Garnished Affair | Application Preview
Garnished Affair is seeking government grants to support its transition into a full-time catering business. The funding will be used for essential equipment purchases, branding efforts like business cards and a website, social media setup, financial management tools, and uniforms for staff, estimated at around $3,000. Additionally, $2,500 will be allocated for compliance with health department regulations, commissary kitchen rentals, and local Chamber of Commerce membership fees to enhance networking opportunities. The remaining funds will function as working capital to cover event-related expenses, including rentals and supplies.
In case of receiving more funding, the business plans to upgrade kitchen equipment and invest in a trailer and truck for events, along with essential items like a generator and larger cooking equipment.
The business development strategy includes engaging with the local Chamber of Commerce, targeted social media campaigns, participating in local farmers' markets, and joining small business networking groups.
The applicant emphasizes a passion for serving others through food, sharing over 20 years of experience in the restaurant and catering industry. After successfully contributing to another catering company’s growth, the applicant seeks to establish an independent business that sets an example for her three daughters about pursuing their dreams despite challenges.
Garnished Affair aims to stand out in a limited local catering market, primarily competing against Distinguished Engagements, Court’s Kitchen, and Peers Restaurant. The business's competitive edge lies in its ability to offer a wide range of services from casual to high-end catering, complete event facilitation including rentals, and access to fresh, local produce. With extensive operational experience and a skilled team, Garnished Affair is well-positioned to meet and exceed client expectations.
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General Information
Business Registration Number: 273073151
Location: Culpeper, VA, United States
Length of Operation: 11plus
Number of Employees: 1-10 Employees
Annual Gross Income: $100k to $250k
Annual Gross Expense: Less than $100k
Open to Loans: YES
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Funding Usage
If awarded a grant I would be using that money to purchase the remaining equipment needed, setting up business cards, website, social media platforms, quickbooks for financial tracking and invoicing, uniform needs for myself and staff, shirts and aprons, roughly $3000. This money would also help finalize any health department inspection needs, setting up commissary kitchen rentals, fees for joining local Chamber groups for additional networking and booking of events, roughly $2500. The rest would be working capital for event needs, rentals, groceries, supplies. Any additional grant money would be used to upgrade current kitchen equipment, work on money for a trailer and truck for events, generator, ovens, tables, tents, larger scale equipment that would be useful in elevating the ability to create more custom events and menus with on site cooking capabilities.
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Business Plan
Joining the local chamber of commerce, and In the surrounding counties, focused target social media posting, local pop farmers market events, small business network groups. My heart has always been to serve others and for me, that is through food. After 16 years of catering here and there for myself while my girls were young and then working full time for the last 2.5 years with another caterer, I have decided its time to take the leap into a full time business for myself. I have helped the current company I am with triple their net profits since I’ve been with them. As a single mother of 3 daughters, I want them to see that if they have a dream, no matter what obstacles cross their path, they can still achieve their goals. I have over 20 years of experience in the restaurant/catering world, from management, to executive chef to sales. I have catered events by myself and with teams of up to 50 staff members. I love the uniqueness of each and every event. I love seeing the smile on a parents face when their daughter had the wedding of their dreams or the sigh of relief when an executive assistant knows their company has had an amazing holiday gathering and they can relax knowing everything is under control and i especially love to feed those families going through hard times with something warm and comforting even if it only helps for a moment. I feel it is time to stop giving all my time and energy to someone else's dream and give it to my own, for my family.
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Self Identified Competition
There aren’t too many catering options in the immediate area. Distinguished Engagements would be the top competitor, As they are the company, I will be leaving. Court’s Kitchen is a small local charcuterie business that provides some similar services. And peers restaurant also provides Catering, but not to the same high-end style that I can provide. I have the ability to provide services from casual to high-end, To facilitate events from start to finish, including rentals of tents tables, chairs plate, where China, Decorating needs, I have connections to local farms and other vendors for the freshest farm to table Seasonal produce. I have seasoned high-end and casual banquet dining staff members available if needed. And I have years of experience from kitchen to Catering running all aspects of operations, payroll administration, marketing sales client communication, As well as all the responsibilities executive chefs skills, From menu creation to shopping to food cost to preparation to execution And the ability to lead a team in the front of the house in the back of the house to ensure that all events meet and the exceeded clients needs.
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Contact Applicant
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