These days, there isn’t anyone who considers going to bars and clubs a great way to while away the night. Not only do these places allow for great social networking opportunities, they also allow customers to relax, unwind and forget about the stress of everyday living. It is also a great place to make connections and this is perhaps one of the reasons why the bar business is booming.

These encouraging facts are also the reason why there are more and more people who want to start a café, restaurant or bar business. The profits that can come in, assuming you do things right are very promising, so much that you may even consider letting go of your day job.

However, as with any business, there are a lot of things to consider before you can open your own bar. The last thing you want is to run out of business even before you could make a healthy return of investment so the first thing you need to do is research. Do market research and determine what customers want and expect, what drinks are hot right now and what the best locations to consider are.

You will also need to think about getting a liquor license, developing a business plan and be prepared to nitpick through every detail. After all, this is a business and not a hobby so you should also be fully committed to the project from Day One till the end.

Among the biggest expenses one can incur when opening a bar business is getting the right equipment. A major purchase would be a commercial bar fridge because let’s face it, what’s a bar without the cold drinks? Any establishment that serves cold food and drinks needs to invest in a great commercial bar fridge because for one, there are strict standards about food safety and preparation that you need to and it is also important that you store food at the proper temperatures to avoid any food poisoning incidents.

The first thing you need to know about bar fridges is that there are several types to choose from. There’s your walk-in coolers which are actually room-sized storages and recommended for established bars since you can store beer kegs and wine boxes here. Then there are beer coolers which have sliding tops where you can place your beers and are similar to those fridges you see at ice cream parlors. Of course, let’s not forget the most popular type, the reach-in coolers, aka as “low boys” and “high boys” in the bar business since you can place them over or under your bar counters.

The type of bar fridge you choose will also depend on several factors, the first one being space. Ideally, you will need at least two fridges, one for storage and one reach-in for your bar to serve customers during business hours. If your space doesn’t allow for two, at least make sure you get a reach-in since it can be conveniently placed under the bar counter and won’t be in the way as you go about serving customers. An important tip to remember: make sure you get fridges with sliding doors so you can easily see what’s inside and sliding doors also save on space.

The next thing to consider would be your budget. You may be tempted to go with ordinary bottle coolers to save on expenses but to be honest, this may not work out so well in the long run since the plastic interiors of these coolers won’t help you maintain the temperature you need for your drinks, plus when their cooling system starts, the units have a tendency to vibrate and make a lot of noise. The last thing you want is for customers to get annoyed because they hear your cooler better than the music playing.

If your budget permits it, it is recommended you get a beverage chiller with glass windows and one that is well lit so you can place it at the back of your bar counter and customers will be able to see at a glance what they want to order. You can place your featured drinks there as well and any other beverage that you want to promote.

And lastly, always make sure you get your bar fridges from reputable suppliers. It is important that you get a commercial-grade bar fridge and not a home fridge as bar fridges are specifically designed to withstand constant use and also because they will have warranties that can help you save on repair expenses especially during the early stages of your business.