If you're looking to start a hospitality business, or you have recently acquired an empty space, chances are you may be in need of an equipment fit-out. In such circumstances, you might want to consider hiring a professional to help you get going.
Regardless of what space needs to be fitted out, whether it's in an area within a mall, or an empty storefront, you're going to want to hire a good company to implement the process of design and acquiring equipment from the very start.
Starting a hospitality business goes beyond purchasing a few tables and getting into the kitchen. Design is important. In fact, it can make or break your business model. So when looking for a suitable company to assist you in managing and implementing your design, there are a few things that you should be looking out for.
Take a look at their portfolio
The first thing that you should do is look at the portfolio of the company you would like to work with. A professional fit-out company should have a track record of turning empty spaces into options that are built for work.
Whether you are opening a restaurant or retrofitting a hotel, you will want to make sure that the interior is designed and fitted-out with a certain flair and precision. This is where looking at a portfolio can come in handy; you will be able to see projects that started from an empty space, just like your project. If the company has no way of showing you what they have achieved, then be wary.
Consider the services on offer
No matter what branch of the hospitality business you're looking to venture into, do yourself a favour and make sure that the company you want to hire does what you need to get a start. That means they should be well-versed in things like equipment for food, cooking, refrigeration, ventilation, custom made items, design layout and architecture. They should have a practical understanding of many components.
Remember, they are not just a construction company that you will simply hire to build a display. You will be hiring them to literally transform your space into a workable arena for business, and this is the difference between a contractor and fit-out company. A contractor provides a limited range of solutions, and in the end, you would end up doing a lot of the ground work.
Word of mouth and online reviews
One of the best ways to find a good equipment fit-out specialist is to look at reviews online. You would be surprised at how many people take the time to venture onto the web to review fit-out companies.
You might not think about it at first glance, but some of your favourite restaurants, pubs and coffee shops may have used a good fit-out company to build their interiors and design flow.
It's with professional craftsmanship and design that these businesses can compete with larger corporations. This is something that is definitely worthy of praise. With that in mind, make sure you look into what customers are saying.
