How To Purchase Restaurant Equipment

Know what equipment you need for your operation and the menu you’ve chosen. Know what it costs new and used. Shop around. Check out equipment Web sites, national companies, local companies, and restaurant equipment auctions. Talk to other people in the business about their good experiences and bad ones. Get names from them about good companies to work with. If they can introduce you to someone specific, you’ll be a step ahead.

• Review your concept plan and assist in choosing equipment for your concept. Together, you create a list of the equipment you need, including the quantities of each item, and whether it should be new or used.

• Develop a sourcing action plan for those pieces of equipment. The sourcing action plan includes using resources (online, network, and trade pubs) to figure out several sources for each piece of equipment, developing a process for evaluating the different options (manufactures, distributors, used equipment dealers, and so on) for each piece of equipment, and creating a schedule for acquiring the equipment.

• Facilitate purchase of used equipment, including negotiating the purchase price, conducting inspections, clarifying warranties, and scheduling delivery.

Essential Restaurant Equipment Buying Checklist

There are several things you need to keep in mind while purchasing restaurant equipment, which we have explained in detail below.

1. The Need of the Restaurant

The type of restaurant equipment that you would require would very much depend on your restaurant’s concept, theme, and the cuisine that you would be offering. The most important part of purchasing restaurant equipment is deciding what all equipment do you need in your restaurant. Thus, you first need to determine your menu and then analyze what all kitchen equipment would be required to prepare it.

Different restaurant formats have different equipment requirements. For example, a Quick Service Restaurant that offers self-service has the requirement of a serving counter that a fine dining restaurant does not. Create a list of features that you would require for each equipment that you plan to purchase. Here is a restaurant equipment checklist of the most commonly used equipment.

2. Cost and ROI

While buying restaurant equipment for a new restaurant, it is easy to get drifted and purchase everything that seems useful. However, this is where you need to be careful! If you are operating on a tight budget, analyze what all equipment you need. Ideally, you should be able to recover the cost of the equipment. In this case, you can consider looking at used equipment as well, as they are budget friendly.

3. Space Utilization

You must always keep the space requirements in mind while buying restaurant equipment. It is essential to define the space required for each equipment and then purchase the item accordingly. Unless you do that, you may end up with a cluttered kitchen and workspace that will further hinder the operations. Remember to measure the size of the equipment at the time of purchase to ensure proper space utilization. You can also go for multi-purpose equipment to save up on space. For instance, go for all-in-one blender, mixer, and chopper instead of buying this separately.

4. User Friendliness

Another important aspect of purchasing restaurant equipment is its ease of use and user-friendliness. Ultimately, it is your restaurant staff who would be operating it; thus choose the equipment that your employees can use easily. Restaurant equipment is used to reduce the manual labor and improve efficiency; therefore if the equipment is too complicated for your staff to operate, it nulls the need for the equipment in the first place.

For operating heavy machinery such as an electric tandoor, ensure that the equipment supplier properly trains your staff before you start using it.

5. Speed

Remember to check the speed of the equipment before you purchase it. See if the time taken to get the job done is faster than what it would take to do it manually. If you are working in a fast-paced, high order volume kitchen, then the equipment should not take a lot of time for operations.

6. Maintenance

Proper maintenance ensures the longevity of the equipment and improves efficiency. While purchasing the restaurant equipment, ask about the maintenance required for it. Ask the dealer how frequently the equipment needs to service, and if the supplier would be providing it. Once you purchase the equipment, create a schedule. Apart from this, create a cleaning schedule as well. There are certain equipment that need to be cleaned daily, such as kitchen tops and counters, while some can be cleaned on a weekly basis.

7. Energy Efficiency

You must choose restaurant equipment that is energy efficient even if it means shelling a few extra bucks. The electricity cost to operate the equipment is a recurring one and would add to the monthly restaurant costs; hence the equipment should not consume a lot of energy.

8. Material

The material of the restaurant equipment plays an essential role in the lifespan and the usability of the equipment. Stainless steel, galvanized steel, aluminum, and wood are popular types of material for foodservice equipment.

Stainless Steel: Stainless steel is the most recommended material for purchasing foodservice equipment. It is resistant to corrosion and discoloration, although quite expensive. It is also a popular choice for kitchen utensils.

Galvanized Steel: Galvanized steel is steel coated with zinc. Although reliable, galvanized steel is not recommended for counters that get wet as the zinc coating eventually chips and exposes the steel to rust.

Aluminum: Aluminum is an excellent choice for buying kitchen equipment as it is rust resistant, does not burn, and reflects heat and light.

Wood: Avoid wooden equipment in the areas that are prone to get wet as they absorb moisture. You can go for laminated wooden service counters since they are attractive and can be used in the customer service area.

9. Purchasing New or Used Equipment

One of the major dilemmas that restaurateurs face while buying restaurant equipment is whether to purchase new equipment or second-hand. You can save almost 70% of the cost if you are buying used equipment. Always compare the price of new equipment and see how it fares with the used one. Check for leaks and rust. If the equipment requires repair, then buying it would not be a great deal since damage is likely to happen again. Try to purchase a previously used restaurant equipment that is still under warranty.

10. Safety

Proper safety measures are essential for the well-being of both your restaurant staff as well as your customers. According to the National Fire Protection Association, almost 57% of all the restaurant fires are a result of the kitchen cooking equipment. Thus, ensure that the restaurant equipment is safety compliant.

11. Taking a Demo 

Always see the equipment in action before you purchase it. Ask for a demo at the dealer showroom from where you are buying it. You can also take your restaurant manager or chef or the staff that would be using the equipment and see if they can use it properly. Even after the purchase, ask who would be installing the equipment at your restaurant. If the supplier is delivering and installing the equipment, then ask them to give it a test run to ensure that it is working correctly.