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There are over 15,000 restaurant-based catering businesses and catering-focused restaurant locations operating across the United States, according to industry estimates. These establishments employ more than 400,000 people nationwide across restaurant operations, event planning, food preparation, delivery, management, and support roles. Catering restaurants are estimated to generate $15 billion annually in food and beverage sales. From independent catering companies and restaurant catering divisions to corporate catering providers, wedding caterers, and event-focused foodservice businesses, catering remains an important segment of the U.S. foodservice industry.
Catering businesses for sale are something many buyers explore due to diversified revenue streams, recurring corporate clients, and opportunities to serve weddings, social events, private parties, and business functions. The category includes full-service catering companies, restaurant-based catering operations, off-premise catering providers, event-focused foodservice businesses, and specialty caterers serving niche markets. Many catering businesses benefit from advance bookings, repeat customers, and the ability to operate with less reliance on traditional dine-in traffic.
It's no wonder those buying a business flock to catering businesses for sale offered by Restaurant Brokers. Catering businesses are an influential part of the American foodservice landscape. The category's combination of event-driven demand, corporate contracts, and multiple service opportunities creates opportunities for business owners across a wide variety of concepts and operating models.
Resources for Buying a Catering Style Restaurant For Sale
Buying a Catering Style Restaurant for Sale is a team sport and you may need all kinds of help. Our Certified Restaurant Broker© team has plenty of resources and aid for you. Here’s a starting point for the most common requests:

At We Sell Restaurants, we’re more than brokers—we’re data-driven advisers. Our latest analysis of buyer behavior—through metrics like inquiries, search traffic, signed confidentiality agreements (CAs), and closed deals—reveals which listings are capturing buyer attention faster than others.(
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Even before the pandemic made remote working from home a trend, it was growing in popularity. Couple that with the growth of home-based businesses and you’ve got a recipe for success.




Here are three reasons why you didn't get that restaurant for lease space you just made a run at. Learn how to increase your odds to get the next one.










































Frequently Asked Questions: Catering Style Restaurants for Sale
What is the average price of a catering business for sale? Independent catering businesses typically list between $50,000 and $500,000. Established catering companies, event-focused operations, and high-volume businesses may sell for more than $1 million.
Can I buy a catering business with an SBA loan? Yes. Many catering business acquisitions qualify for SBA 7(a) financing. We Sell Restaurants can connect buyers with experienced business lenders.
How many catering businesses are there in the United States? Industry estimates indicate there are approximately 15,000 restaurant-based catering businesses and catering-focused foodservice operations nationwide.
How many people work in catering businesses? Catering businesses are estimated to employ between 250,000 and 400,000 workers across the United States.
How much do catering businesses generate in annual sales? The U.S. catering segment is estimated to generate more than $15 billion annually in food and beverage sales.
What types of catering businesses are most common? Popular concepts include corporate caterers, wedding caterers, event catering companies, restaurant catering divisions, social event caterers, and specialty catering businesses.
What are the biggest challenges facing catering business owners? Common challenges include labor availability, transportation logistics, event scheduling, food cost management, seasonality, and maintaining consistent service quality across multiple venues.
Do I need a broker to buy or sell a catering business? Not legally, but a Certified Restaurant Broker helps maintain confidentiality, qualify buyers, manage due diligence, and guide the transaction from listing to closing.
Is We Sell Restaurants a franchise? Yes, We Sell Restaurants® is itself a franchise opportunity, not just a service provider to restaurant franchises. Franchisees become a Certified Restaurant Broker® through our structured onboarding process, then use We Sell Restaurants' proprietary BOSS (Broker's Operations and Sales System) platform and Restaurant for Sale marketplace to help entrepreneurs buy, sell and lease hospitality properties in their territory.