How do I judge a diner’s grill, fryer and exhaust condition?
Have a qualified technician inspect the grill, fryer and exhaust, and ask for cleaning and repair records. Run them during a busy period, check for grease build-up and listen for strain. Ask what is original, what has been replaced and what is owned outright.
Start with the paperwork. Ask for service invoices, cleaning records for the exhaust hood and ducts, and any notes from inspectors or insurers. Gaps in cleaning are a warning. A tidy log shows an owner who maintains equipment.
Then see the equipment work. Ask to be in the kitchen during a rush so you can watch the grill hold heat, the fryer recover between baskets and the hood pull smoke without leaving a haze. Look for grease on walls, filters and the roof fan, and for scorched or patched surfaces.
Bring a technician who repairs commercial kitchen gear. They can judge what is near the end of its life and what a replacement might cost. Ask the seller which pieces are owned and which are leased or financed, because liens or lease payments can follow the equipment. Finally, build the findings into your plan. If the exhaust needs work, the question becomes who pays and whether the price or terms should reflect it. Your lawyer can help make sure the equipment list in the agreement matches what you saw. Ask the seller about warranties on any recent replacement and get the receipts, since those can pass to you only when the paperwork is in order.
Key takeaways
- Ask for cleaning and service records for the hood, ducts, grill and fryer.
- Watch the equipment during a rush instead of inspecting it idle.
- Confirm which pieces are owned outright and which carry a lease or lien.
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentEquipment valuation: How to do it
- 03Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentEquipment purchase financing for entrepreneurs
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