Any good restaurant and bar owner will tell you

However, if you're new to the business, or if it's been a while since you've had to purchase your supplies, you might not be sure exactly what you'll need to keep your fine establishment running effortlessly. These guidelines should help you to make sure that you never run out of essential supplies again:

- Start with the furniture. Any good restaurant or bar is going to have plenty of furniture. You will choose the type that meets the needs for your business, of course, but be sure that you have plenty of bar stools and the right tables and chairs to meet the seating needs of all of your customers. Whether you're running a bar or restaurant, you should always start with a great set of furniture. If the cost of dining and bar furniture is threatening to cut into your bottom line, you should know that you can find some great, low cost retailers that can help you save tons of money.

- Supply the bar. If you have a bar or a restaurant with a bar in it, you should make sure that you will have all the glasses, drink dispensers, mixers, bar mats and rags and everything else that your bar needs to have in it. If you aren't sure, you should go to a bar that's been running for a while and check out what they have. Don't be surprised to find that there are many things on your list that you had totally forgotten about. You might know that buying in bulk is your best option when it comes to saving money, but do some price shopping when it comes to items like straws, napkins and even your glassware. These items don't need to be too expensive.

- Bakeware and cookware are essentials for your kitchen. Of course you know that you need to have the utensils, cookware and bakeware to make your kitchen run smoothly, but it's likely that you're going to need a lot of it. You'll need everything from spatulas to spoons, to pots and pans and baking sheets, and pans and you're going to want to get products that are long lasting and that are a great price.

- Don't forget the extras. It's also a good idea to plan on having some extras like buffet supplies if you're planning to do any kind of banquets or catering. Don't forget the other essentials for your kitchen such as table linens, utensils, plates, bowls and glassware and other extras such as napkins.

Whether you've been in business for years and are at the stage that your supplies need to be replaced, or you're thinking about starting up a bar and restaurant, it's essential to know what you need before you get started on your endeavor.