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Vending machines are by no means a new business idea – after all, they can be found everywhere. But for those of you looking to start your own business, there’s a lot to like about the vending industry. Consider that there are millions of machines in the US alone – and the vending machine industry is worth over $23 billion in annual sales. Reason enough to start your own vending machine business.

How to start a vending machine business in 6 steps

Consider all of your vending machine options: these include food and beverage vending machines, bulk vending machines, and specialty vending machines. Find the Right Location for Your Vending Machines: Consider locations where you feel motivated to use a vending machine. Then make an agreement with the owner. Find Your Vending Machine: Vending machine sellers include manufacturers and wholesalers, aftermarket retailers and online resellers. Stock your vending machine with inventory: Consider location-specific requirements when purchasing inventory for your machine. Also, don’t overorder the inventory at the beginning. Explore financing options for your vending business: The best financing options include a short-term loan, equipment financing, and inventory financing. Invest Properly in Vending Machine Tools: A successful operation requires investing in tools that help you run your business more efficiently and prioritizing customer service.

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The slot machine industry is an attractive option for both new and experienced entrepreneurs. Aside from its surprising profitability, running a vending machine business is pretty versatile. It can be a great weekend side business, a low start-up cost business, or an interesting new opportunity to add to your portfolio.

Ready to make your fortune on to-go snacks and drinks? Here’s everything you need to know to start a vending machine business.

vending machine costs

The bulk of the cost of starting a vending machine business comes from the vending machines and stock items. You can generally get a basic vending machine business up and running with an investment of just $2,000. Many machine operators recommend purchasing used or refurbished machines, which you can find anywhere from $1,200 to $3,000. A new vending machine costs between $3,000 and $10,000 depending on size and features.

In addition to the machine itself, you should also consider the storage costs for stocking your machines. Depending on how many machines you want to own and the type of inventory you have in stock, this can range from a few hundred to thousands of dollars.

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How to start a vending machine business: a step-by-step guide

Any advantage or insight you have about vending machines is a great way to break into this niche business. For example, if you’ve already identified a need for a vending machine in your area, reach out to property owners you know and gauge their interest in installing vending machines at their locations.

But even without personal connections, you can open a vending machine business – and earn money with it. How to start a vending machine business in six steps.

1. Consider your vending machine options

While most people think that vending machines only come in the standard snack and soda variety, if you’ve thought about how to start a vending machine business you probably know that there are more options. In general, there are four different categories of vending machines (which we will outline below). Consider all four types when choosing the machine whose products resonate best with your target market.

Whatever type of machine you choose, start with one or two machines with a specific market focus. This allows you to gradually learn popular inventory and location-specific patterns and add new machines accordingly.

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Food and beverage sales

According to Vending Market Watch’s 2019 annual report, food and beverage vending machines selling snacks, sodas, and candy account for the bulk of the vending market share in the U.S., with beverages alone accounting for nearly a third of vending sales. If you’re wondering how to start a vending machine business, you can’t go wrong with this old standard.

Of course, there are variations on this standard – you can get a machine that only offers drinks, snacks, or snack-and-drink combos. Some vending machine contractors choose to purchase different types of machines for one location or to have one type of machine in multiple locations.

Whatever you decide, it’s a good idea for new vending operators to start with a specialty — be it healthy snacks, beverages, or even fresh food — until you learn more about the industry.

To get the most sales, target your offerings to a specific, location-based market. For example, you could stock your food and drink machine at a gym with protein bars and shakes, or stock a school vending machine with juice and granola bars. You might think of soda and chips when you think of vending machines, but there’s money to be made by offering equally convenient, healthy alternatives that people will want — and pay for.

bulk sale

Starting a vending business with machines that carry gumballs, stickers, or gummy balls – also known as bulk vending – requires very little capital and low maintenance costs.

These typically low-maintenance vending machines might not be glamorous, but the quarters add up. A refurbished vending machine can cost you less than $50 and make up to $30 a month. The products you offer have incredibly low overheads. In the right market – like a school or an amusement park – this modest investment offers the potential for a reliable, passive income stream.

Most bulk vending machines are mechanical devices and require no electricity or battery power to operate, meaning running costs are low to non-existent. However, many candy and toy vending machines are older, so a used machine may need minor repairs before it is functional.

specialty sale

You’re not just limited to food and beverages when you open a vending machine business. Large public places like arenas, airports, and shopping malls often have vending machines that offer goods such as tech accessories, beauty products, or other specialty items. Some of these vending machines use the same technology as standard vending machines and some are differentiated as automated retail machines.

Some special sale items include:

Hot Beverages: The sale of coffee or hot beverages is usually most successful in offices, but universities and conference centers are also good locations for this type of vending business. Manufacturers often produce both specialty beverage machines and traditional machines, so you may be able to combine your purchases.

