In order to serve up one of the most popular foods in America, you need to have the right bagel equipment. There are many choices when it comes to selecting your bagel making equipment, so it is important to determine a bagel business plan and budget before buying any major pieces of machinery. From slicers to bagel ovens, your kitchen could fill up quickly.

Due to the nature of many of these machines, your bagel equipment budget must consist of tens of thousands of dollars. The bagel divider alone can cost upwards of $6,000. Consider the following when assessing the pricing and costs of bagel equipment:

1. Only purchase bagel equipment in the appropriate size for your establishment.

2. Consider purchasing used bagel equipment to save money.

3. Remember to include the increase in utilities and other extra costs in your bagel equipment budget.

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Purchase bagel equipment that will complement the capacity of your establishment

As with anything, bagel machinery comes in a variety of sizes. Be sure to only purchase the sizes you will actually need to run your bagel business. For example, an average 4-slot industrial bagel toaster will cost around $500. This bagel machine will toast 2 bagels at a time. However, some conveyor bagel toasters can toast up to 15 bagels at time. This machine costs around $1,500. If the capacity of your store requires the larger, faster, more efficient machine, then it will be worth the extra money. But, if you can get by with the smaller machines, your budget will thank you.

I recommend: Bagel Equipment offers great business information for an aspiring bagel maker. Instawares carries several bakery toaster options.

Purchase used bagel equipment to save your money for your bagel store

Used bagel equipment doesn't have to mean run down or slow; it can truly just mean used. Sometimes businesses buy machines they don't need or increase their production and and need to upgrade their equipment. It is important to ask about the service history of the machine and why they are getting rid of the machine to be sure it is a legitimate deal. Or perhaps their store is going out of business and they are forced to get rid of all of their bagel equipment at reduced prices. Buying used bagel equipment can save you thousands of dollars if you do your research and are willing to buy bagel equipment that is a few years old.

I recommend: Dummies.com offers some tips on leasing and buying old versus new restaurant equipment. Businesses like J&C Restaurant Equipment sell both used and new restaurant equipment.

Factor in extra utilities and service fees into your bagel equipment budget

The bills don't stop once you buy the right bagel machinery for your store. It is important to factor in the extra electricity and other utilities that your bagel equipment will add to your monthly utility bills. It is also important to factor in service (maintenance) fees that are likely to come up from time to time. With any piece of machinery, parts are bound to wear out over time and accidents are inevitable. Planning ahead will make these occurrences less of a burden. Save a small percentage of your budget back for unexpected mishaps.

I recommend: Bakery Equipment Sales Worldwide offers a complete quote form with a list of all of the possible bagel equipment you may need to get your business off the ground. Other tools, such as those at the Business Owner's Tool Kit, can help you create a realistic budget.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Other bills to consider in your bagel equipment budget are all of the other bagel making supplies that you will need to actually make bagels. From the ingredients to serving dishes, add up all of your potential costs before making too many purchases.

Many bakers say that it's not only the process and ingredients that matter, but the bagel making equipment you use can also make a huge difference in the quality of your product. And quality can make you stand out from the rest and gain more of a market share, whether you're just starting out in business or a veteran. After all, about 2.5 billion bagels are consumed by Americans each year.

As a bagel maker, you'll need a variety of supplies to make bagels, including ovens and baking trays but also slicers, toasters, racks and other items to serve your customers. There are many options when it comes to purchasing business equipment so take the time to evaluate carefully and get the "hole" story.

Factor in the following ideas when making equipment purchasing decisions:

1. Consider asking for advice on bagel machinery from a non-competitive business owner who can serve as a mentor.

2. Have a clear picture of your financing when it comes to bagel supplies.

3. Be mindful of your bagel business' utility costs as they relate to the equipment you purchase.

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Buy new or lease bagel equipment

Bagel production and retail service requires the right equipment or machinery. Your first order of business is to acquire or maintain that level of high-quality equipment you need to get the job done efficiently. Make sure to shop around for the best deal.

I recommend: ABI LTD offers a variety of bagel equipment including several different bagel production lines, conveyors, and bagel formers and dividers. Or check out the bagel-making products offered by Thompson Bagel Machine.

Consider used or refurbished bagel making equipment

Used equipment options may help you lighten the budget load when it comes to starting your business. Obviously, however, used equipment doesn't come with a warranty. Be sure to make an informed decision before purchasing used equipment.

I recommend: Look for used equipment at The Frain Group. Download a list of used equipment available from BakeryMachinery.Net.

