Owning a restaurant is a dream of many people. Often, they save money for years in preparation not realizing how expensive it will actually be. Typically, there is a bank or other lender involved which makes it a little easier to see the dream through to reality. In addition to lenders helping with the financial side, the potential new owner can do many things to cut costs during the setup process.

Cooking Equipment

The most expensive purchase, outside of the building and land, is going to be kitchen equipment. Commercial kitchen equipment includes refrigeration, freezers, ovens, grills, cook tops, deep fryers, commercial microwaves and other appliances. These pieces can cost thousands of dollars each. However, they can be purchases at a better price if a restaurant in the area is going out of business. The main key is to know what to look for and how to evaluate the used equipment.

Finding used restaurant equipment is not hard. Local classified ads typically advertise used restaurant equipment when it is available. However, watch for restaurants that are remodeling, often, they will upgrade their kitchen and need to sell the equipment that they have on hand.Used restaurant equipment that is for sale is usually in good condition. Restaurant owners know that no one is going to want to buy broken equipment. They will typically also allow potential buyers to make sure it works before they purchase it.

The Internet is another good way to locate used restaurant equipment. While it won’t be a savings if paying for shipping, due to the weight of kitchen equipment, there are many sites that specialize in local advertisements.

Other Considerations

When considering used kitchen equipment, it is important to not only know that it is in working condition but also know how old it is and how long it has been in use. If it is very old, it may be difficult to have it serviced. Ideally, everyone in the business world would be honest and upfront, however, that is not always the case.

Before purchasing used kitchen equipment, make notes on the items and call several distributors and service technicians. Find out if there are any concerns with the makes and models that are being considered. Be sure that there are available parts for repairs should they be needed. Also, ask how much a service call typically costs. Compare that to the cost of purchasing new equipment with a warranty. Sometimes, new equipment with its warranty outweighs purchasing older equipment that has several potential service issues.

Smaller appliances, such as commercial mixers, should, if possible, be bought new. There is practically no way to determine how long or how much use the appliance has had and when the motor is going to break down. Purchasing the product new assures that if it does break down, there is a warranty that will cover either replacing or fixing the product.

Used restaurant equipment can save thousand s of dollars that can be put towards other uses when setting up a restaurant. A diligent search and exploration for used restaurant equipment can be a time-consuming process that pays off richly.

-Sharon V. Chapman