Mini bars are items that are very popular both in homes and in businesses -- but although many have seen fit to install mini bars in their homes, any of these varieties of drinks handling appliances and installations are good for businesses that need solutions for keeping drinks cold. The mini bar or mini light bar is a versatile option, and business owners can choose from some very attractive models and styles.

For those looking to acquire structures and equipment for mini bars for a business space, check out the difference between some essential mini bars types and styles and what they do for a business space. Also, look on the web, where handy visual product galleries can help a business leader see a potential purchase:

1. To add style and elegance with wood-built or other functional mini bar sets for creating a mini bars space in a room.

2. For adding convenience to a bar-tending area, for simple refrigeration with "hotel mini bars" in any kind of business lobby space, or for use in guest rooms.

3. For luxury guest facilities where high-tech and luxury mini bars provide top quality service for guests and clients.

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Find elegant wood mini bars or other designs for residential type mini bar equipment

One option for a mini bar is the actual bar counter structure, often wood-built, that adds a lot of style to a room. These can be used equally in homes or businesses -- this type of mini bar is centered on providing ambience and a place to sit.

I recommend: Take a look at these home or business mini bar images of wood, wicker and similar designs for stylish structures with a "built in" look at Precision Images. More grand wood mini bars designs are on display at HomeDecorators.com.

Locate refrigerated mini bar options

Other mini bars take care of the other side of the equation -- keeping drinks cold. Many of these models include some style variations for making a refrigerator look good in its surroundings -- again, visual product galleries can show how this is done.

I recommend: Bar Maid's Green Compliant mini bars demonstrate a type of installation that is popular in hotels and other lodging facilities. Browse product galleries to see how bottles and contents are displayed for convenience. Find more visual products galleries from companies like Summit.

Get more on high-tech and luxury mini bars and similar options

For the best in what's new from mini bar manufacturers and find pages that illustrate the lengths that companies will go to in providing superior mini bar service to guests. These resources are always good for businesses looking to go the extra mile in guest accommodations, and interesting when discussing the full spectrum of mini bars types and style available today.

I recommend: Be sure to check out this article about BarTech's new wireless mini bar for some news on the latest in high-tech, luxury minibars. For the visuals and product info, visit BarTech and find out for yourself how this new device is making waves.

Mini bars have come of age. In some hotels, customers call ahead and order what they would like to find in their mini bar. In some overnight health spas, the rooms' mini bars reflect healthy trends. Moreover, mini bars in homes and offices, with many color options, often reflect their owner's tastes.

Mini bars still come in the standard white and black, but there are other exciting options, such as chrome and wood, which can compliment your home, office, business or hotel decor. Costs range, too, from around a hundred dollars to a thousand.

There is also a vast array of barware and accessories available. In the case of hotels, mini bar equipment may include much needed ice supplies and bar tools.

As you determine which mini bar is right for you, consider the following:

1. Home mini bars include the most basic models. Affordable and functional, these may be the ones you want.
2. Hotel mini bars are much sturdier. Built for repeated use and wear, these come in a range of styles and prices.
3. You will also need accessories and equipment for mini bars, such as glassware, shakers and ice buckets.

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Consider a home mini bar

A home mini bar may be your most affordable option if you want a mini bar for your home, office or small business. Home mini bars may consist of small refrigerators or drink coolers. Many furniture manufacturers also carry furniture called mini bars, which store barware, accessories and bottles.

I recommend: Target.com sells a basic white compact refrigerator that has received positive reviews. Just Wine Racks sells a variety of mini bar refrigeration units and mini bar furniture.

Consider a hotel mini bar

Manufacturers build hotel mini bars to withstand repeated wear and tear. Mini bars in hotels come with chrome or wood finishes. Hotel mini bars for sale often also come in white and black.

I recommend: The Dometic Group sells several mini bars for hotels. Felix Storch, Inc. carries the Summit line and recommends these units for hotels and offices. Their very quiet refrigeration systems also fit inside a cabinet. Bartech Systems International specializes in mini bars for hotels with a sophisticated line.

Remember to buy the accessories and equipment you need for your mini bar

For your home or office, you will need barware and supplies. For a hotel, you will need bar tools and ice supplies.

I recommend: HomeWetBar.com sells everything you might need for home or office use, from classy wine glasses to fun, personalized NFL logo beer mugs. BPC Inc./Barstore 's website, "Stock the Bar," features cocktail shakers, drink ware, coasters and accessories for commercial and home use. If you are in the hotel industry, Food Service Warehouse (FSW) sells a variety of bar supplies, including bar tools, ice supplies and refrigeration units.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you are in the hotel industry and have a number of units, consider outsourcing your hotel mini bar needs. Some suppliers will rent mini bar units and computerize systems to keep costs down. Others will supply the mini bars you own.
• •  Don't forget to check the specs on your mini bar before purchasing and installing it. Like refrigerators, some mini bars need enough room for airflow.

