One of the most popular businesses during Ramadan is catering. It’s no surprise that many people turn to this business during the month. However, profits won’t come if you don’t manage your finances properly. That’s why you need to use Labamu’s Billing feature.
Additionally, make sure you have a solid business plan and marketing strategy so your business can generate maximum profits. Avoid missteps that could lead to losses.
Here are some tips for running a successful catering business during Ramadan, along with strategies suited for this type of business.
Why Choose a Catering Business?
Ramadan is closely associated with food, as everyone who is fasting needs meals for sahur and iftar. This creates a greater opportunity for catering businesses or any business that sells food.
The high demand for ready-to-eat meals gives food businesses a great opportunity to generate significant revenue in a relatively short time.
This is because many people prefer buying meals for sahur and iftar rather than cooking themselves, often due to time constraints.
That’s why many eateries extend their hours during sahur, as there are still plenty of customers at that time—especially those who live alone and cannot cook for themselves.
However, large families are also a key customer segment for catering businesses. Why? During Ramadan, they are more likely to gather with family for iftar. For those who don’t want the hassle of cooking, ordering catering becomes the ideal solution.
Additionally, Ramadan is a time when people compete in giving charity by sharing food at mosques, with people on the streets, or even to orphanages. The easiest way to do this is by ordering food from a catering service.
Tips for Running a Successful Catering Business During Ramadan
1. Conduct Market Research
This is an important first step when starting a catering business during Ramadan. The goal is to understand consumer needs so you can tailor your menu to suit your target market’s preferences.
Next, don’t forget to analyze your competitors so you can identify their strengths and weaknesses. This will help you determine the unique aspects of your catering business.
2. Create a Business Plan
After conducting market research, the next step is to create a business plan. Make a detailed plan covering everything from capital, menu offerings, packaging, pricing, sales methods, marketing strategies, and other important details.
Having a business plan helps you stay focused on running your catering business, making it easier to achieve your business goals.
Although your plan may undergo some changes once the business is running, you will already have a solid main guide to follow.
3. Ensure Thorough Operational Preparation
This step is crucial to ensure that your catering business runs smoothly from the start.
Preparations should include having adequate cooking equipment, appropriate serving containers, and, most importantly, high-quality ingredients. Make sure everything is available in sufficient quantities to fulfill large-scale orders.
For ingredients, be sure to use the best quality, as this determines both the taste and presentation of your food. Also, ensure that all ingredients are certified halal.
Additionally, provide training for your employees so they can effectively assist in production, packaging, and delivery processes. This ensures they are ready to handle the increased demand during Ramadan.
Also read: 10 Ramadan Business Ideas That Are Sure to Be Profitable
Marketing Strategies You Can Use
1. Ensure Your Business Is Easily Accessible Online
Nowadays, everyone prefers shopping online, including for food. Make sure your catering business is easily accessible online, such as through WhatsApp or dedicated restaurant apps.
You can create an online store and a QR Menu using the Labamu app, allowing customers to access your business anytime and anywhere, making ordering much easier.
2. Leverage Social Media for Promotion
Social media is very effective for promotion and expanding your market reach. However, make sure to post engaging content, such as food photos, behind-the-scenes videos, or customer testimonials, to capture attention.
Additionally, you should actively engage with your followers, especially when responding to questions from potential customers and addressing complaints from existing ones.
3. Create Attractive Promotions
Everyone loves a good promotion. You can offer attractive deals, such as bundling sahur and iftar packages at a lower price, or giving a bonus menu item when customers purchase multiple dishes.
Promotions like these are sure to attract potential customers, as they feel they can save more while buying.
4. Offer Shipping Discounts
High shipping or delivery fees are one of the main reasons customers decide not to buy from your catering business. One way to overcome this is by offering delivery fee discounts.
You can offer a 100% discount, meaning free delivery, with a minimum purchase in certain areas, or provide a delivery fee reduction for new customers.
This approach will attract potential customers to try your food and help retain existing customers to keep ordering from you.
5. Collaborate with Communities and Influencers
You can promote your catering business to local communities or organizations that are active during Ramadan. Offer special catering packages for the fasting month at more affordable prices.
If you have a bigger budget, you can also collaborate with influencers who align with your target market. This way, you’ll gain even wider exposure.
Simplify Customer Billing with Labamu’s Billing Feature
Not all customers will make upfront payments. For large orders, full payment can be completed after all items have been delivered and received by the customer.
If payments are delayed or incomplete, it can significantly impact your business revenue and even lead to losses. After all, the goal of running a catering business during Ramadan is to maximize profits.
To manage and send official invoices to customers confidently, you can use Labamu’s Billing feature. This feature helps maintain a professional relationship with your customers while providing digital payment options that keep your cash flow smooth.
Sending invoices using Labamu’s Billing feature is very easy. With just a few clicks, the billing process becomes faster and more accurate. Here are the steps:
- Open the Labamu app on your phone or in a web browser.
- Click the “Billing” feature in the “Business” menu.
- Click “+ New Invoice.”
- Set the billing date and the invoice’s validity period.
- Select the customer and the products to be invoiced.
- Click “Confirm Products” and then “Send Invoice.”
To help your catering business run more smoothly this Ramadan, try using the Invoice feature in Labamu.
