As you probably know, in some countries, it is a tradition to break for afternoon tea. It offers time to help you relax and unwind before going on with your day, much as the Italians take a siesta in the afternoon. It can prove to be refreshing and reviving. How could you not sell that?

Start your own business by selling afternoon teas. Check your state laws on it, because you might have to prepare the tea at the hosts' home. Create a menu and let your customers choose from a wide variety of teas, as well as a variety of snacks. Hold these relaxing tea parties for a minimum of 10 people for $100 (even if there are less people, still charge $100), and a maximum of 20 people or more. Charge $10 per person. This would be a local business for you, so focus on your community.

Sometimes, working continuously from morning to night proves to be rather difficult and tedious. Homemakers, office workers, and business people all need a refreshing break to relax and unwind, to get on with the day. These afternoon teas prove to be rather refreshing and reviving. Therefore, you can rely on this want, or need, and start a business of selling afternoon teas.

If you intend to start a business selling afternoon tea, it is always better to check state and local laws on the running of this business. This is because there is always the probability of having a need of preparing tea at the hosts' home. Tea proves to be refreshing only if you drink it freshly brewed and hot. If the host intends to relax and unwind by spending some time chatting with friends, it is better to provide boiling hot tea for them. Just make sure that the law permits you to prepare tea in their home, or office.

You not only serve just tea to the host and friends; you also offer them a variety of teas to choose from. At the same time, also give them a variety of snacks to choose from too. This is so that they not only get refreshed and relaxed after their afternoon tea, but also have a small amount of light food that will hold them over until they eat a full evening meal. Give an idea of what you can serve them, by offering a menu that you have created for them, so they can place an order while ordering the evening tea party.

To make things easier and more profitable for you, you could charge them a minimum of $100 for 10 people. Even if there are less than 10 for the gathering, charge them $100 so that you are able to make a reasonable profit. Setting the maximum number of people you can cater to depends on you, and your work force. If you can cater to a maximum of 50 people, let them know this is okay. However, if you do not have the needed help to cater for more than 20 people, it is better that you mention this fact in the beginning. With larger groups, maybe you could charge something like $10 per person. This proves to be convenient and reasonable for the host and clients. This price also depends on the cost of the tea and food items that they choose to offer their guests.

As this will be a local business, it is better that you concentrate on your local community. You could create some pamphlets to distribute in your area and neighborhood so that people will be aware of your services. Make sure you include all your rates, the amount of time you need to prepare the light food items, and the minimum and maximum number of people you will serve an afternoon tea for. You could also place some ads in your local yellow pages, newspapers, and local business listings.

There is not much of an investment required for this service; you will need some utensils, different types of tea, various sugars, and of course cream, creamer, and milk (regular, low-fat, non-fat and soy). You can prepare snacks, if possible, or place orders with someone who can prepare reasonably priced snacks. Also, decide if you choose to pick these snacks up or have them delivered at the right time and place. Once these things are set up, and your state and local laws are followed, you may as well start on your business providing relaxing enjoyable afternoon teas.

Helpful Resources:

http://www.joyofbaking.com/EnglishTeaParty.html

http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/HighTeaHistory.htm

http://www.panix.com/~kendra/tea/afternoon_tea.html

http://entertaining.about.com/cs/coffeesandteas1/a/teaparty.htm

http://www.seedsofknowledge.com/teatime.htm