Retail: Essential travel items like phone chargers, headphones, and neck pillows can be lucrative sales items if you can negotiate a deal with a local transit station or even an airport. High-end vending machines in malls and airports often contain luxury skin care products or electronics.

Laundry Products: Individually wrapped laundry detergent, fabric softener, and dryer sheets are great selling products when you find the right market for them – like laundromats, condominiums, or dormitories.

Tobacco: Tobacco sales are legal in many states and can be lucrative depending on state taxes. Even cannabis vending machines are also becoming available, but with a much more limited market.

Franchising Options

If you don’t want to start your business from scratch, consider purchasing a franchise to start your vending business. As a franchisee, you can work within a proven business framework and receive additional support and training to build your vending business. You can also decide how many or how few machines you want to invest in. However, remember that as a franchisee, you are responsible for paying a portion of your profits to the franchisor.

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2. Find the right location for your machine

The type of vending machine you choose is crucial, but where you decide to place that machine is the single most important factor in making a profit from your slot machine business. For example, an upscale food and beverage machine might fail in a mall full of restaurants, but the same machine might thrive in an office park.

If you’re opening a vending machine business, think about the places you’ve personally purchased something from a vending machine, as well as the times when people are most likely to purchase a drink, snack, or other item. There’s a good chance your restaurant choices were limited, you were in a hurry, or you were waiting in a place like the airport or DMV.

Some other location ideas for your vending machine include:

schools

hospitals or medical centers

Super Market

airports and shopping malls

laundromats

apartment complexes

manufacturing facilities

The next step is securing the site. A good salesperson may feel comfortable cold calling or personally asking for a property or business owner. This approach can work for smaller sites, especially if you’re a frequent customer or already know the owner.

You can also try visiting your local chamber of commerce. They can give you information about large companies in your area that might give you ideas for potential locations. Ideally, try to locate your vending machine in businesses with at least 100 employees or a lot of foot traffic, e.g. B. in an office park with several companies.

If you already have locations in mind, contact the owners or work to get contact information for the appropriate manager. Discussing location requirements with potential partners can help you better understand local demand and inform your vending machine and product choices.

Find out about country-specific sales laws, regulations and compliance

Different rules apply to different types of vending machines, and vending regulations vary by state. Before opening a vending machine business and approaching potential site owners, find out how your state regulates vendors by contacting your local chamber of commerce or by searching online for your state’s small business regulations.

Also, any vending machine you place in a public place may be subject to certain ADA compliance standards, and it’s a good idea to keep accessibility in mind when considering vending machine options.

Know the commission requirements and prepare an owner contract

Before you can reap the profits from your vending machine, you must pay a commission to the owner who provides the location and power needed to run your machine. Generally, you pay the property owner 10% to 25% of the revenue from your vending machine.

Whether or not you want to form an exclusive partnership with a site, create a contract with the owner detailing your agreed rate of compensation, contract length, and the terms you have with the owner.

Also include provisions for breach of contract. It’s also wise to include expectations and obligations related to the maintenance and replenishment of your vending machines, vandalism or theft, and the possibility of unprofitability. As always, have a lawyer review the contract before signing it.

3. Find your vending machine

You cannot start a vending machine business without first purchasing a vending machine. Luckily, finding your vending machine can be as easy as an online search. To get an idea of ​​the different slot offerings and price points, look at both local and national providers. You should also consider inventory costs when looking at vending machine prices.

To find the vending machine of your dreams, start your search with these three types of vendors:

Manufacturers or wholesale suppliers of vending machines have the largest selection of vending machines, the latest technology and the most comprehensive supply, repair and training services. However, this is the most expensive option – equipment through vending franchises may require a minimum order of multiple machines or other fees used for machine maintenance and entrepreneurial development programs. Aftermarket sellers or specialist online retailers allow you to browse multiple makes and models of vending machines and often have helpful resources for business owners. Consumer-to-consumer platforms like Craigslist and eBay have thousands of vending machines for sale. Save time by filtering by retailer or owner location so you don’t have to worry about high shipping costs. This may be the best option for first-time vending entrepreneurs who don’t want to spend thousands on a new or refurbished machine.

As you’ll quickly discover as you begin your search, vending machines come with a range of features and capabilities, all of which come at different prices.

Some of these special features are:

Snack/drink combination machines

Credit card and large invoice functionality

Touch or voice access

Remote monitoring software and low stock alerts

Branded “wraps” for the front of your machine

Interactive screens

Don’t be too tempted by these special features though, as they can get expensive. Choose the vending machine that best suits the products you want to offer and what you can afford at the moment.

4. Stock your vending machine with inventory

Once you land on a vending machine, you’re well on your way to starting a vending business. Next you need to fill it up with inventory.

Product selection is a great opportunity to boost sales. Instead of deciding to stock items based on broader food and beverage trends, pay attention to local, location-specific needs. To stay on the safe side, don’t over-order stock early and adjust your offerings based on demand.

