How to Buy Serving Trays

If you are in the catering business, one of those necessary purchases are serving trays. A nice set of serving trays gives the customer that little something extra, which can impress the guests and help build your business. Here's how to select the serving trays for your catering business without breaking the bank in start-up costs.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Determine how many and what size serving trays you'll need. If you are a small catering company, keep the initial purchase small and in order with the type of catering jobs you acquire. If you get a job catering a large luncheon, you might want to consider renting the extra trays you'll need.
2. Decide whether you want to buy a tray with handles or without. The handled trays are easier to carry and make a nicer presentation, but their extra weight and higher price might be prohibitive.
3. Set a budget. Catering supply companies provide trays at very reasonable rates, so setting a serving tray acquisition budget should be fairly straightforward. Expect to pay anywhere from 5 to 10 dollars each for higher quality trays at wholesale prices.
4. Select a finish that will not tarnish. Keeping your trays looking new used to require hours of polishing, but with Sterlingcraft brand of serving trays, you can get the look of silver without the tarnish. These trays use a nickel silver or German silver finish so they never have to be polished.
5. Make sure you buy extras to accessorize your serving trays. Placing a lace paper doily under your tea cakes and then on the serving tray makes for a nice presentation. It also helps keep your trays clean. Be sure to get doilies that fit your trays and get enough so you won't have to reorder right away.