- How much can I use to start my catering business?
- Do I even need a license?
- What kind of catering business pays the most?
- How and where can I find customers?
- How much do I charge for my services and still make a gain?
This article is your complete and honest guide on going about all of these.
Key Insights
- You don’t need a large amount of money to start your catering business, you just need strategy and the right tools.
- You will need licensing and optional training to function legally in Nigeria.
- Focusing on the high-demand areas like office lunches, weddings helps to increase profits.
- The importance of social media and word of mouth in your business.
How Much Does It Cost To Start A Catering Business In Nigeria
Today, the truth is that what holds people down from starting a business is the cost.
But the good thing is, you can always start small and scale up. There is never a perfect amount to start a business, it all depends on your location, your niche, and how and where you want to start it. Maybe you want to work from home or you want to run a full-service kitchen, it still works.
Home-Based Setup (N200,000—N500,000)
This amount is ideal if you are starting with small orders like small chops, soups, or corporate lunch deliveries.
You will need the following things:
- Gas Cooker or cylinder
- A non-stick frying pan or an oven
- Basic utensils (pots, coolers, forks, ladles)
- Packaging materials (how you want your packaging to be is for you to decide)
- Starter ingredients
- Branding (business name, logo, etc)
The popular caterers today started from their compound before they became what they are today.
Example: Adeyemi started selling packaged small chops in her office. With N200k, she bought ingredients, packaging nylons, and even stickers with her brand name on them. Her social media accounts did the rest.
Medium-Scale Catering Setup (N2M—N4M)
With this, you can start handling small events, hire an assistant, and possibly rent a small place for your catering business.
This includes:
- Larger pots, grills, etc.
- Transportation (eg. a minibus, or paying drivers)
- Staff wages
- Marketing (complimentary and business cards, fliers)
- Rental equipment for big gigs.
Always note that you don’t have to rush to buy all this equipment, you can always rent it.
Do You Need Any License or Training To Start Your Catering Business in Nigeria?
The short and quick answer is yes, if you want to be taken seriously and you want to be verified.
Register with CAC
You can verify and register your business name with the Corporate Affairs Commission site. This makes people accept and take you more seriously.
Fees: Around N10,000—N30,000 with some additional fees depending on how you are registering your business name.
Food Handler Certificate
This is an official document that verifies an individual has completed mandatory training and demonstrated understanding of proper food safety practices.
This certificate is issued by the local or state health departments or bodies like the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Training (This is optional but useful)
You don’t necessarily have to go to a culinary school to start your catering business, but if you can, do it. And if you can’t, you can do these instead:
- Take online catering courses
- Apprenticeship with a professional caterer
- Food hygiene class: This will show you how you can clean up your space and create a hygienic area for your customers.
All of these training gives you a deeper understanding of your presentation, costing, food safety, and even your branding.
Example: Joy in Kwara took a 12-week meal training and she started charging a plate of Jollof rice with chicken N4,500. The training gave Joy the confidence and clarity she lacked earlier.
What Are The Most Profitable Catering Businesses in Nigeria?
One thing you should understand is that not all catering niches pay the same. Choosing a niche helps you:
- Know your target audience
- Stand out in the catering market
- Know what to do and how much you want to charge
- Attract the right customers.
Here are the top 5 sought-after target markets worth considering:
1. Weddings and Big Events
- Pros: Helps you gain visibility, it is high volume, and also helps you get steady demand for your services.
- Cons: Stress and heavy logistics
- Pricing: N2000–N5000 per plate
- Tip: Build a trustworthy team.
2. Small Chops and Finger Foods
- Pros: Very easy to start, and good for home-based businesses
- Cons: This can be very time-consuming if you don’t learn how to automate your tasks.
- Common items: Samosa, spring rolls, puff-puff, peppered chicken
3. Office Lunch Deliveries
- Pros: Steady and daily incomes, repeat customers
- Cons: Needs proper observation and time management to understand the office’s schedule you are delivering to.
- Target: Banks, tech-hubs, industries, government-owned offices
Example: Mrs Ajayi started making peppered snails and small chops to deliver to a UBA Bank in Lagos. One WhatsApp broadcast later, she was making N10k to N20k daily before office closing time.
4. Healthy Food Prep
- Pros: High demand for fit-fam meals
- Cons: Limited customers, strict portion control of their meals
- Target: Gym-goers, influencers, etc.
5. Funeral Catering
- Pros: Reliable demand, lower competition
- Cons: Sensitive client relationships
- Tip: Offer combo packages with servers, plates, and drinks
Where And How Do I Get My Customers Fast?
Now that you have your food ready, how do you locate your customers?
Start with people you are familiar with
These people can be your WhatsApp contacts, your friends and family—these are your first audience. Always post your fliers, ask for referrals, and post your reviews.
Take it to your social media
Your Instagram and your TikTok should be at your fingertips, use these social media to create your business page. Post your behind-the-scenes, the face behind the brand, and customer reviews.
Always make sure to use hashtags when posting so your posts can go viral.
Use Food Delivery Apps
Register your catering business in food apps like:
This helps you gain more audience and have instant reach.
Collaborate with Event Planners or Bakers
This will boost the growth of your business by 30%. You will handle the food while they do the rest. Give out discounts and referrals also.
How To Price Your Menu and Still Make a Profit
This part is somehow tricky, but here is a simple guide:
Step 1: Know Your Cost per Plate
Sum up:
- Cost of ingredients
- Packaging
- Your transport
- Gas/light
Example: If it costs you N2000 to make a plate of Jollof rice and beef, that’s your base amount.
Step 2: Add Your Profit Margin
You can charge N5000–N20000 depending on:
- Location
- Your client’s budget
- Branding
Don’t try to overprice and also, don’t go below your profit to attract customers.
Step 3: Create Bundles or Packages
- Wedding Bundle: (e.g 50 plates + servers + drinks N200k)
- Small Chops Tray: (for 10 people = N20k)
Having bundle packages makes it easier for you and even your clients. Never cook on credit, always accept part payment upfront.
Common Questions About Starting Catering Business in Nigeria
How long does it take to start making profit in catering business? Most home-based caterers start seeing profit within 2-3 months if they focus on steady customers like office deliveries.
What’s the biggest mistake new caterers make? Cooking on credit and not collecting upfront payment. This can kill your business fast.
Do I need to rent a shop to start catering business? No, you don’t. Many successful caterers still work from home and only rent venues when they have big events.
Can I start catering business without knowing how to cook well? You can, but you’ll need to hire a good cook or learn fast. Focus on one or two dishes you can make perfectly.
Read Also
How to Start a Business with No Money in 2025
How to Start Your Own Franchise Business in 4 Steps
Conclusion
Catering goes beyond cooking—it’s more about building a brand that people trust. It is planning, branding, and having good customer care, all in one. With this article, you can grow it from a kitchen business to a full-blown catering business.
Start small and don’t overthink it. Everything doesn’t have to be perfect, start now, and let them start booking.
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