If you choose to offer combination food and drink services in your vending machine store, drinks will make up the majority of your sales. As the growing refreshment market expands from soda to coffee, flavored water, and healthier drinks like coconut water, it’s worth considering what your location can offer in terms of more expensive specialty drinks and drinks.

Beverage size and shapes affect your choice of machines. So if you put a lot of emphasis on selling boxes or irregularly shaped products, try to find a machine with adjustable product size.

5. Explore your financing options

Starting a vending machine business doesn’t require nearly as much seed capital as most other small businesses — some businesses can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to start.

Still, a few thousand dollars isn’t exactly small change. If you need credit to purchase your vending machine, consider these two options:

Short-term loan

If you’re already a business owner and have the financial history of your business to back it up, securing a short-term loan to fund your vending machine may be the best course of action.

Like traditional term loans, short-term lenders deposit a lump sum of cash directly into your commercial bank account, and you pay back your loan plus interest over a set period of time. As you can guess from their name, short-term loans have repayment periods that are significantly shorter than their long-term counterparts — typically 18 months or less. And the interest rates are slightly higher than on longer-term loans. However, for these reasons, short-term loans are generally easier to qualify than long-term loans.

But this is a small business loan, so short-term lenders must review and approve your company’s finances before agreeing to provide you with a loan. If possible, you should bring a good business history and good personal credit to prove your candidacy.

equipment financing

You don’t necessarily need tons of capital to start a slot machine business that makes money. But if you need a little help, you can apply for an appliance financing loan. The terms of these loans depend on the value of your equipment, which also serves as security in case you default on your loan payments.

With proper care, vending machines can last up to 10 years, which can help lenders insure themselves. In addition to your own financial information and business plan, if you decide to apply for an equipment loan, you will need equipment quotes for the machine(s) you intend to purchase. Additionally, if you need capital to purchase inventory, consider inventory financing.

6. Make the right investments

After choosing a location, purchasing a machine, and meeting the placement requirements, you’re ready to start a vending machine business – now it’s time to focus on making the business profitable.

Invest in a Vending Management System (VMS)

Depending on the technology in your machine, your vending machines may come pre-programmed with management software that allows you to streamline operations, capture inventory and track sales.

However, most standard machines require you to manually manage your inventory, which might be doable if you only own a few vending machines. However, once you have five to ten separate vending machines, it’s probably a good idea to invest in a vending management system to help you keep track of your inventory remotely. VMS software allows you to remotely manage your vending machines from any web-enabled device. Most VMS systems provide real-time inventory updates and reporting tools.

Invest in customer service

Even if you only have a vending machine or two, it pays to prioritize customer service with this (or any other) company from the start. To ensure your vending machine is optimized for your customers, all you have to do is follow a few best practices.

Like many location-based businesses, vending machines often rely on word of mouth and personal connections. Connect with business owners, find your state’s sales association, or join local business networking groups.

Most importantly, make sure your vending machines are stocked and working weekly or bi-weekly. You might also consider providing an 800 number for service requests and comments, which is a great way to get useful feedback.

Invest your time

Like any other endeavor, starting a vending business requires more than just a capital investment—you must also invest at least some of your time and attention in your vending business.

A full-size vending machine may require you to collect money weekly, which is important when determining how much time you can realistically devote to traveling to places. In addition to the time it takes to purchase inventory, visit locations, and replenish stock, running a vending machine business requires you to spend time researching trends in sales, new products, or locations, and collaborating with co-workers speak.

The typical service cycle for bulk sales—think nonperishable candy or stickers—is anywhere from four to eight weeks. So if you can’t break away from your full-time commitments often, bulk vending could be a great way for you to get into the vending business without sacrificing too much time.

Pros and cons of starting a vending machine business

With just a few thousand dollars to invest, a vehicle, and determination, you are absolutely capable of starting a vending machine business and making a profit. But starting a slot business isn’t all fun and games (although you can sell fun and games in your slot). As with any new venture, there are pros and cons to consider.

Business benefits of vending machines

Easy to Scale: Scaling your slots business is incredibly easy. You can start with a few vending machines and expand the locations as you gain success.

Variety of choices: Nowadays there are all kinds of slot machines. Vending machines now serve healthy food, gourmet options, and sometimes non-food options.

Little to No Overhead: There are little to no overheads to running a vending machine business, especially if you run the business on your own. Since vending companies don’t require many employees or office space, you don’t have to worry about payroll, benefits, or rent expenses.

Disadvantages of the vending machine business

Time Commitment: Running a vending machine business requires you to devote some time and energy to storing, maintaining, and raising money on your machines on a regular basis.

Theft and Vandalism: Vending machines are easy targets when it comes to theft and vandalism. Make sure your machine locations are in safe areas to avoid losing profits.

frequently asked Questions

1. Are vending machines profitable?

Yes, vending machines can be profitable. The average vending machine makes $35 a week, but vending machines that are well stocked and in safe, high-traffic locations can bring in over $400 a month.

