This article is part of a series called “Getting Off-Premises”, which examines how to build an off-premises business.

Follow Jim Rand, catering practice leader, as he visits Haido Barnett, the owner of Andre’s Cafe in Boston. Haido offers a quick tip on how to get started in the catering business.

TRANSCRIPT:

Jim Rand: If you had to go back and do it all over again, would you jump into catering from day one?

Haido Barnett: I wouldn’t have wasted one second. One second.

Jim Rand: So how do you help other people who might be in your situation?

Haido Barnett: Come up with two or three things that you feel really confident [about, that] you know you can execute, that you’re not worried about traveling from Point A to Point B. And focus on that, and target that, and really do a great job at that. Because guess what? Most of these clients only are going to use you. You can’t be everything to everybody.

Jim Rand: That is such excellent advice because I find that, often, when I look at catering menus they tend to put everything that’s on their brick-and-mortar menu on their catering menu. And you’re right; you can’t execute it.