The right catering provider can make all the difference when planning a corporate function. Whether it is end of the year party or corporate awards dinner, choosing a professional caterer can take a great deal of pressure off your shoulders. However, if you plan to hire a professional caterer for your next event, there are a few basic points you need to consider to help you choose a caterer who is best suited for your needs. When looking for great corporate catering Los Angeles residents will find the following tips very useful.
For a start, you need to ask around for recommendations. You can ask from friends, relatives or even co-workers. Apart from your friends and co-workers, you can also ask your other vendors like event planners for recommendations. Culinary schools and event venues are also very good sources of recommendations. In fact, most event venues nowadays have a list of partner caterers that they work with.
Another very important factor is the caterers specialty. Most caterers nowadays specialize in specific cuisines. As such, you need to look for someone who specializes in your best cuisine. The food you present to your guests should always reflect your tastes and preferences as most of them will associate it with you.
Another very important step when choosing an off-site caterer is to set your budget well before you begin interviewing potential candidates. One mistake that most people commit when looking for caterers is to start the search before setting a budget. Setting budget restrictions before meeting a potential caterer will put you in charge of negotiations and also make it much easier to settle on menus. Too often, customers put themselves at the mercy of caterers by not having strict budget boundaries.
You also need to confirm that your prospective caterer is in this business legally before hiring them. The only way you can whether a caterer is in business legally is by seeing his/her valid license of operation. Without this, anybody can call himself or herself a caterer and you will have no way to prove that he/she is not.
Experience is another important factor that should not be overlooked. The caterer you choose should have a wealth of experience when it comes to catering for the kind of event that you are looking their services for. You also need to check their reputation in the market including the social media.
You must also not hire any service provider without a written contract. A written contract is very important as it will help safeguard your interest should the caterer fail to follow through. Once you settle on a particular contractor and agree upon the price, you need to read through the contract carefully and sign it only if you are satisfied with it.
With the above tips in mind, finding a good corporate caterer should not be such a big problem. It is however important that you start the search early as well. This will help you avoid unnecessary last minute rush.
For a start, you need to ask around for recommendations. You can ask from friends, relatives or even co-workers. Apart from your friends and co-workers, you can also ask your other vendors like event planners for recommendations. Culinary schools and event venues are also very good sources of recommendations. In fact, most event venues nowadays have a list of partner caterers that they work with.
Another very important factor is the caterers specialty. Most caterers nowadays specialize in specific cuisines. As such, you need to look for someone who specializes in your best cuisine. The food you present to your guests should always reflect your tastes and preferences as most of them will associate it with you.
Another very important step when choosing an off-site caterer is to set your budget well before you begin interviewing potential candidates. One mistake that most people commit when looking for caterers is to start the search before setting a budget. Setting budget restrictions before meeting a potential caterer will put you in charge of negotiations and also make it much easier to settle on menus. Too often, customers put themselves at the mercy of caterers by not having strict budget boundaries.
You also need to confirm that your prospective caterer is in this business legally before hiring them. The only way you can whether a caterer is in business legally is by seeing his/her valid license of operation. Without this, anybody can call himself or herself a caterer and you will have no way to prove that he/she is not.
Experience is another important factor that should not be overlooked. The caterer you choose should have a wealth of experience when it comes to catering for the kind of event that you are looking their services for. You also need to check their reputation in the market including the social media.
You must also not hire any service provider without a written contract. A written contract is very important as it will help safeguard your interest should the caterer fail to follow through. Once you settle on a particular contractor and agree upon the price, you need to read through the contract carefully and sign it only if you are satisfied with it.
With the above tips in mind, finding a good corporate caterer should not be such a big problem. It is however important that you start the search early as well. This will help you avoid unnecessary last minute rush.
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