Catering business insights
Practical guides and data studies for catering owners. Zero fluff. Real numbers.
Why Onboarding Is the #1 Reason Caterers Abandon New Software (And How We Fixed It in 6 Steps)
Most catering software takes 2–4 weeks to set up. That's why new tools fail. CK AI's 6-step onboarding gets a full catering business live in about 10 minutes.
Why a Catering Client Portal Beats Email (and What Yours Should Do)
A catering client portal cuts email volume 60%+ and boosts client satisfaction. What a good portal does, what it doesn't, and how to roll one out.
Food Cost Percentage for Catering: Targets, Math, and How to Hit Them
What food cost percentage should a catering business target? Real benchmarks, the calculation, and a practical playbook to hit 28-32% consistently.
Catering Staff Scheduling: A Practical Guide for Crews of 5-20
How to schedule catering staff without the chaos. Best practices, the 6 most common mistakes, and templates that actually save owner time.
Catering Software ROI: When (and Whether) It Actually Pays Off
An honest look at catering software ROI. Break-even math, the 4 metrics that matter, and when software is (and isn't) worth the money.
How to Write a Catering Proposal That Closes (With a Free Template)
A proposal structure that books more events. The 9 sections every catering proposal needs, real examples, and a free template you can use today.
The Catering Sales Funnel: Benchmarks, Leak Points, and How to Fix Each Stage
Map your catering sales funnel stage by stage. Real conversion benchmarks, the 3 biggest leak points, and a playbook to close 15-25% more bookings.
AI for Catering: What Actually Works in a Small Catering Business (2026)
A pragmatic look at AI for small catering businesses. What AI does well, what it doesn't, and where a catering crew of 5-20 gets real ROI in 2026.
How to Price Catering in 2026: Formulas, Examples, and Market Benchmarks
A founder's guide to pricing catering jobs in 2026. Real formulas, worked examples, and benchmarks for per-head, buffet, and full-service pricing.
Free Catering Invoice Template (Copy-Paste) + How to Use It
A free catering invoice template you can copy and use today. Plus what to include, common mistakes, and when to upgrade to automated invoicing.
Catering CRM vs Spreadsheet: When Spreadsheets Break
Spreadsheets work for catering until about 10 active leads. See the specific failure modes — double-booking, lost follow-ups — and when to switch.
Best Catering Software 2026: Honest Comparison of 7 Platforms
Honest 2026 roundup of Caterease, CaterZen, TPP, Tripleseat, Curate, Galley, and CK AI. Comparison table, pros/cons, and recommendations by use case.
How to Start a Catering Business in 2026: The Complete Guide
Step-by-step guide to starting a catering business in 2026 — licensing, kitchen options, first menu, finding clients, software, and costly mistakes to avoid.
Catering Leads Conversion: Why You Lose Them and How to Fix It
Speed-to-quote is the #1 predictor of booking rate in catering. See the data on how fast leads go cold, and how to respond in under 5 minutes.
Catering Labor Cost: The True Breakdown (With a Worked Example)
Wages are only half of catering labor cost. See the fully-loaded number — taxes, insurance, admin overhead — worked out for a real 5-person operation.
How Many Hours Caterers Spend on Admin Work (And Where They Go)
A breakdown of where the 20+ weekly admin hours go for a typical 5-person catering crew — quoting, invoicing, scheduling, email — with real numbers.