Ask supplier references about the work they actually received

Establish the comparison

Ask the reference what work the provider performed, when, for what type of operation and under what scope. A successful project in a different setting may still provide useful context, but it does not establish that the proposed service fits your needs.

Respect confidentiality and ask permission to take notes. Do not request customer records, employee details or commercially sensitive documents through an informal reference call.

Ask about a specific exception

Questions about communication, deadlines, corrections and a difficult moment can reveal more than a general request for a rating. Ask how the provider responded when something changed and what the business needed to do to complete the work. Keep observations separate from your conclusions.

Find out whether the reference was selected by the provider and whether a relevant relationship or incentive exists. Treat the account as one person’s experience rather than independent proof of typical results. Avoid converting an enthusiastic statement into a guaranteed outcome.

Return to the proposed agreement

Use the call to refine questions about scope, staffing, support and deliverables. Have material promises reflected appropriately in written terms with professional review. This guide does not publish reviews or assign ratings; it describes how to use a reference conversation as one limited part of a supplier-selection process.

Put it on paper

• Compare the actual project and proposed scope.
• Ask about communication and corrections.
• Keep experience, incentives and contract terms distinct.

Continue with the franchise research checklist, our FDD guide, and the research directory.