A florist replacing a display in 2026 sees sticker prices that range 2.5x across legitimate retail floral platforms. The sticker is roughly 60–70% of the all-in delivered, set, and running number — electrical, delivery, install labor, and the first PM round add up. Real numbers across the four dominant brands serving Tampa Bay florists below.
Floral Refrigeration / Suncrest: $5,800–7,200 sticker, $7,800–9,800 all-in. RWI: $4,800–6,200 sticker, $6,800–8,800 all-in. Penguin: $4,400–5,800 sticker, $6,400–8,400 all-in. RAM: $3,800–5,200 sticker, $5,800–7,800 all-in.
All-in includes: delivery to the shop ($300–600), removal of existing unit if applicable ($200–400), electrical disconnect/reconnect by licensed electrician ($300–700), positioning and leveling ($200–400), startup and 90-day check ($150–300), and Florida sales tax on the equipment.
Floral Refrigeration / Suncrest: $7,800–9,800 sticker, $10,200–12,800 all-in. RWI: $6,400–8,200 sticker, $8,800–11,200 all-in. Penguin: $6,000–7,800 sticker, $8,400–10,800 all-in. RAM: $5,200–6,800 sticker, $7,400–9,800 all-in.
The 3-door cabinet weighs 700–900 lb and may require a small forklift or pallet jack for shop delivery. Add $200–400 if shop access is awkward (second floor without elevator, narrow doors, urban delivery).
4–6 year-old RWI or Floral Refrigeration units with documented PM and one-owner history sell at 40–55% of new-equivalent price. A two-door used display in good condition runs $2,800–4,200 in Tampa Bay. Add the same delivery, electrical, and startup costs ($800–1,800).
Used RAM or Penguin without service records: avoid. The lifecycle math on a used budget brand is worse than a new one when service costs are factored over 5 years.
Energy: 2-door floral display runs 2.8–4.2 kWh/day depending on door cycles and shop ambient. At Tampa Electric commercial rate ~$0.13/kWh, that is $130–200/year. Door heater contribution adds $40–80/year.
PM and repair: budget $400–700/year for quarterly PM plus reasonable parts. Year 4–5 typically sees a gasket replacement ($200–400), year 6 typically sees evaporator fan motor or door heater ($300–600). Total 7-year operating cost: $4,200–7,500.
Built-on-site 8x10x8 walk-in cooler with floral-grade evaporator and condensing unit: $18,500–28,500 installed in Tampa Bay. Larger 10x12x8: $24,000–38,000. Costs scale roughly linearly with cubic footage, with refrigeration package as the largest single line item.
Walk-in installs include foundation work if the floor is not already rated, electrical service upgrade if existing capacity is insufficient, and Florida county building permits ($300–800). Plan 4–6 weeks lead time on a walk-in build.
Most Tampa Bay florists finance new display purchases through equipment finance companies (LeaseDirect, Crest Capital, others) at 60–84 month terms with 6–12% APR depending on credit. Monthly payment on a $9,000 display at 72 months 9% APR runs about $162/month — comparable to monthly PM cost.
Florida has no state income tax; no state-level equipment incentives apply. Federal Section 179 depreciation can fully expense the equipment in year of purchase if cash flow supports the deduction.
Two-door glass-front: $5,800–9,800 all-in depending on brand. Three-door: $7,400–12,800. All-in includes delivery, electrical, install labor, startup, and Florida sales tax. Walk-in floral coolers run $18,500+ installed.
A 4–6 year-old RWI or Floral Refrigeration unit with documented service history at 40–55% of new can be a strong value. Avoid budget-brand used units without records — the lifecycle math does not work.
2.8–4.2 kWh/day on a 2-door, 4.2–6.8 kWh/day on a 3-door. At Tampa Electric commercial rates, $130–280/year per cabinet. Door heater wire adds $40–80/year. Newer R-290 units run 10–15% more efficient than legacy R-404A.
Most likely yes if the purchase is for business use and cash flow supports the deduction. Federal Section 179 limits are indexed annually; a $9,000 floral cooler is well under standard caps. Consult your CPA for your specific situation.
Suncoast Cold Systems services floral and agricultural refrigeration across Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Brandon, Riverview, Temple Terrace, and Wesley Chapel — retail floral display coolers, wholesale floral DC walk-ins, ag packing-shed cold rooms, hydrocoolers, and forced-air cooling tunnels. 24/7 dispatch. Licensed Class A A/C Contractor (FL #CAC1824642), EPA 608 Universal, OSHA 30 Construction.
How to size the right cooler for the operation before buying.
Brand-by-brand on platform, parts, and 7-year TCO.
Diagnostic order when the existing cooler stops holding.