Honest answers to the
questions we hear most.

DIY ships pre-cut and pre-drilled in a flat-pack box. You assemble it yourself in about an hour. $999, 1–2 week lead time.

Signature is one of six pre-designed builds we have shipped dozens of times. Locked spec, you choose size and finish. From $1,750, 3–6 week lead time.

Custom Elite is a fully bespoke build that starts with a 45-minute design call with Sam. Permit-prep available as an add-on, plumbing, anything specific to your venue. From $5,000, 12–16 week lead time.

Semi-Custom was the highest-coordination, lowest-margin tier. Customers expected near-Custom flexibility at near-Signature pricing, and every build burned hours on estimate revisions and scope debates. We retired it in 2026 and reorganized into three productized tiers. The result is faster lead times, sharper estimates, and customers getting clearer expectations from the start.

No. Signature is locked spec, and that is what keeps the lead time honest. The Coffee Bar and The Espresso include a pre-cut port for a single water line, but anything beyond that — sinks, three-compartment configurations, hot-water plumbing — is Custom Elite. Apply for Custom Elite.

Signature pages show the live total based on the size and finish you select. That total is what we will quote. Custom Elite pricing is set after Sam's discovery call and depends on the build — the $5,000 floor is a real floor.

Signature and Custom Elite use a 45/35/20 split. 45% deposit at signing, 35% when the build enters production, 20% before shipping. All through QuickBooks. DIY is paid in full at order, like any product.

QuickBooks ACH or card. We do not accept Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or wire transfer for builds — too many ways for things to go wrong with no recourse.

No. The 45% deposit is non-refundable, and we say that in writing in the Project Agreement. The reason: by the time you have signed and paid, we have ordered material and Sam has reserved time on the floor. Both costs are real and already incurred.

One business day, often within an hour. Every form submission goes to her directly. None of them sit in a queue.

3/4-inch Baltic birch panels. Solid hardwood frame, doweled and glued (not stapled). Heavy-duty locking commercial casters rated to 250 pounds each. Sealed butcher-block tops with food-safe finish. The same standard goes into the $999 DIY kit as into a $5,000 Custom Elite.

Five-plus years of weekly use is typical. Several of our 2020–2021 carts are still working events every weekend in 2026. They develop a light patina from the venue floors. They do not fall apart.

Ask Amanda for a photo and she will text you one. We are not big on staged update emails — Sam has ADHD and we have built our systems around that, so updates happen because someone asks rather than on a schedule.

The Signature build tag has your business name on it, signed by Sam. We do not do removable RidgeCraft branding — there is no removable RidgeCraft branding to begin with. If you want a fully branded surface treatment, that is Custom Elite.

US and Canada. Freight crated for Signature and Custom Elite. UPS or FedEx for the DIY flat-pack.

Freight ranges based on region. West Coast typically $450–$650, Midwest and Texas $550–$750, East Coast $650–$900. Amanda will quote actual shipping with the build estimate. DIY ships at standard UPS/FedEx residential rates, included in the $999.

Yes. Schedule a pickup window with Amanda when the build is ready. Our shop is at 22445 E La Palma Ave, Suite J, Yorba Linda, CA 92887.

Permits are not included with the build itself — they are an add-on we offer on Custom Elite. What we provide: NSF-compatible specs, three-compartment configurations, mobile food facility documentation, and answers to the questions inspectors ask. Sam reviews every permit-prep spec before any estimate goes out.

We have helped customers get over the line in 14 California counties and 8 other states. The permit itself is yours to file.

No. We help you start the process — spec sheet, NSF-compatible build, documentation to bring to the inspection. Filing the permit and dealing with your local environmental health office is your responsibility. Every county runs slightly differently, and they are the source of truth, not us.

NSF International is the third-party body that certifies food-service equipment. NSF-certified sinks and surfaces are required by most US health departments for permitted mobile food facilities. When your Custom Elite includes the permit-prep add-on, we use NSF-certified components throughout.

Wipe down with mild soap and water. The butcher-block top is sealed and food-safe — re-oil it once a year with food-grade mineral oil to keep the seal intact. Avoid bleach on the wood; it dries the surface out.

Text the number on your build tag with the build number. We send replacement wheels at our cost — they screw on with the same hardware as the original. If the cart is under three years old, we cover the cost.

Yes. Drop it off at the shop or ship it freight; we sand and refinish for $300–$500 depending on the build. Most carts come out looking new.

Sometimes. Change orders are $50 flat plus the additional materials and labor. Amanda will give you the cost before any change happens. Some changes — say, a different stain — are easy. Others (a different size, restructured frame) may not be possible once the wood is cut.

Sometimes, on Signature only. If our queue has three or fewer active builds and you need it in less than three weeks, Amanda can usually say yes. Custom Elite is never rushed — Sam needs the design time. Permit-prep builds are never rushed.

Tell us before final payment clears. Send photos. We will inspect and either fix it free, replace it free, or refund you. We have done all three over the years. None of them happen often, but they have all happened.

Before deposit: easy, no cost. After deposit and signed agreement: deposit is forfeit. We tell you that in advance, in writing, in three places.