Restaurant, Catering, & Concession Equipment

When Appraisal is Needed

There are many scenarios where an independent and defensible appraisal of a restaurant’s tangible assets becomes necessary. Because the food service industry experiences high turnover, accurate asset values may be required for commercial bank financing, Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, and partnership dissolutions or buyouts. Additionally, a formal valuation may be needed during corporate restructuring, bankruptcy filings, insurance asset scheduling, or when a business is being sold or liquidated. In these situations, relying on original purchase prices or generic depreciation schedules isn’t always enough; stakeholders need to know the true value of the equipment as it sits on the floor today.

The Appraisal Process

Our appraisal process is thorough, hands-on, and designed to minimize disruption to any ongoing operations. It begins with an on-site physical inspection where we systematically catalog every asset in the facility.

We look at the manufacturer, model number, serial number, age, and physical condition across all categories of the property, including but not limited to:

• Heavy Kitchen Appliances: Walk-in coolers and freezers, ice machines, commercial ranges, deep fryers, griddles, prep tables, ventilation hoods, shelving, sinks, and specialty food service equipment.
• FOH Furniture & Decor: Everyday front-of-house assets such as vinyl booths, tables, chairs, barstools, area rugs, host stands, linens, and decorative wall art or lighting fixtures.
• Beverage & Dispensing Systems: Commercial soda fountains, draft beer lines, espresso and coffee makers, back-bar coolers, and blended beverage systems.
• Serving, Prep, & Tableware: Dishes, glassware, flatware, pots, pans, and serving utensils and vessels.
• POS Hardware & Front-Counter Electronics: POS systems and associated hardware. 
• Non-Expirable Inventory & Product: Remaining non-perishable back-of-house assets, packaged dry goods, cleaning supplies, and unopened commercial product inventory.

Once the physical inventory is complete, we conduct market research to determine replacement value or secondary market trends. We analyze the assets under the appropriate standard of value required for your specific situation. The analyzed value and supporting data are delivered in a comprehensive USPAP compliant appraisal report. 

The Finished Appraisal Report

The final deliverable is a comprehensive Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) compliant appraisal report, which is based on substantiated methodology and data. This document serves as an illustrated, user-friendly, and  defensible tool that can be handed directly to banks, attorneys, courts, or the IRS.

The finished report includes:

• An itemized inventory detailing the description, condition, and assessed value of each item or group of items
• Photographic documentation of assets to substantiate findings
• A clear breakdown of the valuation methodologies used (such as the Market Comparison Approach or Cost Approach)
• A summary of Scope of WOrk
• A concise summary of total value
• A thorough explanation of market selection, and market analysis.