Making the most of beverage equipment and supplies can boost your business. Utilize a fountain drink machine to boost sales, save time on initial purchases and refills. Track your sales with vendors. Evaluate data on better selling brands to save on the expense of buying less popular types of drinks. During peak hours of operation, offer free drinks as an incentive to purchase a meal or have money saving coupons.

A key fact about making the most of commercial beverage equipment and supplies is that size matters. Set up a soda machine in your waiting area or a drink dispenser in your restaurant or at a special event and offer beverages for sale in large quantities. Larger amount of beverages for sale, bigger and specialty cups that the customer can use to visit again add up to greater revenue. Find equipment that is easy to maintain. Purchase the proper parts and equipment to keep your beverage sales constantly flowing.

1. Find easy to maintain beverage equipment.

2. Purchase equipment parts and supplies for your existing equipment.

3. Offer a wide selection of drink choices for your customers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Offer your patrons a choice with different styles of drinks

Provide a choice for your customers when utilizing your beverage equipment. Offer milkshakes, frozen drinks and fruit juices instead of just having soda or beer. Fruit juices are child friendly. Consider offering free juice choices with a child's meal.

I recommend: Stoelting Food Service Equipment has commercial beverage machines for sale that include frozen beverage machines and equipment and shake machines. Mid Atlantic offers commercial beverage equipment for sale including non carbonated drink dispensers and supplies such as tea and lemonade dispensers.

Locate beverage equipment and beverage supplies that are easy to use

Find suppliers of commercial beverage equipment that offer easy to use equipment. Give the employees beverage supplies and equipment that saves time with installation and use.

I recommend: Restaurant Source has a wide variety of drink dispensers in easy to use designs so serving your customers is simple and carefree. BevWay specializes in equipment that is leak proof with conduit systems for liquor, soda, wine, beer, juices, frozen drinks and even water.

Inquire about replacement parts for existing fountain drink machines

Find parts and equipment that you can utilize on your existing fountain drink equipment or beverage dispensers. It saves funds when you purchase replacement parts rather than having to purchase an entirely new system. Items like no drip faucets and new seals are just a few of the options to keep your equipment in good running order.

I recommend: Soda Dispenser Depot has everything you need to build a complete soda dispensing system. Having your own system will save money in the long run. Tomlinson has no-drip commercial faucets for beverage dispensers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Always inquire about the return policy with manufacturers of commercial beverage machines in case you have an issue.

The beverage operation is an integral part of any restaurant, convenience store and other food-based business. Beverage supplies include high-end items such as glycol systems for beer and ordinary everyday items, like paper coffee cups.

Most businesses need some kind of commercial beverage equipment. Fountain drink machines, soda dispensers and industrial coffee makers are just a few of beverage equipment that businesses and institutions use every day.

There are three main areas of commercial beverage equipment, including:

1. Hot beverage supplies
2. Carbonated beverage supplies
3. Alcoholic beverage supplies

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Take advantage of the coffee trend with hot beverage equipment

Coffee is the most popular drink in the world. It is available in restaurants, convenience stores, and even hospitals. Today, along with traditional coffee makers, many companies offer specialty coffee machines for espresso and cappuccino. Along with gourmet coffee, exotic teas are another aspect of the hot beverage market that continues to rapidly grow.

I recommend: Keep coffee hot with air pots from Zesco.com, which carries a complete line of coffee accessories, including mugs, beverage signs and paper goods. Don't forget the tea accessories. BeverageFactory.com sells teapots, teacups and tea racks. They also carry espresso and coffee makers. CupDepot.com and the Hormel Corporation both carry an extensive line of commercial beverage equipment and supplies.

Upsell soda, juice and frozen drinks with fountain drink machines

Fountain drink machines are the perfect way to distribute non-alcoholic beverages. Widely used in fast food restaurants, convenience stores and institutions, fountain drink machines keep beverages chilled and ready to serve. Frozen fountain drink machines can serve up classic drinks, such as slush puppies or more exotic drinks, like grantia and margaritas.

I recommend: Kanawati Enterprises is a leader in fountain drink machines. Along with frozen drinks, they offer machines for coffee, espresso and soda. The Restaurant Source carries industrial blenders and ice makers.

Don't forget the beer

Nothing tastes worse than warm, foamy beer, which can be avoided with the proper glycol system. Glycol keeps beer cold and fresh and customers happy. Along with a glycol system, other beverage equipment a restaurant bar needs includes hydraulic guns for soft drinks and beer towers for pouring pints.

I recommend: Berg Beer Systems carries complete beer tap systems, guaranteed to keep liquids at a consistent temperature, which is vital for fresh-tasting beer. Wunder Bar is another vendor of beverage equipment, including beer systems and wine dispensers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Don't buy a coffee maker when purchasing commercial beverage equipment! Restaurants and other food businesses can get coffee makers for free or on long-term leases (also free) from whomever they purchase their coffee through. Air pots (also called hot pots) are another freebie that coffee distributors hand out, as part of their customer service.

Pricing and costs of commercial beverage equipment and supplies can vary greatly among vendors. Commercial beverage equipment such as a fountain drink machine works to control cost per serving in a restaurant, convenience store or concession stand. Consider leasing commercial beverage equipment or purchasing pre-owned to save on the initial investment. Manage pricing and costs of commercial beverage equipment with the purchase or lease of new or used vending machines from suppliers of commercial beverage equipment.

A crucial area that requires a business owner’s attention in the food sales industry is beverage supplies. Buy commercial beverage supplies in bulk. Stock the correct type and amount of beverage supplies accordingly to your customer base. Take advantage of free shipping offers by manufacturers of commercial beverage machines. Cleaning supplies and maintenance of the commercial beverage equipment for your business also count as an extra cost to figure into the budget.

1. Browse various beverage equipment vendors and locate the most affordable pricing.

2. Find vendors of commercial beverage machines that offer free shipping or bulk orders.

3. Consider used or wholesale equipment and leasing to cut overhead costs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Review a variety of vendors selling commercial beverage equipment and supplies

Shop and compare prices with manufacturers of commercial beverage machines. Locate the lowest price when purchasing new equipment. When comparison shopping, be certain to look at all costs such as shipping, handling and any extra equipment and supplies to accompany your beverage dispenser.

I recommend: Zesco offers a variety of beverage dispensers and supplies at discounted prices and has a leasing option on their equipment. Get products as low as $305.00 each when buying in bulk. Kanawati Enterprises has cold drink dispensers and a detailed list of all features, sizes, costs and weight. Expect to pay between $750.00 and $1350.00 for beverage dispensers.

Locate sellers of beverage equipment that offer different pricing options

Find commercial beverage machines for sale at vendors that offer bulk ordering, free shipping and other incentives to save you money. Shipping can add to the cost to your order. Free shipping saves money. Reinvest the extra income on supplies or additional equipment.

I recommend: Ace Mart offers free shipping on orders over $400.00 saving you up to $100.00 to $315.00 in expenses. Consider Restaurant Source for your beverage dispenser needs with their heavily discounted products costing as little as $565.00.

Lease or buy used beverage equipment to save money

Used beverage equipment is an option that allows you to receive quality equipment at a fraction of the cost of new fountain drink equipment. Utilize the option of leasing or buying used beverage equipment to stay within the budget on the expense of commercial beverage machines for sale.

I recommend: Buy Rite not only offers used equipment for sale as low as $795.00 but also has a bulk ordering option to save you money. Global Vending Group has hundreds of new and used soda machines.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Always check the warranty information on commercial beverage equipment and supplies before you purchase.