Running a catering business requires some pretty expensive equipment and when new purchases are needed the question always arises about whether buying used catering equipment is a good investment or not. Of course, saving money is always a good idea but you need to weigh that against the risks that buying used equipment entails.

One of the biggest risks in buying used equipment is that there is no guarantee that it will work and even if it does work now, no guarantee for how long it will remain working. If you buy the same unit new, it will inevitably come with some sort of warranty that will ensure it stays working for years to come or will be repaired at no cost to you.

Another problem with used catering equipment is that it may not work as efficiently as a newer model. In the catering business, some equipment can be overused and this can cause it to not work correctly. When youÕre depending on this unit to provide you with the appropriate cooking times for food this could actually be a disaster should it malfunction during a big event.

If youÕve weighed all the pros and cons of purchasing new or used and you still think that buying used equipment is the best investment for you, there are a couple things that need to keep in mind.

One thing you want to be able to do is find out how old the piece is and how often it was used. You may be able to dig out some good deals if you buy equipment from somewhere that went out of business and didnÕt really use the units that much. Of course, you have to have a good feeling of being able to trust the person who is selling you this equipment to know if they are being straight about how much use it had.

If you do buy used catering equipment, this can give you some leeway to get a better quality brand then you would be able to buy if you bought new. The top-of-the-line brands will be more durable so you should always look for the best brand you can when buying used because this will give you a better chance of having a good working unit. Wolf, Vulcan, Delfield and Traulsen are all good brand names for catering equipment.

If you can, get the unit inspected before you hand over any money. This type of inspection can reveal things that might be wrong with the unit that you might not notice right off the bat. ThereÕs nothing worse than spending a lot of money on something that works for a few days and then dies out completely. You want to avoid this if at all possible and inspection might help you do that.

You also want to avoid buying any electrical cooking equipment used. Gas cooking equipment doesnÕt have as many things that can go wrong with that and you can pretty much tell if the burner turns on that itÕs going to work. Electrical equipment on the other hand can have faulty wiring which can be expensive to fix.

Buying used catering equipment can be a smart investment if you use your head. You can look at auctions, seek out restaurants that are closing and even try to find a used equipment dealer who can help you seek out the types of units that you need. As with anything else, do your due diligence before hand and you will have less of a chance of making a purchase that you regret later.