Finding a third party vendor to outsource a project or service to can be a very difficult task. I have heard stories from countless businesses that have chosen a company to work with and have had very poor results or have come to find out that they have been grossly overcharged. The main reason for both of these scenarios seems to lie in the fact that the business owner relinquished the power of negotiation to the seller and were either "hard sold" in to making a decision or just did not due any form of due diligence.
When it comes to choosing the right vendor to work with for any business purchase there a few simple rules which I recommend all businesses follow:
1) Maintain control of the negotiations. You are making the purchase. Do not allow the salesperson to direct the conversation.
2) Ask questions. The more questions you ask, the more you can feel confident about the purchase from the seller. Nothing puts up a red flag to me more than when a salesperson does not know their product. If this is the case, I would recommend finding someone who does know their product.
3) Be upfront, let the salesperson know you will be reviewing proposals from multiple vendors. This form of honesty allows the salesperson to know right off the bat, they have competition and they should make certain to price their product or service in accordance with this notion.
4) Ask for references. While it may be an "old school" philosophy, I still firmly believe that any company that can not provide verifiable references should be a cause of concern.
5) Negotiate. When you receive your proposal, review it extensively and don't be afraid to ask for a price reduction or other services. One option that often works well is not asking for a lower price but asking for more to be included. "I will buy the car from you at this price but I would like you to include an upgraded sound system at the same price"

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Always remember that making a purchase is a two way negotiation. Make certain to maintain control of this negotiation and prepare for the purchasing decision by having some knowledge of the product before discussing with a salesperson. If you follow the basic principles outlines, you will come to find that you will able to get much better value from your purchases.