{"id":47,"date":"2025-11-05T08:24:15","date_gmt":"2025-11-05T08:24:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cm.studiopampas.be\/?page_id=47"},"modified":"2026-04-14T12:06:20","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T10:06:20","slug":"blog","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/catermonkey.com\/en\/blog\/","title":{"rendered":"Blog"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Blog<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n

Running a catering business means making decisions every day without always having time to look things up. This is where you find the answers. Practical guides on pricing, quoting, invoicing and everything else that keeps your operation running.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\"Cateringofferte<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n

What costs should you include in a catering quote?<\/h2><\/div><\/div>\n\n

A comprehensive catering quote includes all the costs necessary to successfully execute your event. This includes not only ingredients and staff, but also transport, materials, hidden costs such as administration and insurance, plus a healthy profit margin. A well-thought-out cost calculation ensures that you remain profitable and that customers do not encounter any surprises. Every professional catering quote starts with four fundamental cost items that you should always include. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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How do you create a professional catering quote?<\/h2><\/div><\/div>\n\n

You can create a professional catering quote by systematically including all the necessary elements: contact details, event details, menu options, prices, delivery conditions and payment terms. Focus on clear pricing, visually appealing presentation and good communication with your customer. A well-structured quotation not only increases your conversion rate, but also strengthens your company image and customer confidence in the competitive catering market. Your quotation is often the first real contact a potential customer has with your company. It largely determines whether you will win the contract or whether a competitor will reap the rewards. A professional quotation immediately builds trust. Customers see [\u2026] <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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\"Calculator<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n

How do you calculate prices for a catering quote?<\/h2><\/div><\/div>\n\n

A good price calculation for your catering quote starts with mapping out all costs: ingredients, staff, transport, materials and overheads. Add a healthy profit margin of 20-40%, depending on your type of assignment and customer. Don’t forget to take into account additional costs such as weekend and evening surcharges, and build in a buffer for unforeseen expenses. Accurate pricing is the foundation of your business success. Without proper cost calculation, you run the risk of carrying out assignments at a loss, which undermines your profitability. Professional pricing also gives you a strong competitive position. You can consciously choose to […] <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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What are the VAT rules for catering invoicing?<\/h2><\/div><\/div>\n\n

VAT rules for catering invoicing may seem complicated, but with the right knowledge, it becomes a lot easier. As a catering company, you have to deal with different VAT rates depending on your services and locations. You need to know when to charge 9% or 21% VAT, which costs you can deduct, and how to draw up invoices correctly. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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What is a healthy profit margin in the hospitality industry?<\/h2><\/div><\/div>\n\n

A healthy profit margin in the hospitality industry is between 3% and 15%, depending on your type of business. Restaurants usually operate on a net margin of 3-5%, pubs can achieve 10-15%, and catering companies often sit between 5-10%. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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Is a quotation a valid contract?<\/h2><\/div><\/div>\n\n

A quotation becomes a valid contract when both parties accept the terms and conditions and there is mutual agreement. In the hospitality and events industry, this usually takes the form of written confirmation, a signature or the payment of a deposit. Without clear acceptance, a quotation remains a non-binding proposal. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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What is a non-binding quote?<\/h2><\/div><\/div>\n\n

A non-binding quotation is a price estimate that you, as an entrepreneur, can adjust or withdraw without legal consequences. For hospitality and event companies, this offers flexibility in changing circumstances such as seasonal prices, uncertain supplier costs, or complex events where details are still subject to change. It allows you to give an indication of costs without committing yourself definitively to the terms and conditions. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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What are the legal requirements for a quotation?<\/h2><\/div><\/div>\n\n

In the Netherlands, there are specific legal requirements for quotations that every hospitality and events entrepreneur must be aware of. A quotation must contain mandatory company details, state a period of validity and show correct VAT information. These rules protect both you as an entrepreneur and your customers, and provide clarity about rights and obligations. As a hospitality or events entrepreneur, your quotation must comply with various legal provisions. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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How binding is a quotation?<\/h2><\/div><\/div>\n\n

A quotation becomes binding once the customer has accepted it and all legal conditions have been met. This means that both parties have obligations: you must deliver what you have promised and the customer must pay. For hospitality and event professionals, it is important to know when a quotation becomes legally binding and how you can protect yourself. A quotation becomes legally binding when there is a valid agreement between you and your customer. This happens as soon as three conditions are met: acceptance, specificity and a valid period of validity. Acceptance means that the customer has clearly said “yes” to your [\u2026] <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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