Running a catering business requires some pretty expensive equipment and when new purchases are necessary one always wonders if purchasing used catering equipment is the thing to do. It goes without saying, anything that saves your business money is something to be considered very carefully.

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 invest in the same device new, it will inevitably come with some sort of warranty which will ensure it works for years to come or will be fixed free of charge.

Another problem with used catering equipment is that it may not work as efficiently as a newer model. In the catering business, much of the cooking equipment can be abused which can interfere with it working properly. When you’re relying on this unit to provide you with the right cooking times for food this could turn out to be a disaster should it not work right during a big catering event.

If you are still set on buying used, there are some things to look out for when looking for equipment.

 One thing you want to be able to do is be aware of how old the equipment is and how frequently 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 didn’t actualy use the units that much. Of course, you have to have a good feeling that you can trust the seller to be telling the truth.

If you do buy used catering equipment, this can give you some leeway to get a better quality brand then if you bought new. The  top-of-the-line brands will be more sturdy so you should try to buy the best brand you can when buying used because this will give you a better chance of getting a good working unit.  Wolf, Vulcan, Delfield and Traulsen are the brands to consider in used restaurant equipment.

If you can, get the unit inspected proir to making the decision to buy. This type of inspection can uncover things that might be wrong with the unit that you might not see on your own. There’s nothing worse than spending a lot of cash on something that only functions for a few days and then dies out completely. You want to prevent this if you can and an inspection may help you do that.

You should also stay away from buying any electrical cooking equipment that is used. Gas will be more durable and isn't as likely to be broken and you can pretty much tell if the burner turns on that it’s going to work. Electrical equipment on the other hand can have faulty wiring which can be costly to repair.

Investing in used catering equipment can be a wise investment if you use your head. You can look at auctions, seek out restaurants that are closing and even try to go through a used equipment dealer who can help you find the sorts 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.