Catering businesses are generally resilient, regardless of societal conditions. Although the COVID-19 pandemic caused some decline in revenue, many catering businesses, particularly micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) or home-based catering businesses, experienced a surge in orders.

This is because people, especially in urban areas, helped each other by sending food and beverages for daily needs during the pandemic. Movement restrictions concentrated catering business operations around specific companies, restaurants, and food stalls, providing food and drink for residential areas, self-isolating patients, government institutions, healthcare workers, volunteers, and security personnel.

Once the pandemic ended, the catering business returned to normal. Offices, schools, weddings, national and international events, concerts, sports tournaments, and cultural festivals resumed, all of which required adequate and suitable catering services.

Catering is a business with a medium-to high-risk level, making it necessary for businesses to obtain permits to confirm their legal and safe and edible.

Here are the steps to register a Catering Business (sourced from ukmindonesia.id):

Catering businesses are regulated under Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Regulation No. 4 of 2021, which divides the business into two clusters: Catering for Specific Events (Event Catering) with KBLI 56210 and Catering Providers for Certain Periods with KBLI 56290. The scope of each business cluster is as follows:

1. Catering for Specific Events

Catering for Specific Events involves providing catering services under contract for specific events at customer-designated locations. This includes catering for office orders, celebrations, parties, seminars, meetings, and similar occasions.

2. Catering Providers for Certain Periods

Catering Providers for Certain Periods involve providing catering services under contract for a specific period. It includes contractors who provide food services for transportation companies, sports facilities like cafeterias in factories, offices, hospitals, or schools, and long-term catering services for large projects like oil drilling, mining, transportation services, and hospitals.

Required Permits

Here are the necessary permits for business owners who wish to start a catering business in either the Event Catering (KBLI 56210) or the Catering Providers for Certain Periods (KBLI 56290) clusters.

1. Tax Identification Number (NPWP)

The NPWP is a mandatory requirement for business owners. It serves as the key to obtaining other necessary permits. If you do not have an NPWP yet, you can easily apply for one by visiting this website https://ereg.pajak.go.id/daftar  and follow the steps provided.

2. Business Identification Number (NIB)

The NIB acts as a membership card that identifies the business owner. Every business owner must have an NIB. To obtain it, business owners must register through the Online Single Submission (OSS) system.

As the identity for business owners, NIB can replace other documents such as the Trading Business License (SIUP), Importer Identification Number (API), and Industrial Registration Certificate (TDI). There are two steps to obtain the NIB:

1. Create an OSS Account to Gain Access

To access the OSS system, you must first create an account. The steps are as follows:

Go to http://oss.go.id.

• Select 'register.'
• Choose 'micro and small enterprises.'
• Fill out the registration form.
• Check your email and click the activation button.
• Check your email for your username and password.

Once you receive the email from the OSS system, your registration is successful, and you will have access to the system. You can follow the guide for creating an OSS account for micro and small businesses.

2. Fill Out the Registration Form

• Go to https://oss.go.id/.
• Select 'login.'
• Enter your username, password, and the captcha displayed, then click 'login.'
• Click 'business licensing menu' and select 'new application.'
• Complete the business owner’s data.
• Complete the business sector data.
• Complete the detailed business sector data.
• Complete the product/service data for the business sector.
• Review the product/service list.
• Review the business data.
• Review the business activities list.
• Review and complete the environmental approval documents (KBLI/Specific Business Sectors).
• Understand and check the self-declaration statement.
• Review the business licensing draft.
• Issue the Business Identification Number (NIB).
• You can refer to the guide for filling out the NIB form on the OSS RBA platform.

3. Business Standard Certification

Catering businesses require not only NIB but also a business standard certification from the local government. The certification application documents can also be uploaded through the OSS system.

4. Sanitation and Hygiene Certificate

Hygiene and sanitation are essentials for operating a catering business. Therefore, you must obtain a sanitation and hygiene certificate (SLHSJ) that guarantees the cleanliness and hygiene of the food products. You can apply for this certificate through the local health department.

Catering businesses within the Event Catering cluster can operate on a small, medium, or large scale, while those in the Catering Providers for Certain Periods cluster can operate on a micro, small, medium, or large scale. However, the required permits remain the same regardless of the business size.

Translator: Ratna Puspa Merdika