Before signing, admins should test a vendor's operations—not their presentation.
Questions that reveal maturity
- What happens when staff don't show up?
- How are complaints logged and closed?
- What reports will I receive weekly?
- What hygiene checks run daily?
- How do you maintain taste consistency?
Listen for these signals
- Clear SOP references - Specific timelines and responsibilities - Comfort with SLAs and audits
A vendor who can't explain the system today will create problems tomorrow.