Running a restaurant is both expensive and risky. It’s hardly a surprise that most restaurant owners do everything they can to trim costs. While many of these efforts are worthwhile, others may end up costing more over the long run. At the top of this list? Skimping with cheap, low-quality kitchen equipment.
Here’s a closer look at why buying the best commercial kitchen equipment you can afford is a savvy strategy when it comes to stretching your dollars.
How long should your commercial equipment last? We crunched the numbers in our Average Product Life Cycles Guide.
Spend Now to Save Later
Commercial restaurant equipment prices vary significantly from manufacturer to manufacturer and from model to model. But if your aim is merely to find the cheapest deal out there, you are selling yourself — and your restaurant, operators, and diners — short.
Rather than short-changing your business, invest in it instead with high-quality appliance purchases. In doing so, you’ll see benefits across a number of measures, including energy efficiency, output, and ease of use. And because better equipment is more durable, you can also expect to recoup more of your initial cost by cutting back on service, parts, and labor expenses. Buying the right equipment is even a smart staffing solution thanks to everything from reduced training time to improved employee satisfaction and retention.
Plus Better Performance Along the Way
The same concept applies to replacing old kitchen equipment. Saving a few dollars now by deferring an inevitable purchase is a short-sighted perspective when upgrading now means you’ll get more out of a piece of equipment for longer. Furthermore, you also immediately begin benefiting from the superior performance and productivity found in higher-quality equipment.
Still not convinced? Think of it this way: While Volvos may cost more than comparable cars, they’ve distinguished themselves for their safety, reliability, and durability. This not only means they handle better and stay on the road longer than other vehicles but also that their owners benefit from fewer repairs and replacement costs over the course of time. The takeaway? The Volvo is ultimately the better purchase, even if the upfront price is higher.
While, “a penny saved is a penny earned,” may be words to live by, the saying doesn’t translate to buying commercial kitchen equipment. Investing in equipment upfront will benefit your customers and your business in the long haul.