Buying a new piece of equipment for your restaurant, coffee shop takeaway or fast-food outlet is always tricky. Beyond the need to dip into that all-important cash flow, you’ll need to take several factors into consideration.
However, you probably don’t have a huge amount of time on your hands to mentally prepare a list of things to consider when buying new appliances for your commercial kitchen.
So… we’ve done it for you!
Will it offer good ROI?
Buying new kit for the sake of it – whether it’s because you spotted it in a competitor’s premises or because it looks cool – will rarely offer a decent return on your investment.
Every piece of food service technology you buy should be purchased with ROI in mind. Always dig deep into the financials before you press the ‘buy’ button.
Will it fit?
An easy one, this, but you’d be surprised by how often professional kitchens buy a new piece of equipment only to find that it won’t fit. Anywhere.
Double and triple check the dimensions and intended location before committing to the purchase.
Is it energy efficient?
The upfront cost of the kit is of course a key consideration, but the on-going costs and effect on the environment should also be reviewed.
Commercial kitchen equipment is often large and power-hungry; make sure you buy the stuff that is the most energy efficient to avoid racking up huge electricity or gas bills.
Will it improve the service you offer customers?
There’s little point in buying new equipment for your business if the net result won’t be a tangible improvement in service for your customers.
Take a new microwave oven, for example; if you can predict a 20% increase in speed of delivery once it’s installed, you’re probably onto a good thing.
What’s the lifespan?
Will it be superseded quickly? Do parts wear out at regular, common intervals? You’ll need to take these things into account before you buy, because they all affect the ROI and lifetime cost of the new equipment.
The same goes for maintenance costs. The higher they’re likely to be, the more costly the device will be above and beyond its purchase price. This might sound obvious, but it’s all too easy to overlook.
Is it suitable for a commercial operation?
It might be tempting to buy a piece of equipment based on price and features, but if the two are more closely aligned to home cooking, it’ll almost definitely be a purchase you regret.
Home cookware and equipment simply isn’t built for commercial use, so always go pro when you invest in kit for your business.
Will it cope with emerging food trends?
The foodservice industry rockets along at an incredible pace. Will the new piece of equipment you’re considering be capable of keeping up with new trends and dietary requirements?
The newest kid on the block today might prove fairly useless in twelve months time if it isn’t updated regularly or built with the future in mind.
Wrapping up
Our list above is non-exhaustive, but we recommend keeping it by your side whenever you need to buy some new technology for your foodservice business!
