If you are having an event in which you would like for professional caterers to be available for food service, you will want to be sure that you are going to end up hiring the best caterers possible. Here are four tips to help you hire the right caterers for your event:

1. Determine Your Involvement: The first thing you will want to do is weed out caterers that aren't going to provide the services that you want. Some caterers will provide a full service, which means that they will set up the table arrangements, take care of the linens, and more. This means that you won't have to do any work when it comes to arranging and setting up the food for your guests. However, you may not want this option if you want to take care of these things yourself or you don't want to pay the money for a full service caterer. If this is the case, you should choose a food service that only takes care of the food and nothing else. 
2. ​Understand the Fine Print: Before you hire a catering company, be sure that you understand the fine print, which is ultimately going to tell you what you are really paying for the service. Although the catering will provide an upfront cost, the fine print may also detail additional costs, such as the taxes and fees for a change in guest count, as well. 
3. Choose a Caterer Familiar with the Venue: When you choose a catering company, it's best to choose a company that is familiar with the venue. This is because a caterer familiar with their surroundings will better understand the rules that they must adhere to, such as clean up protocol. For example, if certain things aren't cleaned up, the trash isn't taken out, and more, then you may be charged by the venue for these issues. A company familiar with what the protocol is will less likely rack up these venue charges for you. 
4. Determine Who is in Charge: The person that you speak with when discussing the catering and the person that is actually in charge during the event may not be the same person. You will want to establish who is in charge the day of the event to ensure that you know who to turn to when you need to make any changes or ask any questions. 

By following these four tips when hiring a catering company for your event, you can be sure that the process runs more smoothly and you are paying the right amount for their services and are not being overcharged.