Catering Contract

[chefskeeter]

Ok, I need to find a good catering contract. Anyone have any thought out there? Or any links to anything..........I am tired of waiting a week or two to get paid for an event.....and talking to people doesnt seem to work anymore.....please help

[shroomgirl]

50% non-refundable books your party......balance is due however many days prior to the party or even the evening of......

[chefskeeter]

Thanks, for the info. Do you know where I can get a good paper contract? That is what I am looking for as well.......

[foodpump]

Nope, final 50% payment on delivery. Once you're there with the food, you're 100% commited. Tell your customers that once you're there, you must get paid, because you just can't put the food back into a box, stick it on a shelf, and try to sell it again next week like a comnputer.

You should have this stuff printed on your quotes. Once the customers signs it, s/he acknowledges your terms and conditions. Probably one of the most important things about the whole job. Once it's down on paper, there's no weasling about. Also include cancellation charges, and any other things you can think of as well.

[shroomgirl]

I've found the 50% non-refundable deposit insures that they are serious.

[blueschef]

hope it helps!

Tom

[blueschef]

cant get it to upload, i will work on it for you.

[blueschef]

Client Name

Type of event

Date of Event

Time of event

APPETIZERS

MAIN COURSE

DOLCHE

XXXXX pp XXXXX guest minimum for food, Labor to be billed separate (XX Servers at XXX each, tip not included)

Deposit of 50% due upon contract agreement, balance will be due the day of the event. This agreement has a Seven Day Cancellation window, anything over that will result in the loss of 50% of the deposit. This quote is based on a minimum guest count of XXXXXX (if the guest count goes up we will make every possible attempt to accommodate the increase). XXXXXXX catering will not be responsible for an inability to provide food or other services due to inclement weather or acts of god (including without limitation, fire).

Please make Checks payable to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Hey it worked!

[chefskeeter]

Wonderful...thanks so much.....

[blueschef]

Glad to help!
Tom

[shroomgirl]

like that acts of God part....

[blueschef]

LOL, what the heck, it is an out!
Tom
Heck, if I had a catering today there is no way I would make it! There is so much snow out here at our house it is crazy!
Tom

[Chef Mike]

I have been very fortunate as far as getting paid (except with film production people). I often take smaller than 50% deposit, especially if the event is a long ways off. I might schedule a progress payment halfway along. Depends on the circumstance of the client somewhat, too.
I always state clearly and emphasize that the balance is due upon arrival; too many things can happen during the evening, and I get stuck waiting around til the last tipsy couple is gone, or they find more chores that weren't in the original cleanup specs. Make a list as long as you want- I believe I've just about heard all of them.
Still, this doesn't always work as well as it ought to, but at least it was in the original agreement.

Here's a question for you other caterers:
Have you noticed these days that people are stalling their commitments until just before the event? I mean like just a few weeks, even for a really big party sometimes?
This is what I'm seeing this year, especially with corporate business.

[Chef Kaiser]

hi,

i understand you, i was a caterer before and simply gave it up, as all the contracts and the way i worded them, did not help me to collect the money on time.

so i realized, i have the wrong clients, as they abusing me, as they want to have a party and fun but not willing to put up there money for food cost, labor cost and operating cost.

well after that i decided to at them. Since i found new ways of doing .


one advise ensure the down payment!

regards

Originally Posted by chefskeeter

Ok, I need to find a good catering contract. Anyone have any thought out there? Or any links to anything..........I am tired of waiting a week or two to get paid for an event.....and talking to people doesnt seem to work anymore.....please help

[foodpump]

Chef MIke: So you've had trouble with movie people too?

Contracts are great, look at this case example we had two years ago: Wedding for 150, contract signed by the bride's mother, has the following: Caterer's arrival time: 1 pm, Hors d' o's served, 2:30, buffet dinner served:5:00. 50% before event, 50% upon arrival of caterer.

On the event day at 12:00 I get a phone call from the Bride's mother screaming at me why I'm not there, her guests are hungry, and I'm not feeding them. I tell her that we're scheduled to arrive at 1pm, I get a snarly "we'll talk when you arrive". 12:50 we arrive and I get a welcoming commitee from the bride's mother, her husband, and another woman, their faces like hemmarhoids-all red and puffy. I tell my crew to wait and I go out to the welcoming party:

Bride's mother: You're late, and I'm not paying you the final installment, and I want a discount on the buffet. Sally here, my cousin, works at a Golf course banquet hall, and she says we have every right to do so, and when are you going to feed my guests!!!

Me: Do either of you have your copy of the contract? No? Sally is starting to look worried now, checking her watch she scoots off... Look, I play by the rules and I have your signature here acknowledging that my arrival is for 1pm, hors d'o's at 2:30. I'm not even late yet and you want a discount. Tell you what. You're not happy, I can leave now. You've paid the first installment, so I'll just leave with my crew, food and equipment and call the deal off. O.K.? If you want your party, pay me now, like it states in the contract.
Husband starts getting worried now, and takes her aside for an explosive discussion. Husband comes back with the cheque, which I cash as soon as the crew start to set up. Bride's mother won't look at me for the whole event.

Things usually don't go on like that, this was an exception, but I had my butt covered.