Businesses such as restaurants, bars, cafes, and grocery stores need commercial refrigerators to prevent their products from going bad, saving thousands of dollars in loss. Not just food businesses, but floral shops and pharmacies also need commercial refrigerators to preserve their items.
Now, when you do decide to get a commercial fridge, you’ll have two options; either straight up buy one or choose to lease. Both of these options have their pros and cons, and we’re here to help you choose.
In this article, we are going to tell you everything you need to know about buying and leasing a commercial refrigerator, so you can make a wiser decision for your business. Which one is better in the long run? Read till the end to find out.
But before we move forward, first of all, what is a commercial refrigerator? A commercial refrigerator is a fridge specifically designed for heavy use in a commercial setting.
Commercial refrigerators, as they’re made for industrial use, are powerful, reliable, well-designed, spacious with larger cabinets, and durable. These refrigerators are extremely cost-efficient as well and can help you save a ton of money.
If you own a medium to large scale food business and still use regular refrigerators to store your ingredients and food, it’s high time you upgrade to a commercial refrigerator. Especially if you feel like your business is starting to grow, a commercial refrigerator can help you pick up that pace.
Ordinary refrigerators fail when it comes to commercial scale, which is why, if you want to grow your business, it is important to shift to commercial refrigerators as soon as possible.
Commercial refrigerators come with a lot of benefits. Since these refrigerators are huge, you get a ton of space. Moreover, having larger compressors and special commercial refrigerants, they are much more powerful as compared to regular fridges.
Since ingredients and food items are quick to spoil if kept outside of the refrigerator for too long, downtime in a food business can mean straight-up loss of income.
When it comes to buying a commercial refrigerator, you make a one time payment and the equipment is all yours. This method does require comparatively more upfront investment but will give you complete ownership. If you have a good investment, you should definitely opt to buy, as this method is comparatively cheaper in the long run.
However, this method also has its cons. Buying a commercial refrigerator will take a huge amount of your investment. Plus, you will be responsible for repairs and damages as well.
The second option we have is leasing. Leasing means that you will have to pay a monthly payment for your appliance. This option is best for small start-ups. If you don’t have a lot of investment, leasing a commercial refrigerator might be the best option for you.
Moreover, most companies that offer to lease a commercial refrigerator cover repairs, so you won’t have to worry about that as well. Another big advantage of leasing is that you can easily get your equipment replaced and upgraded if better technology arrives.
However, leasing is a bit expensive in the long run. You cannot put the equipment on sale either since it’s not in your ownership. Another huge disadvantage of leasing is that if you’re unsatisfied with the quality of your equipment or no longer need it, terminating the lease will cost you a substantial fee.
As explained earlier, both methods have their pros and cons so it’s up to you which option you go for. If you have money put aside and want to upgrade your business without any loopholes, you should definitely opt to buy, but if you’re on a tight budget, leasing might be the best option for you. If you're still not sure what the best option is, call us now or send us an email, and we'll help you figure out the best option for you and your business.