, general liability + commercial auto. Some states require separate caterer license. Alcohol service requires additional permits.

Customer acquisition: Wedding/event venue partnerships, WeddingWire and The Knot listings, corporate catering platforms (ezCater, Foodee), Google local SEO, Instagram portfolio, referrals from event planners. Tasting events drive bookings.

Revenue model: Per-head pricing ($25-$150+), service fees, rentals, alcohol markup. Deposits 25-50% upfront.

Realistic year-1: $50K-$200K revenue, thin margins (10-20%) while learning ops. Most owners work in the kitchen year 1.