Minibars are not just for stocking alcoholic beverages. Minibars can be used purely for cold water or sodas in your home or office, so you can offer beverages to clients or business partners. However, if your business deems it appropriate, minibars can of course also hold supplies to make alcoholic drinks as well, especially if you entertain clients after hours.

Minibars come in a variety of prices and can be purchased for as little as $200. But, as a hotel owner, you can spend as much as $1,000 on a refrigeration unit for each room. Higher end mini-bar units often include many more features and require less maintenance and upkeep. It is also important to calculate the equipment you will need for each minibar when setting your budget. The following options can help you to asses mini bars pricing and costs:

1. Office or home minibars can be an inexpensive addition to your business.

2. Each hotel room in your establishment can have a unit that "takes care of itself," so to speak.

3. You should account for necessary minibar equipment when determining your minibar budget.

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Purchase office or home mini-bars to entertain clients and guests

An average mini-bar for the home costs between $200 and $600, depending on the features. You can find basic, compact refrigeration units that are inconspicuous and can be put under a desk or in the corner for under $200. However, if you are looking for a stainless steel unit or a unit with a freezer, expect to spend closer to the high end of that range.

I recommend: Just Wine Racks has a variety of mini-bar options. As you look at the selection from CoolerStores, you can see the difference in price on mini-bars for sale based purely on size.

Research hotel mini-bars that will make your guests feel right at home

Expect to spend between $600 and $1,000 on hotel mini-bars. These models include features that help them function smoothly. Many hotel mini-bars include automatic defrost, a front locking mechanism and their own cabinet built into the hotel furniture. When budgeting for your hotel's minibars, remember that although the initial investment may be large, the maintenance fees for these types of units are relatively small since they are designed for durability.

I recommend: Cook At Home Appliances has various hotel minibars with different features and prices. Restaurant-Services.com displays several options for hotel mini-bars to accommodate any budget.

Factor equipment for mini-bars costs

Depending on what mini-bar model you choose, your need for extra equipment will vary. For hotel minibars, expect to spend more on minibar equipment for your guests. As they are away from home, you need to supply them with everything from an ice bucket to bar glasses. A classy stainless steel ice bucket runs around $40, while an acrylic version may cost under $20. Purchased wholesale, a set of six bar glasses costs under $20 as well.

I recommend: Bar Supply Warehouse has a complete bar kit that may give you an idea of all of the hotel mini-bar equipment you will need. KegWorks shows several individual bar items that you may want to consider purchasing for your office or home mini-bar.

The mini bar is ubiquitous in hotel rooms across America, but they are a lot more complex than one might think. For example, some mini bars, called automatic mini bars, actually transmit data through a wireless or Ethernet connection. Others may simply have a utilization lock that shows when someone has used some of the goods. These safety measures are essential for hotels because they ensure that the customer is held responsible for the goods that they consume.

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Home mini bar

A home mini bar is designed for use within the home. It will not have a lock on the doors and may be a bit more elegant. This can also be used in offices where executives want to entertain clients with a drink.

I recommend: The home mini bars at Just Wine Racks are a great solution for your office.

Automatic mini bar

An automatic mini bar detects when a guest consumes something from the mini bar and sends this data to the front desk in order to charge the customer. This is a much more precise system than a manual mini bar, which requires the honesty of the guest.

I recommend: Hotel Interactive discusses the trend towards automatic mini bars.

Flat fridge

A flat fridge is a relatively new design for mini bars. Rather than having the shape of a small refrigerator, it is compact and thin, like a flat screen TV. It is ideal for hotel rooms that do not have much space. You can also choose to mount it on the wall.

I recommend: See the flat fridge at Bartech.

Wireless mini bar

A wireless mini bar is an automatic mini bar that does not need an Internet cable in order to communicate with the software. Instead, it uses its wireless Internet connection.

I recommend: InternetNews.com discusses the wireless mini bar.

Utilization lock

A utilization lock is a lock on the mini bar that shows that the guest made a purchase. After the purchase has been accounted for, the hotel staff can reset the lock.

I recommend: See a utilization lock at Minibar Systems.

Mini bar restocking cart

It's important for beverages to be cold when they go into the mini bar in case a guest decides to make a purchase soon after the restocking. A mini bar restocking cart is refrigerated and allows your staff to store several different types of beverages in one place so that they only need to replace what is missing.

I recommend: See a mini bar restocking cart at Instawares.