Buying equipment is one of the most critical phases of any business, and the same applies to food businesses. Kitchen equipment is a heavy capital investment, and they directly affect the costs and profits of a food business. Therefore, it is very important that you choose your equipment wisely so that you can get the best possible deal with the best possible prices.
If you are considering to start a food business and are planning to buy the kitchen equipment, here are a few key things that you should take care of.
Do Not Buy Everything
Buying commercial grade kitchen equipment is important, but you do not need to buy everything unless your menu has an exceptionally wide choice to offer. Focus on buying only the equipment that is relevant to your menu and skip out on others. If you plan to diversify your menu in future and include more dishes, still you do not have to increase your capital cost as a startup and can defer purchasing the equipment when you will be needing it.
Floor Space
Kitchen equipment does take quite a lot of space. Therefore you need to plan it out intelligently. Make sure you do not cramp up your kitchen so much so that it gets difficult for your staff to work there with ease. An open kitchen helps in speeding up the work-in-progress and order fulfillment time. You do not necessarily have to put everything on the floor. Make use of shelves, countertop, and even wall mounted equipment to save up on costs.
Energy Efficiency
Instead of focusing on the purchase price, pay attention to how energy efficient will your new equipment will be. While the purchase price is the initial capital cost, which will eventually be covered, energy costs are recurring and will add up in your unit costs. If your equipment is not energy efficient, it will result in your profitability going south. Therefore, if you need to pay a little premium for better energy efficiency, by all means, do that.
Maintenance
Good maintenance of your equipment is not only important to increase the life expectancy of your equipment, but it is also crucial for ensuring hygiene and safety standards. Food processed in rusted equipment can be a health risk for your consumers, and corroded parts of your equipment can be a serious safety hazard for your workers. That being said, maintenance can be a tedious and at times even costly task if your equipment is not easy to maintain, therefore look for equipment that is maintenance friendly.
User-Friendly
Much of your staff that will be operating the equipment might not be qualified enough to understand complicated user manuals. Opt for user-friendly equipment that is easier to operate.
The Right Vendors
When buying your equipment, it is also important to choose the right vendor. While you will be able to find the same equipment with multiple vendors, go for the one who has the widest possible variety, such as ckitchen.com so that you can get a better overall price. Moreover, make sure that your vendor offers you well after sales and upgrade service to avoid a hassle in case of any problem with your equipment,