How do I check a catering company’s tasting menus and proposal templates?
Ask to see the current menus and the proposals actually sent to clients, then compare them with what was booked. Find out who wrote them, who owns the recipes and photos, and how much work each proposal takes. Templates are valuable only if someone other than the owner can use them.
Start with a stack of recent proposals, including ones that did not result in a booking. Look at how they are priced, how they describe service, and how consistent they are. Ask how many proposals turn into events and how the seller follows up. A strong template saves time; a pile of one-off documents suggests that each sale is custom work done by one person.
Next, look at tasting menus. Ask who created the dishes, whether recipes are written with quantities, and whether the kitchen team can reproduce them reliably. Attend a tasting if the seller will arrange one, and judge the food, the presentation and the way the team talks to prospective clients. Check whether menus rely on a single supplier or a single cook.
Finally, ask about ownership and transfer. Photos, recipes, menus, templates and the proposal files should all pass with the business, and your lawyer can confirm in the agreement that they do. Ask where the files are stored and who has access. Keep copies for the buyer’s review, and note which items are already out of date. Ask which menus sell best and why, and whether any dishes depend on a seasonal ingredient that is hard to source.
Key takeaways
- Read recent proposals, including ones that never became bookings.
- Attend a tasting and ask whether the recipes are written down.
- Have your lawyer confirm that menus, photos and templates transfer to you.
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
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