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2. Vending machine owners pay rent?

Yes, vending machine owners pay rent or commission to the building owner. Vending machine owners generally pay between 5% and 20% of their vending machine sales.

3. Are vending machines taxed?

Yes, vending machines are subject to sales tax on the revenue they generate. The amount of sales tax varies by state.

4. Where can you place vending machines?

You can place vending machines in most commercial spaces such as offices, retail stores, bowling alleys and more. But you must first sign a contract with the property owner.

The final result

The vending machine business brings in billions of dollars worldwide every year. You may be able to enter this lucrative market with less than $1,000, the right market research, informed decisions, and entrepreneurial drive.

Invest incrementally as you learn more about your vending machine’s demand patterns and start generating passive income without taking out a massive loan or going into debt. Depending on whether you’re going to continue doing another job or not, by gradually increasing the scope of your vending business, you can take on more when you’re ready, or scale back when needed.

Regardless of where you are financially, the vending industry offers an opportunity to run your own business while only risking as much as you are comfortable investing.

step 3

Put your money in the machine. The machine has a marked coin slot and, if it accepts dollar bills, a separate, lighted, large horizontal dollar bill slot. If you plan to use a dollar bill, make sure it is smooth, as vending machines often reject wrinkled or torn bills and insert them face up into the horizontal slot. If the machine won’t take your bill, try coins instead or straighten your dollar bill a second time. Insert any coins into the coin slot. Sometimes your coin will be rejected and fall into the change dispenser at the bottom of the vending machine. If this happens, tap metal with your coin and try again. Continue inserting bills and/or coins into the machine until you have paid the amount required to purchase the product. The machine usually has a digital display to show how much money you have paid.

Meet Maggie Eiffert

Maggie is one of our friendly account managers and runs the vending machines at work in London.

Maggie has been in the vending industry for over 17 years, serving clients across sectors including distribution, manufacturing, energy, banking and technology.

If you are looking for information on vending machines, coffee makers or water dispensers, contact Maggie to find the right solution for you.

Contact Maggie

close [×] close activity stages

work/daily activity level

Light – Do you have a job that involves long periods of sitting (office/driving) or are you at home and sedentary most of the day. Typical jobs: clerk, sales representative, bus/taxi/truck driver.

Moderate – On legs most of day, either standing or occasionally walking slowly. Typical jobs: saleswoman, teacher, cook, bartender, engineer.

Heavy – Active most of the day, walking continuously and carrying objects. Typical jobs: Hospital/ward nurse, waitress in a busy restaurant, cleaner, porter, labourer/construction worker, gardener, farm hand.

recreational activity level

Inactive – Move very little, occasionally walk (moderate pace, low intensity). Spend most of your free time doing activities such as watching TV, playing computer games, internet, reading, cooking, driving, general household chores.

Moderately Active – Exercise 3-4 times per week at a light to moderate intensity. E.g. going to the gym / swimming / cycling / horseback riding / dance classes / playing golf. Daily walk the dog (fast pace, twice a day).

Very Active – You engage in high-intensity exercise almost every day of the week, such as running, spinning, team or competitive sports. Or engage in regular activities such as heavy gardening, heavy home improvement.

The Hustle Issue #127 Sunday, October 4, 2020

The Hustle prides itself on delivering original long-form journalism to your inbox every Sunday. This week, with the help of our sponsor WeTransfer, we’re bringing you a glimpse into our creative process. See how their collect tool helped Zack capture his ideas here.

The Economics of Vending Machines The pandemic has increased interest in owning vending machines. But how lucrative is the business? BY Zachary Crockett

Three months ago, Jalea Pippens — a phlebotomist at St. John Hospital in Detroit — had cut her hours. In the midst of the pandemic, the 23-year-old desperately needed a second source of income. One night, while scrolling through the search results for “ways to make extra money,” she came across vending machines. The everyday minutiae of owning a vending machine seemed a bit tedious: buying candy in bulk from Sam’s Club, filling machines, collecting weathered bills and buckets of coins. But Pippens saw an opportunity to be her own boss. She teamed up with her boyfriend and another business partner and bought a vending machine on Facebook Marketplace for $1.6,000 and parked it at a local auto parts store, where it’s now fetching $400 a month. “I never really thought about vending machines,” she tells The Hustle. “I didn’t even know you could own one.” Pippens is one of thousands of individual operators that make up the bulk of the vending ecosystem. During the pandemic, the relatively low barrier to entry has attracted a new breed of vending machine entrepreneurs — teachers, nurses, mechanics, students — who measure profits in $1 bills and use new technology to monitor and scale their operations. But are vending machines really a useful sideline? How much does the average machine bring in? And what does the job involve? To find out, The Hustle surveyed and interviewed more than 20 vending machine operators across America. A look at the market It is estimated that about ⅓ of the approximately 15 million vending machines in the world are in the US. Of those 5 million US-based vending machines, about 2 million are currently in operation, collectively bringing in $7.4 billion in annual sales for those who own them. That means the average American adult spends about $35 a year on vending machine items. What makes the vending industry truly unique is its stratification: the landscape is made up of thousands of small independent operators – and no single entity owns more than 5% of the market.

