Starting a catering business is an exciting opportunity to turn your culinary passion into a profitable venture. But before you begin serving your delicious dishes, you must ensure your business is legally compliant.
Many new caterers underestimate the importance of obtaining the proper licenses and permits, which can lead to costly fines or even business closure. Understanding the legal requirements upfront will save you time, money, and stress.
In this guide, you'll learn:
By the end of this article, you’ll have a clear roadmap to launch your catering business with confidence legally.
The very first step that a new business should take is:
This is a requirement for every single food business and they have to do so at least 28 days before opening their business. This applies to: home-based catering, mobile catering, event catering, and commercial kitchens. This registration (or notification as is officially known) is without a fee.
This license is the foundation of your catering business, granting official permission to operate within your city or county.
In Tullow, Co. Carlow, where I registered the business, the process was straightforward but required detailed information about my business structure. While it initially felt invasive, I now understand its importance for local authorities to ensure legal and safe business operations.
After this is completed, an Environmental Health Officer will inspect the premises to make sure everything is up to scratch.
The next step is adhering to and understanding food hygiene and safety. For my own personal business, I had to complete the HACCP training up to level 3. In Ireland and Europe this certification is a requirement for new catering businesses. It includes the 7 principles:
1. Identify the hazards
2. Determine the critical control points (CCP)
4. Monitor CCPs
5. Establish the corrective actions
6. Establish procedures for verification to confirm the HACCP system is working effectively
7. Establish documentation concerning all procedures and records appropriate to these principles and their application
Essentially, this is to ensure food safety. Your food safety management ensures that you can identify any potential hazards that could pose a danger to the preparation of safe food.
The principles are vital for several reasons:
1. They promote hygiene among staff, lowering contamination risks.
2. They prevent foodborne illnesses
3. They comply with food safety regulations
It also demonstrates food safety commitment for the guests and can lead to a greater business. For some customers, having a HACCP certification and food safety management system in place is essential.
When I first passed my Food Safety Training exam, it covered everything from proper handwashing techniques to safe food storage temperatures. Even with my years of kitchen experience, it was eye-opening. You apply through the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) in Ireland. It can be taken online or in person and usually takes one day to complete.
The cost generally ranges from €30 to €100. At Caterboss, we recommend factoring this cost into the startup budget for each food-handling employee. According to FSAI statistics, businesses with properly trained staff see a 20% reduction in food safety incidents.
EU regulations require food businesses to label the allergens on menus and food labels. If selling prepackaged food, it is essential to label the ingredients list, use-by dates, storage instructions and business name and contact details.
There are 14 allergens that must be displayed by law.
The statistics show many people have food allergies in Ireland. In fact, In Ireland, 3% of adults and 6% of children have food allergies. 1 in 55 children are allergic to peanuts. It is therefore vital that caterers take steps to prevent allergic reactions.
There are a significant amount of businesses that do not display allergens but we are not one of them. Here, at Caterboss, we understand the importance of protecting our clients from danger and will take the appropriate steps to prevent it.
If you are operating under a business name different from your own surname, you must register with the Company Registration Office.
I filed the paperwork with the Companies Registration Office. The cost ranges from about €10 to €100, depending on location and business structure.
It's essential for opening business bank accounts, accepting payments, and entering contracts under your business name. It's a crucial step in separating personal and business finances and making your business legitimate.
Additionally, you must register for tax obligations, including VAT (if applicable), employer taxes (if hiring staff), and income or corporation tax. This ensures that your business operates legally, avoids penalties, and remains compliant with financial and regulatory requirements. Proper registration also enhances credibility, allowing you to secure business contracts and access financial support if needed.
A new catering business needs several different types of insurance to protect the owner and the consumer. There are three types of insurance in particular needed:
This generally refers to coverage for customers or guests (claims from third party) in case of injuries or property damage caused by your catering services.
2. Product Liability Insurance
This protects the catering business from food contamination or foodborne illnesses that may befall your guests. If customers contracted food poisoning by the food served, product liability insurance would cover the legal fees and potential claims.
3. Employer’s Liability Insurance
This refers to insurance covering staff of business. If you hire staff, you legally must have Employer’s Liability Insurance. This covers workplace accidents or illnesses, suffered by employees whilst working.
Having insurance is not only important in safeguarding your business but also speaks volumes about the professionalism of your business to the staff and guests alike.
There can be additional licensing for your catering business such as Food truck Catering or Alcohol Sales.
Navigating liquor licensing is crucial if you plan to serve alcohol at your catered events. Due to its complexity, this area often confuses caterers. In Ireland, a catering event held at a venue that wouldn’t usually sell alcohol, such as a village hall, should be covered by an occasional licence. This licence is issued to a holder of an existing alcohol permit. Applying at the local District Court for an occasional license is necessary.
As part of your application, you must provide detailed information about your business, serving practices, and staff training procedures. All serving staff must have training in responsible serving practices, such as excess alcohol and age verification.
A Special Restaurant Licence is an alternative caterer alcohol permit appropriate for catering businesses that allows you to sell alcohol for consumption as long as the company is primarily a restaurant operation. You must serve a substantial food offering and not operate like a traditional bar.
You must apply online through the Revenue Commissioners' Revenue On-Line Services (ROS) to obtain these licenses. It is important to remember that the special restaurant license must be renewed by the applicant annually – otherwise they have to go through the process of application again.
As well as some of the above, there are several different catering licenses for specific types of catering. For mobile catering (commonly a food truck catering service), you must have a food truck permit or license.
The license tends to vary depending on the location of your food truck. Therefore, it is necessary to contact the local council to find out which permit is required. Your local council will provide you with all of the information regarding the correct permit. It is essential to comply with all of the legal requirements.
Food truck catering also requires a Casual Trading License. This is required for any business that does trade on the street. It is important to trade only on the terms of the license. The price of this license can range from 63 euro per month to 380 euro per year. This can also be obtained by your legal authority. The license continues for 12 months unless revoked. A holder of the Casual Trading License must display this to the public and present it at any time when asked.
Ensuring your catering business has the proper licenses and permits is critical in building a successful and legally compliant operation. From health permits to business licenses, understanding the requirements in your area will help you avoid legal pitfalls and unexpected delays.
By taking the time to research costs, application processes, and location-specific regulations, you’ll set your business up for smooth operations from day one. Remember, legal compliance isn’t just a box to check—it’s the foundation of a thriving, professional catering service.
Now that you know what’s required, contact your local licensing office or start the application process today!
Ciaran Kilbride is the CEO and Founder of Caterboss, Ireland's leading supplier of catering equipment. With years of experience in the food and hospitality industry, Ciaran established Caterboss in 2017 to provide high-quality, reliable equipment tailored to the needs of professional caterers. His commitment to innovation and customer service has helped Caterboss grow into a trusted name, known for anticipating industry trends and consistently meeting the needs of its clients.
