Opening a restaurant is a huge undertaking and you have to know how you can save money on commercial grade kitchen equipment.
Besides securing the right place to locate your restaurant and hiring high quality staff, you need to find high quality commercial grade restaurant equipment. Before making any kind of purchases or down payments for equipment, you have to evaluate your goals, what type of equipment you will need and determine what will be in your menu.
Types Of Commercial Grade Kitchen Equipment Your Restaurant Will Need
In order to have a clearer picture of how you can save on commercial grade kitchen equipment, you have to have an idea of the type of equipment you need and how long you will need to use it. There are thousands of restaurants in North America and each one of them has a unique menu that requires specific equipment to prepare and serve that food. So what one restaurant needs may not necessarily be what yours needs.
Ranges
Consider your menu before purchasing your range. There are a wide variety of ranges ranging from one to twelve burners. The size of the range will depend on the size of your restaurant. It’s also a good idea to stick to the ones that use gas rather than electricity. Electric ones take a long time to heat up and this can dramatically increase the cost of your energy bill.
Flat Top Griddle
If your restaurant will serve hamburgers, chicken, bacon, eggs and pancakes, then you should invest in a flat top griddle. Griddles can either have thick or thin plates. Thin plates heat up faster and require less energy to get heated but they also warp over time and start distributing heat unevenly. Thick plates take a much longer time to get heated but they have a longer shelf life.
Freezer
You might need a freezer to store dough, fish and meats. Just like all other commercial grade kitchen equipment, freezers come in different varieties. Depending on the size of your restaurant, you can obtain the large freezers which have a triple, double or single door design and also have wheels. If your restaurant is not spacious enough, you can acquire a worktop freezer or an under counter one.
Dish Washing Equipment
You need to find a dishwasher that will clean and sanitize your equipment thoroughly. You can purchase a high temperature sanitizing washer or a chemical sanitizing washer. Many restaurant owners prefer the high temperature sanitizing washer because it is able to flash dry to eliminate water spots and it cleans better.
How To Save Money On Commercial Grade Kitchen Equipment
Purchasing any of the above restaurant equipment is expensive and you certainly need to look for ways to cut back on costs. You can definitely save money by buying used kitchen equipment but it isn’t a good idea to purchase used equipment.
It’s not that used equipment is “damaged goods” because you can certainly get a used freezer that is in good condition. The only problem is, freezers have a propensity of breaking down and repairs can be quite costly so it is advisable to purchase new ones.
With that said, new kitchen equipment is not cheap and you need to have a significant amount of money to make a direct purchase. Many startup restaurants may not have that kind of cash and given the fact that starting a restaurant is a risky business, it wouldn’t be wise to tie up all your funds in equipment.
The good news is that it is possible to acquire new commercial grade kitchen equipment at a relatively cheap price. The solution to your problem is leasing. Leasing provides an alternative way for businesses to finance their equipment. It is a better option to purchasing because:
- You don’t need to provide any form of collateral
- You don’t need to make down payments
- You can choose your own lease rates
- It provides flexibility
- You can eventually own the equipment through a lease-to-own arrangement
- There are tax benefits
- It is fast and easy to apply
There are many lease programs offered by many leasing companies so even if you have damaged credit, you can still get approved for a loan.
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