(Zachary Crockett / The Hustle)

Some large corporations such as Pepsi and Coca-Cola have their own arsenal of machines. But the vending machine requires so many moving parts and yields such low profits per machine that it’s better suited to smaller operators who can minimize overhead. According to a 2020 IBISWorld report, the country’s 2 million operating machines are owned by 17.6,000 small businesses, the vast majority of which have few employees. The slot machine industry is broad and includes everything from $0.50 gumballs to—well, live hairy crabs (~$4 each)

(~$4 each) Beluga caviar ($500 an ounce)

($500 an ounce) Engagement Rings ($800)

($800) Live earthworms for fishing ($3.50 for a dozen)

($3.50 for a dozen) Morning After Pills ($25)

($25) COVID-19 essentials like hand sanitizer and masks ($4.25 to $14.50) Curiosities aside, the majority of vending machines (72.4%) house standard snacks and drinks — what in machine lingo is ” Full-Line” machines is known.

(Zachary Crockett / The Hustle)

Several things attract new operators to vending: Relatively low start-up costs: An operator can find a decent machine and buy inventory for <$2,000. : An operator can find a decent machine and buy inventory for <$2,000. Scalability: Early earnings can be reinvested in expansion to take advantage of economies of scale. : Early earnings can be reinvested in expansion to take advantage of economies of scale. A largely passive routine: replenishing and collecting cash can be reduced to a few times a month. : Stock replenishment and cash pickup can be reduced to a few times per month. A Flexible Schedule: As with the gig economy, the vending machine operation allows operators to set their own hours of operation. But getting into business comes with a few hurdles – the first of which is finding the right machine. A new machine straight from a manufacturer can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $8,000 – although used machines can be bought on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace for as little as $300. As Paul Valdez, a 39-year-old Miami operator, learned, these machines often end up being more trouble than they're worth. "I bought 4 machines cheap on Craigslist and fixed them," he tells The Hustle, "but they were all so crappy and old that no company wanted them." Once an operator like Valdez secured the right machine, there is the next obstacle is finding a quality home for it. Location can determine a machine's success – and finding a good one is often a big challenge for people new to the business. (Zachary Crockett / The Hustle) Many of the best locations - places with heavy foot traffic or many workers - are already saturated with machines. Some owners we spoke to have to make 100+ calls before they get a decent location. They often end up paying the owner a commission of 10% to 25% of gross sales to bring the deal home. Other owners resort to buying pre-determined “routes” – machines already set up somewhere on site – or try to eliminate existing operators by offering better service. "It can be dog-eat-dog," says Alyssa Howard, a 28-year-old who owns 22 vending machines in Colorado. "You have to treat it as a zero-sum game." The reason for this competition is simple: there's tremendous variability in how much revenue a machine can bring in, depending on where it's located. Good Margins, Small Volumes We surveyed 23 vending machine owners with operations of various sizes and found that the average operator in our sample owns 13 machines that bring in $309 per machine per month. But self-reported earnings per machine per month ranged from just $75 to $650. Note: This data comes from a survey of 23 operators and is not intended to be definitive; some vending machines make far less than the numbers listed here; others do far more. (Zachary Crockett / The Hustle) Most of the vendors we spoke to found large sales discrepancies between their own machines. "I have one machine that pays out $25 every two weeks and another that pays out $600," says Everett Brown, a 32-year-old Minneapolis-based Lyft driver who sells part-time. “Every location is different; Some places suck, some places are gold mines.” Jaime Ibanez started selling vending machines in 2018. Fresh out of high school, he gave up $2.5,000 - about half his savings - for a renovated vending machine and found a home for it at a local barber shop in Dallas. Today he owns 35 machines that bring in $10,000 in sales every month. His best location, a hotel, earns him $2.8,000; his worst sometimes looks like only $200. And remember, these numbers are upfront costs. The business comes with its share of the overhead. First off, about 50% of revenue goes towards the cost of the items that go into the machines. Many operators buy their goods in bulk from Sam's Club and Costco and sell them for about double the price they paid. Here's a look at what a typical vending machine's margins might look like by item: (Zachary Crockett / The Hustle) Among the other operating expenses reported by vending machine owners: General Liability Insurance (~$500/year for <$100,000 annual sales) for <$100,000 annual sales) Commissions paid to sites (5-25% of sales) of sales) transaction fees for card purchases (~5-6%) ) Card Reader Analysis Fees ($10/month) ) Storage space for idle machines (~$100/month) ) Gas and Transportation ($50-$100/month) ) taxes (10-37% of adjusted gross income) of Adjusted Gross Income) Routine maintenance and vandalism repairs ($50 to $250 per year) Even something like logistics can be a burden: Vending machines are extraordinarily heavy - 600 to 800 lbs. — and often require special equipment to pick up and move. Taking all costs into account, an operator