Buy Restaurant Equipment For Your Restaurant - A Complete Guide
When it comes time to buy restaurant equipment for your restaurant, you need to keep a few things in mind. Think about what you want, how much it will cost and where to buy the restaurant equipment. Here's a complete buying guide for your restaurant equipment.
1. Know your budget.
Before deciding which type of restaurant equipment you want to buy and whether or not it will be new or used, you have to know your budget first. How much money do you have to buy the equipment?
If you don't know, it's time to sit down and think about how much money you can spend. There are several ways that you can get the necessary funds for buying restaurant equipment, including loans or credit cards if your business has good enough credit.
2. Research the equipment you need.
Once you know your budget, it's time to do some research and find out what restaurant equipment you need for your business. Make a list of all things your restaurant needs to run smoothly, including small things like kitchen utensils to big ones like a walk-in refrigerator—and anything in between. You'll be surprised at how quickly your list grows!
3. Think about whether you want new or used.
The decision between buying new restaurant equipment versus used restaurant equipment is one of the most difficult decisions when it comes time to spend your hard-earned cash.
Consider whether or not there will be a warranty with the used restaurant equipment. If so, you might purchase this type of equipment over buying new restaurant equipment because there may be fewer problems in the future with it, especially if you have tested it thoroughly before buying.
Another thing that you have to think about when deciding between buying new restaurant equipment versus used restaurant equipment is the availability of parts for your desired equipment. If there are no replacement parts available, then this may be a sign that the particular type of restaurant equipment may not work in your establishment.
You should also inspect if someone has already started modifying or repairing the equipment in some form or fashion, so you know what you have to go through when switching out any broken parts.
4. Buy a complete setup package instead of separate pieces of equipment.
Another thing that will save you money in the long run (and maybe even short term) is by purchasing all of your restaurant's cooking equipment, furniture and dishware in one go. This way, you can make sure that everything matches and will fit well with your restaurant decor.
It's also a good idea to get the furniture and fixtures approved by the health department before installation because this could save you future hassles (and fines) for any compliance issues arising from your kitchen equipment.
5. Go online for wholesale or discounted prices on restaurant equipment.
While it is important to purchase all of your commercial cooking equipment at once (so they match), it's also vital that you find the lowest price possible without compromising quality.
If you need an item right away or want to get started as soon as possible with your new commercial kitchen business, then check out online sources such as Craigslist, eBay and wholesale websites such as Texas Restaurant Supply.
With a little bit of patience, you should be able to get what you need at a lower cost than buying everything outright at your local restaurant equipment store or kitchen supply outlet.
6. Work with your local wholesale restaurant supply company or diner supplier for affordable deals.
You should also consider using a diner supplier because they will give you the same discount as a wholesale cash-and-carry restaurant supply store but without having to pay membership fees, which can be quite pricey depending upon the retailer.
In addition, you'll be able to choose from a wider variety of products in terms of materials, color and design compared to what's available online or from other big-box retailers such as Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, Walmart, etc.
Consider Texas Restaurant Supply when you want to buy your restaurant equipment.