How to Save Corporate Catering Expenses for Your Next Company Event
Corporate events are an excellent opportunity to promote your brand, strengthen business relationships, and reward employees. However, organizing an event requires careful planning, time, and money. One of the most significant expenses for a corporate event is catering. Whether you're planning a small meeting, a team-building activity, or a large conference, catering can be a significant expense.
However, with some planning, consideration, and partnering with the right business catering services provider, you can save on corporate catering costs while ensuring your event's success. In this blog, we'll discuss some practical tips to help you save on your next company event and how to build a catering strategy that doesn't break the bank.
Plan Ahead
Planning is one of the most effective ways to save money on corporate catering costs. By understanding your budget, the number of attendees, and the type of food you want to serve, you can avoid last-minute expenses and ensure you have enough food for your guests.
Determine Your Budget
As you start planning your event, factor in how much you can afford to spend on business catering services with the total cost of hosting your event, including the venue, speakers, logistics, and more. This will help you narrow down your options and avoid overspending. Be realistic about your budget, and remember to include taxes, tips, and other hidden costs.
Know Your Guests
Before you start organizing catering, it's essential to get an accurate headcount of who will be attending your event. This will help you plan how much food you'll need to provide.
Afterward, consider your guests' dietary requirements, allergies, and preferences when planning your menu. Doing so will help you avoid food waste, accommodate everyone's needs, and prevent additional expenses or last-minute setbacks.
You can estimate the number of attendees by sending out RSVPs and following up. For dietary preferences, consider asking guests to indicate their choices when they RSVP or send out a separate survey.
Opt for Simple and Cost-Effective Menu Options
Another way to save on corporate catering expenses is to choose simple, cost-effective food options. You can determine the appropriate menu and portion sizes depending on the time of day and context of your event.
Buffet-Style Meals
Buffet-style meals are an excellent option for corporate event catering as they offer a wide variety of food options that are more budget-friendly than plated meals. They also encourage guests to interact and network, making them ideal for team-building activities, trainings, and lunch and learns.
Disposable Cutlery and Plates
Using disposable cutlery and plates can save you money on cleaning fees and reduce the risk of breakage. It's also a convenient option for outdoor events without dishwashing facilities.
Beverages
Serving non-alcoholic beverages such as water, soft drinks, and juice for corporate lunch catering can significantly reduce expenses. Alcohol is often the most expensive item on a catering menu, and limiting its consumption can save you money.
Reduce Food Waste
Apart from ethical concerns, wasted food significantly impacts your company's bottom line regarding corporate event catering. You can order the right amount of food without overordering by getting an accurate headcount and considering your guests' dietary preferences.
Serving small portions is another way to minimize corporate catering costs. Encourage guests only to take what they need to ensure there's enough for everyone and avoid wastage.
Choose SimpleCater
While these steps can help you develop a cost-effective catering strategy for your corporate event, who you choose to deliver high-quality food that will delight your guests without breaking the bank is just as important. SimpleCater is a concierge catering company that makes it easy to save money and time while planning office catering services.
Benefits of SimpleCater for Your Next Corporate Event
- High-quality food: We partner with hundreds of local restaurants, vendors, and logistics partners to ensure your food is delivered fresh and on time with no compromises.
- Easy ordering: Our online platform is easy to use and convenient for your busy schedule. Just fill out a request with the details of your event, and we'll help you develop corporate catering ideas and create custom menus for you to review, make changes, and approve.
- Flexible: SimpleCater's dedicated team is here to ensure your corporate catering needs are met, even on short notice.
- Accountable: We make your business success ours. We're available 24/7 to answer any questions and keep you updated on the status of your corporate catering packages.
Count on SimpleCater to deliver high-quality, delicious office catering that will delight your guests without going over budget. Start planning your next corporate event or office catering delivery today and get your first catering free! Whether you need to feed 5 to 500, we've got you covered.