making $5,000 a month in revenue could take home about $2,000 in profit. For vending machine vending to work as a full-time occupation, an operator typically needs to implement economies of scale and build the business around dozens of machines that collectively generate a viable wage. Operators like Ibanez are constantly investing in expansion. Ibanez with some of its 35 machines in Dallas (via Jaime Ibanez) The biggest input cost of all - the time a vendor spends on site - has recently been minimized by technology. "I can see all my machines in 2 days and don't have to go back for 2 weeks," says Ibanez. Twenty years ago, operators had to drive to each machine half a day and write down the items they needed by hand. Today, telemetry tools have largely enabled newcomers to work remotely. About 70% of today's vendors use some form of technology (card readers, apps, iPads) to monitor sales and inventory in real-time. On a typical day visiting the site, Ibanez wakes up at 6 a.m., checks its apps for inventory, and invites its best-sellers — Honey Buns, M&M's, and Snickers — to Sam's Club. After stocking up on supplies, raising money, and making the occasional repair, he's home by 4 p.m. This seemingly boring routine has piqued the interest of hundreds of thousands of young entrepreneurs online. Ibanez's YouTube channel, which chronicles his life as a salesman, has 362,000 subscribers and is now making more than his machines. "People love to see the stacks of money being pulled out," he says. But something else is fueling this fascination: The allure of semi-passive income has led to a surge in vending machine sales during the pandemic. The COVID-19 boom Barry and Lori Strickland, a couple in San Diego, run The Vending Mentors, an educational resource that offers a 6-week course ($297) and ongoing consulting services ($97/month) for new vendors. Her journey into the vending machines began in 1989 when Barry - then a 30-year-old special education teacher - bought a couple of machines to earn some extra income during the summer. Eventually, the pair grew the business to 250 machines and $500,000 in annual sales before it was sold. Lory and Barry Strickland have seen their vending machine price surge during the pandemic (Barry and Lory Strickland) Since the pandemic, the Stricklands say they've seen a huge surge in interest. This year, 200 providers have registered for their course. "Many workers are finding that their jobs are not as secure as they thought," says Mr. Strickland. “We're getting a lot of interest from people who have lost their jobs or have had fewer hours and are turning to the vending machine to take matters into their own hands.” Mr. Strickland says most vendors he knows are in this have experienced a 10-50% drop in sales year-on-year due to the stressors of the pandemic. Radical shifts in consumer behavior, physical interaction and health policies have transformed the vending landscape. Providers that rely on schools have been hit particularly hard; other locations, such as nursing homes, have continued to develop well. Despite the restructuring, Mr. Strickland maintains that the market is ripe for entry. "Vending machines are relatively safe compared to food prep — there's not that much human contact," he says. "It's also a business that many people see as recession-proof." The Stricklands, in particular, have noticed a surge in black and Hispanic vending machine owners -- a trend they attribute to accessibility and relatively low start-up costs. VendingNation, a popular private Facebook group for new sellers, has grown from 6,000 to 14.5,000 members since January -- a 142% increase -- and many of the new members are from underrepresented groups. Jalea Pippens with a new machine - one of 15 she co-manages with partners Steven Lee and Gabriel McKinnon in Detroit (Jalea Pippens) Among them is Jalea Pippens, the phlebotomist from Detroit. After buying her first vending machine 3 months ago, she started Literally Lit Vending with her boyfriend (a nurse) and his best friend. “The pandemic has turned us into entrepreneurs,” she says. In the last 3 months, Literally Lit has grown to 15 kiosks across Metro Detroit. They recently landed their biggest deal yet: 5 machines in a steelmaking warehouse. Together, the machines now bring in $4,000 in monthly revenue -- most of which is reinvested in the company. "In the past, if I've seen a vending machine at the hospital, I've spent at least $5," she says. "Now I'm on the other side collecting the bills." Share and discuss this story SPONSORED Ideas are undoubtedly nothing. Here at The Hustle we have ideas - lots of them. We also know that nothing is perfect from the start. So, we: Criticize (constructively, of course) Poke, poke and peel back the layers Get frustrated and tear everything up. Then rinse and repeat until we hit gold. All part of the process, you know? You see, a little doubt turns good ideas into great ones. When it comes to finally bringing these ideas to life, we turn to WeTransfer and its cute tools. Built with creative professionals in mind (hey, that's us!), WeTransfer helps us tackle blank pages with Paste®, organize and share inspiration with Collect, and make the most of every stage of the creative process. Are you ready to make the best of your doubts? Check out the full set of WeTransfer tools here: How do you like today's story? hate it meh love it Today's email was brought to you by Zachary Crockett (story/artwork), Brad Wolverton (editing) and Bobby Durben (advertising). PODCAST JOBS ADVERTISEMENT CONTACT US 251 KEARNY ST. STE 300, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108, UNITED STATES • 415.506.7210

How do I find vending machine locations?

