Do a deli’s slicers and display cases need replacing soon?
Inspect each slicer and display case closely and ask for service records before you decide. Warning signs include dull or worn blades, loose guards, noisy motors, failing seals, condensation, uneven cooling and repeated repairs. A technician can tell you how much life remains and what replacement would involve.
Start with a slow walk-through of the equipment. For slicers, check the blade, guards, carriage and sharpening mechanism, and look at how easily it comes apart for cleaning. For display cases, check the glass, door seals, lighting, drain and whether the temperature holds across the whole case, including the corners and the top shelf. Look at the floor beneath for water, and listen for the compressor cycling too often.
Next, ask for the paperwork: purchase dates, repair invoices, service contracts, cleaning schedules and any warranties still in force. Ask which pieces break most often, what the seller has put off fixing, and which jobs staff dislike because the equipment is awkward. A pattern of repeated visits for the same problem suggests the unit is near the end of its life.
Then put numbers on it. Ask a technician for an opinion on remaining life and get quotes for replacement, including installation and downtime. Your accountant can help you plan for these costs in your budget. Your lawyer can confirm that the equipment is owned outright and not leased or pledged to a lender before you assume it comes with the shop.
Key takeaways
- Inspect blades, guards, seals, lighting and cooling across the whole case.
- Ask for repair history and note the problems that keep returning.
- Get a technician’s opinion and replacement quotes, and confirm the equipment is owned outright.
Related reading
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Due diligence
Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentEquipment valuation: How to do it
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
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