Chocolate Fountain Rental: A Few Tips
If all you need is a small fountain for your dinners with friends and family, then, definitely consider buying one. But if you need to cater an event for many people, then renting is the way to go.
The market of fountains has seen such a huge growth, that many companies have set up a rental business. Here are a few useful tips on chocolate fountain renting.
Size depends on the number of people
If you’re not an expert, you probably don’t know anything about two-tiered or six-tiered fountains, but you should have a clear idea on how many guests you will have at your party. Remember that it’s not the number of tiers that makes the difference but the capacity of the bottom chocolate container. Ideally, you want to take a look at the item personally, but if there are no chocolate fountains rental places at a reasonable distance from your home, there is always the possibility of renting online.
How much will it cost me?
Chocolate fountains for hire can cost, depending on your needs, anything from 100$ to 400$.
Depending on additional services you are asking for, you should add the following costs:
- shipping and returning if you are renting online
- chocolate if you decided to buy it from the rental place
- assembling service, if you are renting a large chocolate fountain and you don’t want the hassle of putting it together.
Most of chocolate fountain rentals include at least shipping in the price, however always remember to ask explicitely.
What about the chocolate?
The best chocolate fountain chocolate has a high content in cocoa butter (between 32% and 39%), which helps the chocolate flowing down the tiers. In most cases (if they are smart enough), the rental company will also provide the chocolate, so you won’t have to worry about it. Check the section about the chocolate fountain food for more details on chocolate.
Don’t wait for the last minute
Do things enough time in advance. A good common sense rule is, the bigger and the more important the event, the earlier the organization starts. Between four and six weeks before the event is a safe amount of time to reserve the chocolate fountain. Always call the chocolate fountain rental company no later than two weeks before the event, to make sure that everything is according to plans.
If you plan to assemble the fountain yourself, expect to receive all the boxes at least one week in advance. This will give you enought time to familiarize with the device.
Don’t be lazy, do a dry run
As soon as you receive the fountain, resist the temptation of leaving the boxes aside. Assemble it immediately and try it with a small amount of chocolate. Sure, you will have to clean it afterwards, but not only will you have a clearer idea of how it works, you will also make sure that everything really works, and if there is any problem, you’ll have plenty of time to contact the company.
Ask questions
Using a chocolate fondue fountain is not rocket science, but it nonetheless requires some familiarization. don’t be afraid to ask the chocolate fountain hire company for advice on any aspect other than the machine itself, like the best food to use, ow to dip it and so on….
For more tips, check the chocolate fountain FAQ section