A vending machine company is run by a business owner, often called a vending machine operator. The vending machine operator purchases one or more vending machines, scouts out locations to place them, negotiates with property owners, and maintains the stock inside of the machines themselves. The operator doesn’t always restock the machines themselves; they may hire employees for that, but it depends on the scale of the vending business.
A successful vending machine business depends on your goals. You may not want to go full-time. Owning a vending machine business can also be a lucrative side hustle. Small business loans and credit cards can help with upfront costs, but the initial vending machine costs don’t have to be huge. You can choose refurbished equipment and start with a single machine to keep costs reasonable.
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You don’t have to sell soda if you don’t want to — you have options. Although drink machine sales still tend to be the most profitable, there are countless kinds of vending machine businesses you can run. Here are the four main categories of vending machine businesses:
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It’s important to research the hurdles of each type of business before you decide which route you want to go. Choosing one kind and sticking to it in the beginning can make ramping up your business easier and decrease how much you have to learn as you go. What you choose to sell will impact the type of machine you buy, as some products need refrigeration and electricity while others only need a quarter and a turn.
The type of machine business you choose should be easy for you to manage, sell well in your area, and fit within your budget. Feel free to use your imagination. For example, the company SouveNEAR brings locally made gifts to airports and travel hubs that customers can purchase out of vending machines while they’re on the go. Keep in mind that inventory costs money, so make sure you can afford to restock.
Many vending machines sell drinks or food. For beverage vending machines, you can choose to partner with and sell a specific brand, like Coca-Cola. Or you can stock it with what you want to sell. It’s best to choose drinks only or snacks only in the beginning to limit the amount of education you need from the start.
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With food or snack vending machines, you also have options on what you can sell. For example, placing a healthy snacks vending machine in a private gym might be a success. As long as you do your market research and place the machine in the right location, it has a good chance of creating income.
Bulk vending is often the most affordable type of vending to get into since you’re selling nonperishable items like small toys, stickers, or gumballs. You don’t need to worry about keeping your stock refrigerated. And many bulk vending machines only need the customer to put in a quarter and turn the knob, so you also may not have to worry about electricity. These machines are typically cheaper to buy and stock than other options, as well.
Specialty vending machines run the gamut. You can sell anything from local gifts to portable electronics to laundry products (placed in laundromats or dorms). Selling coffee and hot chocolate from a hot beverage vending machine is another option. These types of vending products may be more complicated if you’re new at running a vending machine business, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.
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If you’d prefer more support and training than starting your own business, you can look into franchising a vending machine business. You’ll be able to take a business model that works and run with it rather than starting from scratch. However, keep in mind that you’ll have to pay part of your income to the franchiser, which may not make the higher support worth it.
There are positives and negatives to starting any business. Here’s a breakdown of what to think about before starting your own vending machine business.
Your profit margin per vending machine will depend on the type of machine, the cost of your inventory, and the vending machine location. A good location and a desirable product that fits into your budget make it more likely that you’ll be successful.
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Your overall profits depend on how many machines you operate. You typically need quite a few machines to be able to take this business full time. Owning a vending machine business is not a get-rich-quick scheme. Each machine brings in between $5 and $100 per week, on average. You might only be making $20 per month on a single vending machine, but remember that it’s passive income. If your business has many vending machines, you’ll have a lot more work on your plate — but also the potential to make up to $400 per month on average on every one.
The method you choose to fund your vending machine business depends on your personal circumstances and the type of machines you want to operate. If you have savings, you might be able to fund a standard machine from your own money. For mechanical machines, you’ll spend an average of $2, 000 to $3, 000, while an electronic machine will usually cost more than $3, 000. You can often find refurbished machines for less than that, too.
If you don’t have savings, however, you can still start a vending machine business. There are business credit cards and small business loans that you may qualify for to fund your vending machine startup or expansion costs.
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Yes. You can use business credit cards to fund a vending machine business. Because the price of a single vending machine is relatively low, the credit limit on business credit cards can often cover the cost. You may even be able to get a credit card with a limit high enough to cover multiple machines at once.
Here are some of the best credit card options for your vending machine business. Work with to get personalized card recommendations based on the details you enter securely about your business. The more information you provide, the better your recommendations.
Business loans are another option when you’re looking to fund your vending machine business. Typically, business loans are used for larger purchases, but you may be able to qualify for a loan if you want to purchase multiple vending machines at one time.
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It is usually difficult for a brand-new business to get a traditional bank loan, but there are alternative lenders (see the list below) that require only six months to one year in business.
Before diving into your own vending machine business, there are a few things you need to understand. You’ll need to research local regulations to see how to remain compliant. You’re technically a vendor, so check with your local Chamber of Commerce to learn how your state regulates vendors. You’ll probably need to obtain a vending machine license — and one for each machine. This shouldn’t be a dealbreaker because they’re inexpensive and relatively easy to get, but it is one more to-do item on your list. You’ll want to make sure you have your machines licensed so you are operating legally. Additionally, your machine must follow ADA standards, so make sure the machines you buy are accessible to all.
Also, you’ll likely pay sales tax on everything you sell. The amount of sales tax you’ll owe will depend on your location, but it can eat into your profits.
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Finally, you’ll usually pay part of your commission to the person or company that owns the property or properties you choose for your vending machine location. The property owner wants to get something in return for allowing you to use their property, as well as cover any electricity costs that add up from your machine. Expect to pay 10% to 25% of your profits to the property owner.
Buying a vending machine is daunting. Whether or not you might choose a refurbished machine or a new machine depends largely on which stage your business is in. Used vending machines are a good place to start for new businesses. You’ll decrease your investment, and therefore your risk, because refurbished machines cost less. They may or may not require fixes before you use them, so be sure to inspect it carefully and ask for demonstrations from the vendor.
Meanwhile, experienced vending machine business owners might choose a new machine if they have access to the capital. New vending machines are more expensive but will probably require less frequent maintenance.
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You might be brand new to buying something like a vending machine and aren’t really sure where to start. Here are the questions you’ll likely need to ask when starting a vending machine business:
When figuring out potential locations for where to put your vending machine, look at foot traffic. High-traffic areas like airports or train stations are more likely to be successful than locations that don’t get as many people walking by. These locations may be more difficult to get into, but it could be worth trying.
You’ll also want to consider what you’re selling. If you’re selling bulk items
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