Workspace
In the Equipment / Technology workspace, we aim to help you clearly identify what equipment and technology fit your restaurant needs and your budget before making any major purchases.
I. Equipment Needs
II. Technology / Software Needs
Make sure to also leverage our customized library of FREE documents, which includes tools / templates and applications / guides to give your new business idea a jumpstart.
Relevant Documents for Equipment / Technology:
***Important Note***Local requirements for your equipment may vary by location. Since all restaurants must satisfy local health and safety codes (e.g. standard refrigeration levels), always make sure you clearly understand these local requirements before doing any major equipment shopping.
Below are common categories to keep in mind when identifying your restaurant’s equipment needs. Again, note that relevant categories and the items that fall within them will vary greatly depending on your restaurant.
To help you organize your options and generate an initial equipment budget, make sure to leverage the Equipment Budget Tool.
1. Cooking Equipment
- Commercial Ovens / Ranges
- Commercial Grills
- Deep Fryers
- Microwaves
- Food Warmers
2. Refrigeration
- Freezers (Reach-in or Walk-in)
- Coolers ((Reach-in or Walk-in)
- Ice Machines
3. Storage / Preparation
- Shelving / Storage Racks
- Transportation Racks / Carts
- Item Display Cases
- Prep Tables / Counters
- Cutting Surfaces
- Slicers / Presses
- Mixers / Food Processors / Blenders
- Packaging / Storing Accessories
- Thermometers
4. Smallwares / Tabletop
- Commercial Cookware (e.g. pots, pans)
- Kitchen Cutlery / Utensils
- Tablecloth
- Tableware
5. Cleaning Equipment / Janitorial Supplies
- Commercial Dishwashers
- Bussing Equipment (e.g. bus tubs)
- Detergents
- Restroom Supplies
- Other Cleaning Equipment / Janitorial Supplies
6. Other Equipment
- Safety Equipment
- Delivery Equipment
There are so many new technologies and software specifically created to facilitate certain restaurant functions. However, which should you choose when first launching your restaurant? With a limited budget, you have to carefully consider how each technology would impact your operations and whether the benefit of using it outweighs the associated costs.
As such, below are some of the most relevant restaurant technologies categorized by their general level of necessity:
Tier 1 (absolutely necessary)
- Point of Sale (POS) Systems
- Accounting Software
- Inventory Management Software
- Social Media / Information Platforms
Tier 2 (necessary depending on restaurant concept)
- Table / Reservation Management Software
- Employee Management Software
- Delivery Service Applications
- Kitchen Display Screen (KDS) Technology
Tier 3 (beneficial depending on restaurant concept and budget)
- Tableside Ordering Kiosks
- Mobile Ordering Applications
- Digital Customer Loyalty Programs / Coupons
- Customer Engagement Technologies
- Electronic Games “While-You-Wait”
Good luck with starting your business and we look forward to working with you.
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