A catering quote with no answer might already be booked elsewhere
Puffly keeps every catering inquiry, quote, and repeat office order in one pipeline, and Puff drafts your follow up. Free to start.
Where catering business leads come from
Office managers ordering lunch
Someone is feeding twenty people on Thursday and needs a menu and a price today. If it goes well, they order again every month.
Planners and venues
Event planners, wedding venues, and community halls send catering requests your way, or list you as a preferred caterer.
Local searches and Facebook groups
Someone posts in a neighborhood group asking for taco catering or a graduation party tray, and a dozen people reply within an hour.
Repeat hosts
Churches, schools, families with a graduation every few years, and companies with a holiday party. They already like your food and just need a reminder.
What slow follow up costs a catering business
Catering requests often have a tight date, and the person asking usually contacts several caterers. A quote that sits unanswered for three days may lose to someone who called back sooner. Food orders also depend on an accurate headcount, so a late reply costs you ordering time and prep time.
A pipeline that fits a catering business
Puffly’s pipeline is yours to name. Here is one way a catering business could lay it out.
- InquirySomeone asked about a date, a guest count, and a rough menu idea.
- Menu and headcount talkYou are learning about dietary needs, service style, and what the venue allows.
- Quote sentThe client has the per-person price, rentals, and delivery or staff fees.
- Deposit and tastingThe date is booked and the final menu is being settled.
- Final count and event dayHeadcount is locked, food is prepped, and afterward you ask for a review and the next order.
Follow up moments worth a reminder
Office manager got a lunch quote two days ago for next Thursday's meeting
"Hi Tanya, checking on the lunch quote for Thursday. I can still fit you in, but I need a headcount by tomorrow to order. Want to lock it in?"
Wedding client's final guest count is due in a week and has not come in
"Hi Elena, we're a week out from needing your final guest count. A rough number is fine for now, and we can adjust by a few on the day."
Last May's graduation party client, and it is graduation season again
"Hi Marcus, hope the year's been good! Graduation party coming up for another kid? We'd love to feed everyone again."
Puff, your AI teammate, can draft these messages and line up who to call next. Outreach waits for your approval unless you choose otherwise.
The shape of the year
Graduation and wedding season in spring and early summer fill the calendar, and November and December bring office holiday parties. Summer can be quieter for corporate lunches, and January is slow after the holidays. Use those gaps to check in with past hosts and to send menu ideas to office managers.
Questions from caterers
Can I track headcount changes?
Yes. Put the current headcount and dietary notes on the deal, and update them as the client changes their mind. Add a task for the day your final count is due.
Can I send quotes?
Puffly includes quotes, so you can send a price and see where each one stands. If you use a spreadsheet for food costing, keep it, since Puffly is for the sales side.
What about missed calls during service?
You can turn on missed-call text back, an opt-in automation, so a caller gets a reply while your hands are busy. It stays off until you choose to enable it.
Puffly for related trades
Start with the free CRM.
Leads, contacts, deals, tasks and your own branded lead form cost nothing. No card to start. Bring your leads in from a Google Sheet or add them by hand.
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