How To Start A Self Catering Accommodation Business In South Africa

What is Self Catering Accommodation?

Self-catering is the term most often used to describe self-contained holiday accommodation which has facilities for guests to prepare their own meals.

How To Start A Self Catering Accommodation Business In South Africa

Decide If You Are Ready to Be Self-Employed

The good news about starting a self-catering company is that you can start small – in other words, you can keep your day job. As your catering business grows, you may consider taking on catering as your full-time profession. Weigh your options: can you afford to lose a steady paycheck? How do you handle stress? (Be honest). Consider your family situation. Running a catering business involves long hours, especially on nights, weekends and holidays. How will that affect your spouse and/or children? Being your own boss is a highly personal choice that shouldn’t be made in haste.

Study the Competition

The next step toward starting a self-catering business is to know your competition. Just like if you were getting ready to open a new restaurant, you need to know the menu and prices of other caterers in your area. This will help you plan your own menu and keep you from pricing yourself out of business before you even get started.

Write a Self Catering Menu

A catering menu can be as simple as finger rolls and potato chips or as elaborate as caviar and truffles. Much like a restaurant menu, a catering menu should offer a mix of old favorites (cheese and crackers never go out of style) and signature dishes that set you apart from your competition. If you are going into the catering business, it’s probably because you are a good cook (right?). So, now is the time to let our favorite dishes shine.

Choose a Name for Your Self-Catering Business

Like selecting a restaurant name, choosing a name for your catering company can reflect your food, location or be a play on words, such as On the Go Catering. If you choose to name your self-catering business to reflect a certain type of cuisine, such as Marie’s Fine Italian Catering be careful it doesn’t limit your clientele. What if Marie offers non-Italian food, along with her fine pasta and sauce? People wouldn’t automatically assume that she also makes finger rolls and chicken pot pie.

Incorporate Your Self-Catering Business

Most states require any food business to obtain a myriad licenses, insurance and permits, including, but not limited to: liquor licenses, unemployment insurance, worker’s comp insurance, food handlers permit, etc…And, you will also need to incorporate your business so you can pay taxes. If you are just starting out, you may be able to use your social security number. If you incorporate, your business will be assigned and EIN number.

Hire Catering Staff

As your self-catering business grows, you will need extra staff. Most likely, at least in the early business years, staff will only be part time. Look for personable, organized individuals whom you can comfortably delegate tasks.

Purchase Catering Equipment

Your initial start-up costs for self-catering equipment will depend on your budget. You may be able to get by with a few nice serving platters and use whatever cooking equipment you have in your home kitchen. But if you are looking to expand you catering business, you will eventually need to upgrade to commercial equipment.

Market Your Self-Catering Business

If you can afford it right at the beginning, invest in a website, since more and more people turn to the internet to find goods and services. At a minimum, your website should have contact information, menu packages and prices and some good photos of your food or past events. Beyond a website, you may consider joining your local chamber of commerce or other small business organization. You can create an attractive self-catering menu right on your home computer and have it professionally printed for a reasonable cost.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do you need a Licence for a holiday let?

But you may not be aware that as an owner of a holiday let, you need to apply for a Hotel and Mobile Units Television Licence (hotel licence). It’s also important to remember that a license is needed regardless of how the programmes are being viewed. These include devices such as computers, mobile phones or tablets.

What is needed for self catering accommodation?

The Essential Self Catering Accommodation Checklist

Food storage containers.
Thermos flasks (for a hot drink on a long walk or excursion)
Reusable water bottles.
Preferred coffee-making gadgets.
Clingfilm and tin foil.
Matches or a lighter.
Bottle and tin opener (just in case)
Paper napkins.

What is classed as self catering accommodation?

In a nutshell, self-catering accommodation refers to a property which provides the necessary facilities to allow guests to cater (i.e. cook) for themselves. It might be a holiday cottage, house, apartment, country mansion or something a little more quirky like a tree-house, yurt or even a boat.

Do you need planning permission to turn a house into a holiday let in South Africa?

Is planning permission required for a holiday let? Letting an existing holiday property does not require planning permission, since there is no change of use, provided that you don’t intend to make any physical changes to the property.

Does self catering include cleaning?

You will have to make your own beds and keep the apartment clean. There will not be a maid coming in every day to make the bed and clean the bathroom. Of course the apartment management will send in a cleaner at least weekly and after you leave, but they do like you to leave the apartment in a reasonable clean state.

Is a holiday home a commercial property?

Only holiday homes which are available for 140 days or more every year would be classed as a commercial property, protecting against any exploitation.

Are holiday homes a good investment In South Africa?

Yes! Owning a holiday let can be financially rewarding and an overall fantastic endeavour. Whether it’s to generate income, supplement savings in retirement or simply cover the costs of owning a second property.