Resources for Bagel Equipment

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.

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.

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.

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.

• 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.