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Dallas, TX – When it comes to planning special events for your company, you can’t be too careful. The fact of the matter is your choice of corporate catering and other details will directly reflect on you and your company. If your event is a disaster, it can cost your company business, or in some cases even you’re your own career. Whether those special events are an employee picnic or a dinner for potential clients, choosing the right corporate catering service is imperative.

Fortunately, there are a handful of relatively simple things you can do to make the selection process a success. Here are some of the most essential principles to keep in mind when you’re choosing someone to help with your big day:

Reputation is everything. If you select a corporate catering company from the phonebook, you can’t be certain what you’re going to get. Anyone can put an ad in the yellow pages, and the ad tells you nothing about what past customers think about the company. Instead of going to the yellow pages, ask other special event coordinators for their recommendations. Word of mouth is still the most effective marketing tool that a small business can have.

Choose only licensed and insured providers. Just like your corporate purchasing department has standards when it comes to suppliers, so should you. Choose only a company that has a business license, as well as proof of liability insurance. If you’re unsure about a particular company, check to see if they have complaints filed against them with the Better Business Bureau.

Get it in writing. Make sure that you have a signed contract with the corporate catering provider that directly spells out what they will be providing for your special events. This does a couple of things for you. First off, it provides you with very specific information about what to expect and what not to expect. Beyond that, it gives you recourse in the case that things don’t go as planned.

Check references. A menu can look good, and their services may be affordable. However, if the caterer has a reputation for hiring staff that are poorly groomed or typically shows up late, your event will suffer. Most professional caterers will be happy to provide you with a list of recent customers and their contact information. Call a few of these former customers to get an impression of how they do business, and to be aware of what their weak points might turn out to be.

Look for confidence and competence. While there are many different types of personalities in the corporate catering world, you want to choose a caterer who has it all together. If the caterer seems hurried all the time, and isn’t particularly interested in discussing the finer details of your special event, this should be a warning sign. Instead, choose a caterer who seems relaxed. Chances are that caterer has a strong staff, and is confident in their abilities to meet your needs.