Buy bagel equipment needed to service your customers

When it comes to purchasing equipment, don't forget the retail end. It takes many different items to serve your customers and eventually make that end profit.

I recommend: Find bagel baskets, bagel cutlery and even display cases at Instawares Restaurant and Kitchen Supplies. Empire Bakery Equipment offers a number of smallware options as well, including boards, brushes, pans, screens, trays and racks.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Before signing the final purchase contract, confirm the model, condition and prices for all bagel bakery equipment. You may also want to double check on warranty conditions and find out about any return or refund policies if you cancel your order. Keep a copy of all transactions.

When you own a bagel store, one of the key skills you'll need is knowing what different bagel equipment there is, and how to use bagel bakery equipment. Some of these items could include a bagel machine, a bagel maker and bagel ovens.

Basic bagel equipment education and training is important for you as the store owner and for all of your employees. It's important that everyone in the store understand how to use the varied bagel making and baking equipment. Consider these tips to get you started:

1. Learn the basic bagel bakery equipment.

2. Learn how to use bagel making equipment.

3. Learn the necessary bagel supplies and equipment you'll need.

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Learn about the basic bagel bakery equipment

There are many different pieces of equipment you'll use in your bagel store. You'll want to find out what these pieces of equipment are, how to use them and where you can find them. Then you'll be able to add these pieces to your inventory, use them and train your employees to use them.

I recommend: BakeryEquipment.com tells you about some of the basic bagel making equipment you'll need to use in your store. Magna Industries tells you how to look for the right bagel bakery equipment for your store.

Learn about bagel making equipment

Once you've supplied your store with the basic bagel bakery equipment, and learned how to use it, you'll need to focus on bagel making equipment. You'll need equipment to help you make the dough, cook the bagels and slice the bagels. You can find all the information you need to now about this equipment by consulting bagel equipment manuals.

I recommend: Oliver Bakery Equipment provides manuals on many different bagel making equipment you'll need to have and use in your store. Gemini, a bakery equipment supplier, also supplies manuals for different bagel making equipment on their website.

Learn how to use other bagel supplies and equipment you'll need for your bagel store

There are many other pieces of equipment you may use in your store, and you'll need to learn how to use them. You can search for more bagel making equipment on the Internet, determine which pieces you'll need for your store and find instructions on how to use them.

I recommend: Excalibur Bagel & Bakery Equipment can help you set up your bagel store with all of the supplies and equipment you'll need, and show you how to use them. Bagelequipment.com offers bagel how-to manuals and much more information for your bagel store.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  You can search the Internet for websites that allow you to buy bagel equipment.

Getting involved in the bagel-making industry can be a profitable business venture. Before you begin, you should have a good understanding of some of the key terms used to describe various pieces of bagel equipment. Equipment such as seeding conveyors, vertical mixers, bagel kettles, bagel scoops and bagel former dividers all play an important role in making bagels. You will need one or more of them to start a bagel-making business. This guide will define the terms that you need to know.

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Seeding conveyor

A seeding conveyor is used to apply seeds to bagels. Bagels pass through the machine and are covered with sesame, poppy and other types of seeds. When selecting a seeding conveyor, look for one that is easy to clean and provides a high seed density on the bagel.

I recommend: To see what a seed conveyor looks like, and to get more information, check out ABI.

Vertical mixers

Vertical mixers are industrial machines that are used for mixing bagel dough. Larger models stand upright on the floor. They can be run at several speeds and come with various mixing tools that can be used to mix different types of product.

I recommend: Check out Empire Bakery Equipment to see a picture of a vertical mixer and to get more information.

Bagel kettle

A bagel kettle is used for cooking bagels in water. It consists of a large tank and cover to quickly boil a large number of bagels.

I recommend: Excalibur Bagel & Bakery Equipment has a diagram that shows the various parts of a bagel kettle.

Bagel scoop

A bagel scoop is a large, grated spoon that is used for removing cooked bagels from a bagel kettle.

I recommend: Check out Kerekes Bakery & Restaurant Equipment for a picture of a bagel scoop and to learn more about its construction.

Bagel former divider

A bagel former divider is a single machine that automatically shapes and cuts bagel dough. Most machines can form and divide thousands of bagels per hour, and they can be adjusted to create bagels of various sizes.

I recommend: Excellent Bagel Equipment shows an example of a bagel former divider. You can also read more about a typical machine's features and output.

Bagel line

A bagel line is a package of bagel-making equipment that allows you to automatically produce bagels from start to finish.

I recommend: Visit Gemini Bakery Equipment to see examples of four types of bagel lines and a list of their features.