Starting and operating a candy store is without doubt a valid business idea to consider particularly when you take into account the fact that they appeal to age groups and demographics of all kinds.
Aside from the fact that they remain one of the most popular confectioneries in the world today, candies are known to make a perfect gift for anniversaries of all types and pick-me-ups year round.
To start and run this business, your biggest challenge will be choosing the ideal location for your business as well as acquiring the requisite equipment needed to make and sample your candies.
Taking your time to understand the equipment you need, its uses, as well as its prices is very essential as it will ensure you make well-informed decisions when it comes to setting up a candy store.
If you are considering starting a candy store business, below are the equipment you will need as well as their uses and prices.
List of Equipment You Need to Start a Candy Store
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Candy Display Cases
Aside from the fact that they come in various sizes, it refers to a cabinet with one or often more transparent tempered glass surfaces used to display candies for viewing.
Uses
They are used to sample or display your products attractively. They ensure that your customers can easily see the assortment of candies you offer while also making it easier for them to make selections.
Estimated Price
Since they come in varying sizes, note that their prices will vary depending on size, design, and features. Nevertheless, they are known to cost around $200 to $5,000 or more.
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Candy Making Equipment
Unless you intend to source your candies from candy suppliers in your neighborhood or online, you have to invest in the right candy-making equipment. Note that you will need things like candy thermometers, molds, mixers, as well as cooking utensils.
Uses
Candy-making equipment is used to make candies. This equipment is used in the process of cooking and creating your candies, which more or less includes weighing and mixing ingredients, combining, dissolving, or boiling them, and coating confectionery in chocolate.
Estimated Price
- Basic candy thermometer: $10 to $20
- Commercial-grade mixers and cookers: $500 to $5,000 or more, depending on capacity and features.
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Packaging Equipment
You will also need to invest in the right packaging equipment as they help to preserve and sustain the freshness of your candies while also ensuring they remain attractive for sale. Packaging equipment includes heat sealers, wrapping machines, and labels.
Uses
Just as the name entails, they are used to package and preserve candies to guarantee that they remain fresh and attractive.
Estimated Prices
- Heat sealers: $50 to $100
- Wrapping machines: $200 to $1,000 or more depending on capacity and features
- Label printers: $100 to $500 depending on the type and quality.
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Point-of-Sale (POS) System
A POS system, or point-of-sale system, is a combination of hardware, software, and payment services that your candy store will need to make sales. They feature things like a cash register, barcode scanner, receipt printer, and software for inventory management.
Uses
Note that this equipment is used to process sales, track inventory, and manage customer transactions efficiently.
Estimated Price
In the United States, a basic POS system with hardware will cost between $1,000 to $2,000, although more advanced ones that come with extra features like inventory tracking and sales analytics will cost around $3,000 to $10,000 or more.
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Refrigeration Units
You can’t afford to underestimate the importance of this equipment in a candy store. It refers to a group of components that are utilized for cooling and sometimes heating.
A good number of them make efficient use of a thermodynamic cycle in which there is a flow of heat from one place to another.
Uses
They are very essential when it comes to storing perishable items such as chocolates, fudge, as well as other temperature-sensitive candies. They work to help maintain the freshness and quality of your candies and offerings.
Estimated Price
Their prices will most definitely vary depending on size and type. Small commercial refrigerators that can be used in a candy store can cost between $500 to $1,500, whereas bigger units or custom-built refrigeration systems will cost around $2,000 to $10,000 or more.
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Display Shelving and Storage
These are some of the most important components of not just a candy store but most retail businesses. Many of them are designed to be stackable, and this makes it easier for you to sample or fit your candies and products into a smaller space. It is particularly important for stores with limited floor space or that require to make the most of their available space.
Uses
They are mainly used in the organizing and showcasing of candy products. Storage units are essential to ensure that the inventory is well-organized and easily accessible.
Estimated Price
- Basic shelving units are known to cost around $100 to $500, whereas custom or decorative shelving will fall within the $500 to $2,000 or more range.
- Storage units such as cabinets or racks will cost around $200 to $1,000 or more based on size and features.
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Weighing Scales
Weighing scales are used to measure the weight of goods and can also be utilized to monitor product inventory or production levels. They also function as the guiding star, guaranteeing precise measurements that lead to culinary perfection.
Uses
They are very essential in a candy store setting especially when it comes to accurately measuring and portioning candies for sale. They work to guarantee consistency in product quantities and aid in pricing based on weight.
Estimated Price
- Basic digital weighing scales: $20 to $100
- More advanced scales: $100 to $300 or more.
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Ingredient Storage Containers
The primary essence of ingredient storage containers is to store bulk quantities of ingredients such as sugar, chocolate chips, nuts, and flavorings.
Uses
They are used to store vital ingredients needed to make candies that you sell.
Estimated Price
Their exact prices will vary depending on things like size, material, and quality. Plastic or glass storage jars are known to cost around $5 to $20 each, meanwhile, bigger bulk ingredient bins tend to cost around $50 to $200 or more.
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Cleaning and Sanitizing Equipment
Ensuring the cleanliness of your candy store is very important when it comes to guaranteeing food safety and customer satisfaction.
Aside from that, it is considered a legal requirement in the United States. Some of the cleaning equipment you will need include mops, buckets, cleaning solutions, sanitizers, as well dishwasher units if applicable.
Uses
They are needed to guarantee the cleanliness of your candy store.
Estimated Price
- Basic cleaning supplies like mops and buckets will cost around $20 to $50.
- Cleaning solutions and sanitizers will cost around $5 to $20 per bottle.
- Commercial-grade dishwashers will cost around $1,000 to $5,000 or more depending on capacity and features.
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Safety and Compliance Equipment
As the owner of a candy store, it falls on you to guarantee the safety and full compliance of your store with all requisite health regulations.
Some of the safety equipment you will need include first aid kits, fire extinguishers, food handling gloves, hairnets, as well as cleaning supply storage racks.
Uses
They are used to ensure the safety of both customers and staff within a candy store setting.
Estimated Price
- First aid kits: $50 to $100
- Fire extinguishers: $50 to $200 depending on size and type
- Disposable gloves and hairnets: $20 to $50 per pack
- Storage racks for cleaning supplies: $50 to $100.