Here’s our cheat sheet to help you assess if a kiosk location is suitable and could be profitable for you:

1. Are there at least 25 people at this location throughout the day?

a) Is the location “Employee”? Then you need at least 30-40 people every day who are regularly present.

b) Is the location “worker”? Then you need at least 20-30 people every day who are regularly present.

If the location has fewer than 25 people throughout the day, you may have an expensive asset that isn’t making you any money. However, consider the location and customers carefully. For example, a factory with 20 workers with no other food and beverages nearby is likely to generate more revenue than an office with 100 employees who only come into the office for meetings.

2. Can you organize refilling and maintenance on a regular basis?

a) Allow 2 hours per week for refilling and maintenance per machine. This depends on how busy the machine location is.

Pro tip: Remember our step 6 in our business model above “You provide convenience”? Allowing a little extra time to fully stock and maintain each machine is the “secret ingredient” to a successful slot business in 2021. You can achieve this by ensuring your slot investment has back-to-base monitoring , which notifies you when a machine is running low or has a problem. Ask C&C Vending Services about vending machines with back-to-base monitoring.

Remember, you’re not selling food and beverages, you’re selling convenience.

3. Can you source the beverages and snacks needed at this location at a price that can earn you your required margin?

You must ensure your profits are high by paying the lowest possible unit price for the products you buy for each machine. Locate snack and beverage wholesalers near you. Try to build a network of wholesale suppliers that you can source products from on a regular basis. Selling some vending machines brings less profit than others. Therefore, depending on your required profit margins, it may not always be profitable to fill the machine with hard-to-find and high-priced products.

Pro tip: Your profit margin for a vending machine location should be 55% or more. Do the math before deciding on a new location.

Vending machines dispense food and drinks to people on the move. The products that are usually sold in vending machines aren’t big items (except for car vending machines, of course), so people often wonder if vending machines are profitable. The fact is, vending machines can be very profitable when a business is properly structured.

There’s a lot of money to be made in vending, and the current state of the industry shows that. There are currently around 5 million operational vending machines in the United States, generating over $7 billion in annual revenue for their operators. In terms of profits, the snack food niche alone generates $64 million in annual profits for vending machine operators.

As long as people eat and drink on the go, well-placed and well-stocked machines are needed. But like any business, it’s possible to have great success with vending machines, fall in the middle, or even fail. The key is having the right support, the right strategies, and the right pricing structures to ensure a slots business makes money.

How much do vending machines make?

Data on individual vending machine profits can be difficult to analyze because there is such great volatility across the industry. For example, a single machine in a busy hotel with no restaurant could bring in hundreds of dollars a day, while a machine hidden in a dark and dusty apartment laundry room could bring in just a few dollars a month.

Overall, however, vending is a multi-billion dollar industry. People always have food and drink needs on the go, and the industry is showing absolutely no signs of slowing down. In fact, it’s expanding. How much an individual vending machine makes depends on the type of machine, its location, the products dispensed, and the price of its items. But a great mix of machines and products can generate significant revenue for a vending machine business owner.

How much does it cost to start a vending machine business?

It doesn’t cost much to start a vending machine business, but startup costs vary depending on the path you choose to start the business. Starting a vending business on your own can keep start-up costs low, but it can be impossible to break into the vending business without assistance. With no contacts, no established brands in the industry, no track record and no mentors, it can take months if not years for a retailer to get a vending machine up and running, offsetting these cheaper start-up costs.

On the other hand, working with an established slot company as part of a franchise or franchise-like scheme may cost a little more upfront, but it will set a slot business on the road to success from day one by providing on-site support for selection, contracts, Marketing, product sourcing and more.

There are many ways to finance a vending machine business to cover these slightly higher start-up costs. These include cash, unsecured personal loans, secured personal loans, short-term business loans, an SBA loan, a home equity line of credit (HELOC), or special 401(k) rollovers designed for entrepreneurs. The financing option you choose to start a vending business depends on your unique circumstances. Whenever possible, work with a financing expert to help you make the best decisions for you, your family, and your future business.

Average profit margin for vending machines

As mentioned earlier, with any type of business, vending machines cost money to start. These start-up costs include the machinery, site space rent, inventory, maintenance, and more. The exact cost of doing business depends on the type of vending machines you want to run, how many machines you have running at any given time.

