My wife and I are starting a new business and we plan to focus our efforts on cookies. This is our first business, and we've found a lot of information about recipes, techniques, supplies, locations, marketing, licensing, etc.
The area that remains the biggest mystery to us is equipment: - Oven - electric convection - cook top - also electric, due to ventilation limitations - refrigerator/freezer - commercial dish washer - How do I find one large enough for big cookie sheets (or are these usually cleaned by hand?) - coffee maker/espresso machine
In order to minimize our startup costs, I'd like to consider used equipment. Is this recommended or is it a bad idea. I've heard there are auctions for this sort of stuff. How do I find them? I didn't see anything in the newspaper. We're in the New York City area. Can I trust the quality/condition?
Should I also consider renting equipment? Like the coffee/espresso machine, in particular?
I'm also wondering what the good brands are? Are there any particular features I should look for? Are there any resources that review or compare/contrast this equipment? Like a consumer reports for commercial grade equipment?
Any information on any of these topics would be greatly appreciated.
and find anoffice of the Small Business Developement Center near you. It's almostalways free, except for a few of the classes, which are less than $25.You will learn LOTS of stuff you haven't even thought of. I very strongly recommend them.
I'll tell you about equipment, but read your previous line again. You THINK equipment is your biggest mystery, which is wrong. The biggest mystery is not knowing what you don't know. that's whay you need the SBDC.
Now for some answers.
Do you have three phase electric where you want to open? You'll probably need it. I have an electric convection oven with steam injection and a rotating rack. It hold a rack with 18 full sized trays.
Limitations notwithstanding, the government will most likely tell you that you HAVE to install ventilation. Do you have a site plan?
Look to Traulsen and True brands. Used ones are all over the place, but don't buy too old. The coils could break and then it's garbage.
For a while, you may want to clean by hand, or pay a kid minimum wage to do it. Do you have any idea how many trays will need cleaning each day?
Go to alt.coffee. Terrific group with very very informed users and lots of professional shop owners.
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can get you set up with coffee makers, beansand grinders,. You buy the beans from them, they lend you theequipment. Stay away from Coke and Pepsi. They will lend you a free fridge, but charge you through the nose for the soda. Like 65 cents a bottle. I bought a fridge on E-bay for less than $500 and buy my soda from Wal-Mart for 33 cents a bottle.
I bought almost everything in my bagel shop on E-Bay or locally, used. It helps a lot to do tons of research first.
Dunno where, but ask at alt.coffee. I have a Bezzera which I bought new on E-Bay for $1400. Works great. You'll also need a coffee grinder for the espresso.
All on alt.coffee. Try reading the group for a few days and looking at all the web sites on espresso you can find first. Naturally, they get bored with repeated questions. Just be polite and friendly and show you gratitude a bit.
Finally, do you have a business plan? Fully expect to spend more than double your best guess. I really mean it. More than double.
Have you worked in a bakery? Perhaps you should for a short while. A coffee shop? Same thing. Go to several shops and buy something to eat. While there, make a list of every piece of equipment you think you might need. Get a membership at Costco or Sams Club. See their websites and explore explore explore. Keep files on each type of equipment. Start lists of everything you'll possibly need. Paper goods, cups, plates. napkins, towels, utensils, foils, assorted boxes, assorted bags, plastic gloves, tray liners, decorative liners, cup lids, etc etc etc. Keep EXCELLENT lists on spread sheets.
Pretty soon you'll see what I mean about cost over-runs.
Next, go see a baker or two and ask them about government regs and how they can cost a fortune. You may want to go to another town where they won't view you as competition. You'll need a three compartment sink and hand sinks and probably a mop sink. Probably also a grease trap.
Thanks for the link to SBA. We do have our business plan and we're seeking all the advice we can get.
According to local city laws, we can get away without ventilation if we have electric instead of gas. I don't think our products will suffer from a non-gas oven, so I think this is the way we are going to go. In particular, can you recommend some good brand names for ovens?
We're still trying to locate the space, but we're setting aside money for electric work, plumbing, etc since the space is likely to not be set up for a kitchen.
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