- 1. Make a list of everything you think you will need to open your restaurant. This includes kitchen equipment, dining room furniture, menu covers, bathroom fixtures, bar equipments, and so on. Click here for a complete list of standard kitchen equipment.
2. Research your options. Besides local companies, check out restaurant retailers online for deals. Also call your nearest auction house, for any upcoming restaurant auctions, which are always a good place to pick up used restaurant equipment at bargain prices.
3. Select simple pieces of restaurant equipment. Pieces with all the bells and whistles just present more opportunities for something to break. A simple gas over may not sound as nice as a dual convection oven with internal thermal sensors, but is a more sensible choice in the long run.
4. Don’t be afraid to haggle with used equipment dealers. Unlike manufactures, their prices usually aren’t set in stone. Also, ask for some freebies, if you are buying several pieces of equipment. For example, you may get a less expensive item, such as a prep table, thrown in free if you buy several larger pieces of equipment from the same dealer.
5. Select a POS system for tracking sales. Along with tracking slaes, a point-of-sale computer system can help track food and liquor inventory and even payroll costs. Read on for more information on why you need a POS System.
