Opening a restaurant can seem a bit daunting. But in reality, all you need is a good business plan to get your ideas together and funding to make those ideas happen. After that, you have a list of things you can do with the funding, which includes getting the appropriate licensing, paying your staff, buying or leasing your restaurant equipment, and other tasks. For the purpose of this article, let’s focus on the equipment you’ll be needing to successfully run your restaurant.
Here’s a list of essential restaurant equipment for your business.
Sales Equipment
One of the first things you want to invest in is a good point of sale (POS) system. A POS system will help you manage your sales, cash flow, inventory, loyalty programs, and accounting reports, among other things. You can opt for a free POS software download such as Retail Plus to get started and invest your business money in the POS hardware instead.
Retail Plus is a POS software program that can be downloaded on any Windows computer or tablet and can be used for any type of business, including restaurants. You can store information on 150 inventory items and 150 clients, generate comprehensive accounting reports, manage your employee’s payroll, and access loyalty programs. You can pair this software with touchscreen monitors, automatic cash drawers, and gift card and credit card processors, among other hardware.
Kitchen Equipment
Additionally, you’ll need to invest in kitchen equipment such as stoves, refrigerators, freezers, ovens, grills, and other major appliances, You’ll also need to invest in kitchenware such as cooking utensils, kitchen knives, cutting boards, pans, whisks, and other things. The list of equipment you’ll use will vary depending on your restaurant’s style and clientele. If your restaurant focuses on sushi, for example, then you may need specialized knives and spatulas that differ from those of a hamburger fast food restaurant.
You can invest your money in restaurant equipment leasing companies such as The Restaurant Warehouse. They help small businesses and startups like yours equip their restaurants with the right equipment and tools with financed payment plans. They overlook low credit scores so you can start making money in your restaurant right away and will also help you pick out the right equipment for your business.
Dining Hall Equipment
Another type of equipment you’ll need to invest in is your dining hall equipment. This type of equipment will include everything your clients will need to enjoy their meals. This includes dining tables and chairs, dinnerware, decoration, carpeting, air conditioning, and other things. The idea is to give your clients the best experience they can get with affordable equipment that matches your aesthetics and business needs.
Restroom Equipment
If you have a brick-and-mortar restaurant—and not a food truck, for example—you’ll need to have a restroom your clients can use whenever they’re dining at your restaurant. You will need to invest in restroom facilities like toilets, stalls, sinks, soap dispensers, hand dryers, paper towel storage, toilet paper holders, and many other things you’d find in a restaurant’s restroom.
Cleaning Supplies
Lastly, you’ll need to invest in cleaning equipment to keep your restaurant in good condition for your clients. These supplies will include sanitizing buckets, brushes, sponges, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, dusters, and rotary floor machines. Other cleaning supplies may include detergents, degreasers, abrasives, and acids to help get rid of tough contaminants in your restaurant. Be sure to have enough of these supplies in stock so you never run out and your restaurant remains sparkly clean.
Be sure to include a plan for your budget around your equipment and be sure to use quality over quantity.
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