Guides
Practical guides on recipe costing, event pricing, allergen compliance, and running a catering business in the UK.
Starting a Catering Business in the UK: Costs, Licences & Software
A practical guide to starting a catering business in the UK. Covers registration, food hygiene, insurance, startup costs, and the software tools you need.
22 May 2026
Catering Invoice Template UK: Free Download + How to Invoice
A guide to catering invoices in the UK. What to include, when to send them, and a free template to get started. Covers VAT, deposits, and payment terms.
15 May 2026
Natasha's Law for Caterers: What You Need to Know in 2026
What Natasha's Law means for UK caterers in 2026. Covers PPDS requirements, which caterers are affected, enforcement, and how to stay compliant.
8 May 2026
How to Quote for Catering Events: Per-Head Pricing Guide
A step-by-step guide to quoting for catering events. Covers per-head vs flat-fee pricing, what to include in your quote, and how to avoid undercharging.
1 May 2026
The 14 Allergens UK Caterers Must Track Under Natasha's Law
A complete guide to the 14 allergens UK caterers must declare. Covers each allergen with common sources in catering, hidden allergens, and practical tracking advice.
24 April 2026
Recipe Costing: Excel Spreadsheet vs Dedicated Software
An honest comparison of recipe costing in Excel vs dedicated software. When spreadsheets work, when they break, and what to look for if you decide to switch.
17 April 2026
Catering Profit Margins: What UK Micro-Caterers Actually Earn
What profit margins do UK micro-caterers actually achieve? A breakdown of gross margins, net margins, and the costs that eat into your catering profits.
10 April 2026
Private Chef Pricing UK: How Much to Charge Per Head
A practical guide to private chef pricing in the UK. Covers per-head rates, how to calculate your true costs, and how to set prices that protect your margins.
3 April 2026
Food Cost Formula: How to Calculate Your True Cost Per Dish
The food cost formula explained for UK caterers. Learn how to calculate cost per dish, food cost percentage, and apply waste factors — with worked examples.
27 March 2026
PPDS Labelling for Caterers: What Natasha's Law Means for Your Business
A practical guide to PPDS labelling and Natasha's Law for UK caterers. Covers which foods need labelling, the 14 allergens, what goes on a label, and how to stay compliant.
20 March 2026
What to Look for in Catering Costing Software (UK Buyer's Guide)
A criteria-based guide to choosing catering costing software in the UK. Covers event scaling, allergen compliance, pricing, per-head costing, and what micro-caterers actually need.
13 March 2026
Recipe Costing for Caterers: How to Price Every Dish Accurately
A practical guide to recipe costing for UK caterers. Learn the costing methodology, calculate true dish costs, and avoid the margin-killing mistakes most caterers make.
6 March 2026
How to Calculate Food Cost Per Head for Catering Events
Step-by-step guide to calculating your true cost per head for catering events. Includes worked example for a 40-cover dinner party, the food cost formula, and margin targets.
27 February 2026
Get notified when CaterCost launches
Recipe costing, event pricing, and allergen tracking — built for UK micro-caterers.