A large segment of the business consists of off-premise caterers, and this is the segment that you will be operating in. These are companies that bring ingredients and staff to a home, office, or other location and take care of the food for the client's party, meeting, or other event. They may bring partially cooked or assembled ingredients to the location and finish the foods on-site. They will definitely bring prepped ingredients, enough for the number of guests agreed upon in the contract.

These firms bring cooks, servers, and other staff as needed, including bartenders and grillers. Off-premise firms vary in size and complexity. Some are small and rent tables, linens, and stemware for their clients. Others are sizeable entities, complete with a fleet of trucks; their own tables, linens, and tabletop items; and a full-time, year-round staff.