Making a profit is the primary reason that most businesses are started. Nobody goes into business with the goal of losing money. Once you have committed to starting a business a large portion of your mental energy will be spent on trying to find ways to increase its profitability. Depending on the type of business in question, there may be various marketing methods that work better to spread the word and make potential customers aware of your offering.
While growing your business is the most obvious way to generate greater profits, there are other means to give your business a better chance of being successful. In the restaurant business, there are a number of ways that you can control costs through your purchasing decisions. Searching for better deals on locally grown produce and constantly comparing distributors for the best prices can help minimize costs and increase your profit margin. Finding a used food trailer or food truck for sale can save you a lot of cash when you are looking to expand your business outreach.
Restaurants use a lot of different kinds of equipment to serve their customers. Some of this equipment is visible to the clientele and some is out of sight in the kitchen or a back room. This means that in some instances the appearance of the piece of equipment can be as important as its functionality. In other cases, the primary concern is that the item operates properly and looks are not a consideration when making the purchase.
When you are attempting to control costs in your operation you have the option of buying new or used equipment for your restaurant business. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits and disadvantages of buying new or used restaurant equipment to help you decide which way to go when planning your purchasing strategy.
Buying New Equipment
New equipment usually comes with a higher price tag than used equipment. According to katom.com, there are a number of factors that may sway you toward buying new equipment despite the savings inherent in buying used items. Here are some of the major reasons you may want to purchase new rather than used restaurant equipment.
- Reduced maintenance – New equipment is less likely to need maintenance than a used component. Service calls are expensive and can quickly eat up the savings that you thought you had achieved by buying second-hand equipment. Parts may also be hard to obtain in the event that a replacement is required.
- Longer warranties – New equipment will have a manufacturer’s warranty that may extend for the life of the item. Contrast this with the short-term warranty you might get with a used piece of equipment.
- Better performance – Technological advances will often mean that a newer piece of equipment will perform at a higher level and also be constructed to minimize water and power consumption. This leads to steady savings over the life of the equipment.
- Get exactly what you need – If you are ordering a new piece of equipment you can insist on getting all of the features that you need and desire. You may have to make concessions when buying used and have to settle for a less than optimal component for your restaurant.
- Conform to health standards – As technology advances and materials such as stainless steel are used more often to assist with cleaning, health standards also evolve. That used piece of equipment that you are considering buying may end up causing you some issues with the health inspectors and have to be replaced sooner than you had planned.
Buying Used Equipment
Used equipment can afford you substantial financial savings over purchasing brand new machinery. While at first glance, this may be all of the incentives you need to buy used stuff, slow down for a minute. As with any strategy that saves you money, there are some aspects of buying used restaurant equipment that you need to consider before making your decision. According to restaurant.org, here are some of the key factors to keep in mind when thinking about purchasing used equipment.
- Know your requirements – If the equipment is an essential part of your business, such as a pizzeria’s oven, you should be cautious of used components. Make sure that the equipment that you are buying is actually what you need, and not a compromise determined solely by price.
- Cost of the used item – Paying more than 50% of what a new piece of equipment would cost is probably not worth the savings.
- Consider the total cost of ownership – You may save some money on the initial purchase, but over time a used item may end up costing you more in operating expenses. Saving on energy and water bills can help boost your bottom-line, and older models that are not as efficient can offset any saving made in the purchase price.
- Reconditioned equipment – If the seller has reconditioned the item and perhaps replaced parts, it may be more serviceable than one that is bought “as is”, but will generally have a higher price tag.
- Warranties – Some dealers offer 30 to 90-day warranties on used equipment. This will not be the case for items bought at auction or through a private individual where no warranty is the norm.
- Service and part availability – Can your equipment be serviced and can you obtain replacement parts? If not, it is a very risky undertaking if it is an important part of your operation.
- Check the operability of the equipment – Ask the dealer to hook it up and see how it works. A reputable dealer will do that, though when buying used parts online this not practical.
- Does the equipment stand up over time – Ovens, ranges, and stainless steel tables will last for a long time with no performance degradation. Other items like dishwashers and ice machines may not have as long a life if not maintained properly by the former owners.
We hope this article helps you determine whether you should buy new or used restaurant equipment. Take stock of your individual situation and budget, and make the best choices you can to help your restaurant succeed.
