Opening a restaurant is an exciting venture—but it can also be overwhelming. From building out your menu to designing your space, one of the most critical steps is outfitting your kitchen with the right equipment. The right setup ensures your team can prep, cook, store, and serve efficiently from the very first ticket.

In the ever-evolving landscape of the restaurant industry, external factors such as tariffs can significantly impact operations and profitability. Tariffs—taxes imposed on imported goods—affect the cost of ingredients, equipment, and other essential supplies that restaurants rely on daily. For restaurant owners, understanding how tariffs influence food costs is critical to making informed business decisions and maintaining a profitable menu.

For today’s foodservice operations, staying up-to-date with equipment is crucial to meet industry standards and customer demands. But investing in quality equipment often means taking on large expenses that can impact cash flow. Financing provides a way to access the tools needed to keep growing while conserving capital.

That’s why we’re excited to partner with Centra Culinary Finance to provide flexible financing solutions tailored specifically for the foodservice industry.

Setting up a commercial kitchen is a big task, and it's crucial to get every detail right to ensure smooth operations, safety, and compliance with local regulations. Whether you’re opening a new restaurant, catering business, or food production facility, having a comprehensive checklist will help you cover all the necessary aspects. Below is the ultimate checklist for setting up a commercial kitchen to ensure you’re prepared for success.