What types of questions should I ask caterers before I decide who to hire?

Caterers can operate one of two ways: they can give you a price for what you would like to serve at your event OR you can give them your budget and have them provide options of possible menus based on that budget. So, be clear on how you would like to proceed after the initial greeting. Make a list of details: venue, reason for the gathering, length of the gathering, number of people in attendance, time of day, if beer/wine/liquor will be served, the nature of the event (casual, formal, evening, business, etc.) BEFORE you arrange a meeting with the cater, make sure the proposed date is open, and make sure the caterer can do what you hope for. For example, do not hire a caterer famous for French hors d'oeuvres if you're planning a Texas Rodeo Barbecue theme. This site has a list of questions you might consider: http://partyspot.com/articles/article.aspx?articleid=A60428124220