Become a Catering Professional
Catering professionals organize and oversee events and functions, providing food, beverage and entertainment services for clients in a wide variety of locations. In this 100% online course, you will learn the foundations of catering and the principles for operating a successful catering business.
Registration and Enrollment
This course is 100% online. Start anytime!
Course Details
- The foundations of integrated disciplines such as event planning, food and beverage management, sales and marketing, human resources, accounting practices and legal contracts.
- To manage the challenges of employee inductions, performance appraisals, exit interviews, staffing requirements, food safety, legal requirements and licensing, budgeting considerations and profit margins.
- Knowledge of catering management complements previous work experience within the catering and events industry.
The Elements of Catering Services
Catering Events
Food Service Styles
The Essentials of Main Service Styles
The Advantages of Main Service Styles
Resources Required for Main Service Styles
Budget Considerations for Main Service Styles
Calculating Human Resource Requirements for Main Service Styles
Matching the Service Style to the Catering Event
Events Management Collaboration
The Structure of Event Types Event Planning
Additional Catering and Event Services
Food Production Practices
Food Production Systems and Methods
Food Safety Requirements
Converting Measurements
Portion Estimation for Events
Beverage Management Requirements
Legal Considerations
Characteristics of Spirits
Characteristics of Wine
Beverage Profit Margins
Sales and Marketing Plans
Target Markets
Marketing Plans
Sales Forecasts
Catering Contracts
Elements of a Contract
Essential Clauses
Other Laws
Human Resource Planning
The Recruitment Process
Employee Inductions
The Training Cycle
Performance appraisals
Exit Interviews
Accounting Principles
Accounting Terminology
Financial Statements
Accounting Methods
Inventory Valuation Methods
There are no prerequisites for this course.
Hardware Requirements:
- This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.
Software Requirements:
- PC: Windows 10 or later.
- Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
- Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
- Adobe Acrobat Reader.
- Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.
Other:
- Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.
Instructional Material Requirements:
The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.
Thea Roberts
Thea Roberts is an instructor with a background in business administration. Previously, she was a finance officer and employment advisor. She also held a position in the Washington State Ombudsman Program. Roberts holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Master of Arts.
Liselle Turner
Liselle Turner is a content writer and project manager. In addition to her background in advertising, she has worked in the learning and development industry. Turner holds a Bachelor of Business, a Diploma of Hospitality and Management, and a Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training.
$1,295.00 (USD) per person.
This course is 100% online.
| Course Hours | Duration | Start Date |
|---|---|---|
| 100 Course Hrs | 6 Months | Start anytime! |
Job Outlook
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), demand for food service-related careers is expected to grow by 6% between now and 2029. For skill-specific positions such as catering chef, the BLS forecasts job growth of 11% in that time frame.
According to Indeed.com, catering managers in the United States earn $49,220 per year, on average. Top catering managers earn over $100,000 per year working in premier hotels and food service organizations.
FAQs
WHAT DO CATERING PROFESSIONALS DO?
Catering professionals blend the best practices in food service and entertainment with strong business and management principles to produce memorable events for their clients. They organize, prepare and produce functions ranging from wedding receptions to corporate events and many others.
HOW HAS CATERING BEEN IMPACTED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC?
Like every industry, catering operators were impacted by the coronavirus outbreak. Restaurant Business Online estimated that as many as two-thirds of all caterers reduced their operations. However, as catering is among the most mobile and flexible of the food service areas, experts expect it to recover quickly by shifting to business models that embrace social distancing and meal delivery.
IS CATERING THE SAME AS RESTAURANT AND HOTEL FOOD SERVICE?
Many catering professionals work in restaurant or hotel catering departments. Others create their own companies or join catering firms. Catering within a hotel or restaurant involves providing event-specific space, menus and services to groups who use the facility to host an event or function.
“I enjoyed this course very much. I’ve already told my friends about it. Thank you for making it so interesting and covering so many topics of concern.”