5 Things to Consider in a Shipping Container Conversion
6 Benefits of Shipping Container Cafes
Have you considered converting a shipping container into a cafe? There are a range of advantages in doing so! With Gateway Container Sales you can create a physical asset for your company that is portable and cheaper than renting a space in a shopping district.
In this article we assess the benefits of buying a shipping container that has been fitted out as a cafe.
Shipping container cafes are everywhere! Why?
Only a few years ago you’d hardly see them but shipping container cafes seem to be everywhere these days! There are a number of reasons for this:
- They are cheap to convert
- You can let your imagination run riot with the design!
- It is possible to fit them out to exacting hygiene standards
- Shipping container cafes can be dropped almost anywhere
- Unlike a rented premises, these cafes can go on your company books as an asset
- Containers are built to be secure, keeping your assets within safe.
Let’s now look at each of these points in more detail…..
1. Conversion won’t break the bank
Small scale businesses, even if the owner has big dreams, don’t always have vast amounts of capital to spend on a major asset like property.
A shipping container has ‘pre-built’ walls and floors. Using a company with experience and expertise in shipping container conversations, like Gateway Container Sales, is the way to go for your cafe conversion. You can have windows and doors cut out and things like plumbing, electricity and ventilation fitted at a price you can afford.
2. Let your imagination run riot!
Image source: Sprudge
Unlike rental premises, you can design your shipping container cafe in almost any way you like. You can go for bold colours and lots of glass – or perhaps a more refined style that suits your image.
There are three broad sizes of containers you can convert too – three metre (10 feet), six metre (20 feet) and 12 metre (40 feet). Within these parameters you can have indoor or outdoor seating, and a wide range of kitchen options.
Do you want an outdoor bistro with a number of chefs beavering away making great food for people eating al fresco? Perhaps a 12 metre container would allow this. You could also just have a small serving station, with a coffee machine, grill, fridge and dishwasher, with the rest of the space as an indoor seating area.
Without going crazy on price, only your imagination limits you!
3. Meeting high hygiene standards
Quite apart from the fact you don’t want rats and cockroaches dining out on your food, shipping container cafes are fitted out with high hygiene standards in mind.
This means you can have a water supply to your kitchen area, a boiler fitted for hot water and electrics, for a fully functional food preparation space that meets all local environmental health requirements.
4. Cafe can be moved between locations
Image source: Remodelista
By their very nature, shipping container cafe conversions can be shifted using standardised equipment. This means you can move your cafe from place to place – perhaps the music festival circuit in summer, or a range of spots around a town/city to test the best locations for your business to maximise income.
5. An asset for your books
Renting a space in a shopping high street is basically shovelling cash in a hole that will never be seen again. You can buy a shipping container with one purchase and this will depreciate on your company’s books as an asset.
It is also an asset that works for you through good times and bad. You won’t be like one of those businesses in the COIVID-19 pandemic sweating to make the rent even as business plummets – the asset is yours already.
6. A secure premises
A final point to note is that security is built into shipping containers by design. This means you can keep expensive assets like coffee machines and dishwashers secure, even while off premises. That should reduce costs, like insurance, over time but also give you peace of mind.
Like the idea of a shipping container cafe? Call us today!
As we’ve shown, there are plenty of benefits to using a converted shipping container to launch your cafe business. Give Gateway a call or email us for a free quote. We’ll suggest the best container solution, modifications and everything you’ll need to get your dream cafe project underway!
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