Pricing must also be strategic in order to make money. Let’s say you operate a cold drink vending machine and sell products for $2 each, but the machine is in a less than ideal location and is only making 10 sales per day. The net income of this machine is $20 per day. If the sodas cost you $1.50 each, your profit is only 50 cents per item and your total profit is only $5 per day. In order for your winnings to be worthwhile you would need to own hundreds if not thousands of vending machines in much better locations.

Conversely, if you have, for example, a well-placed snack machine that sells 50 items per day at about $4 each, but you paid 50 cents for each snack, your profits would be about $175. When you have several popular, well-ranked machines, your winnings are worth the work.

The fact is that the vending machine business can be very profitable, but like any other business, you need to put in the work for it to be successful.

What are the most profitable vending machines?

While average vending machine profit margins can be quite high, some machines are slightly more profitable than others. Here are some of the most profitable types of vending machines:

coffee machines

Americans drink over 77.4 billion cups of coffee and spend $35.8 billion annually. Coffee is big business, but running a profitable coffee maker—like so many other types of machines—requires a bit of strategic planning.

There are simply places where coffee machines don’t work, like malls and malls. They work well in places like office buildings, condominium complexes, auto showrooms and maintenance centers, medical centers, schools, and places where you catch people waiting a lot or coming and going to work.

Coffee pricing requires knowing what a unique market can handle, but many coffee machine owners report profit margins in excess of 200%.

vending machines

Drink vending machines are some of the most popular on the market and when the weather is warm, the demand for cold drinks increases exponentially. In warm climates, people buy cold drinks all year round. In seasonal climates, demand can drop during the fall and winter months.

Soda and cold drink machines do require refrigeration, which can make them a bit more expensive to run, but they’re the easiest type of machine to stock, as selection can be minimal and profit margins can be strong, which is priced right.

Sodas can cost upwards of $1.50 to $3.00 in some places, and cans are generally cheaper than bottles. Buying wholesale can help keep costs down, allowing operators to reach a $1 per transaction sales goal.

snack vending machines

Snack machines are very popular vending machines and can be placed almost anywhere with heavy foot traffic. The markup for some snacks is a little lower than something like candy, but overall the margins for snacks are much larger. If it costs a seller $1 to buy a bag of nuts, they can easily charge $2.

Snack machines also offer more variety – which is great for consumers, but means sellers have to visit the machine more often to restock popular items.

Cold food vending machines

Cold food vending machines dispense ready-to-eat, frozen, or reheatable items such as salads, sandwiches, burritos, breakfast dishes, and full meals. To make this type of machine profitable it is important to have a mix of short shelf life foods and longer shelf life foods.

Cold food vending machines need to be refrigerated, so like soda machines, they can be a bit more expensive to run. In addition, the food must be turned quickly. However, since people are essentially paying for meals, items can be significantly more expensive, especially if a machine accepts credit or debit cards.

Vending Machine Profit Statistics

Realistically, one machine is not enough for an operator to retire to paradise after a few months in business. However, multiple strategically placed vending machines with great products can be a very healthy source of income.

Americans spend about $27 per person per year on vending machine items, and the average transaction is about $1.75. The typical vending machine generates over $75 in sales every week and over $300 a month. Some vending machines produce much less than that, while some vending machines produce much, much more. The more well-placed and well-sorted machines an owner operates, the greater his profits and revenues.

It is also worth noting that vending machine tastes are changing a lot. There was a time when nearly every vending machine in the country stocked soda, candy, chips and other greasy, sugary snacks. Today, consumers want much healthier alternatives. They want water, juices, nuts, meal replacements, and things they’re happy to share with their kids.

There will always be a place for “junk food” machines in our country, but now is an excellent time to move into healthier product lines, especially as profits on these lines can be much greater than other foods and beverages. Industry figures consistently show that sales of healthy snack items are outstripping junk food and that the gap between the two is widening every year.

Are vending machines a good investment?

Vending machines can be a great investment if you approach the business strategically. As with any other business, it pays to do some research on the industry before getting started and have a mentor and someone to help you learn the basics so you can make a profit.

And like any other business, it will take time to turn a net profit. You’ll be putting money into the business upfront, and it will take work to break even and then be in the black. Vending machines are not a good investment for people who are unwilling to research the business, listen to experts who know what they are doing, or are trying to start a business without any support.

However, if you’re willing to learn about the industry, listen to advice, and put in the work necessary upfront to keep the business viable over the long term, vending machines can be a great investment. They can function as a second income source, a family business, a full-time business, or a source of passive income.

When you have expert support behind you, vending machines are a great investment because they offer cash flow – customers drop their money into the machine or swipe their card and you collect the money immediately. The business is flexible enough that you can start it on your own time, as a nine-to-five business, as an annuity business, or as a business for stay-at-home parents. Finally, vending machines are good investments because the business is scalable. Once you start making consistent wins, you can scale at a comfortable pace.

Start your vending business today

As you can see, vending machines can be profitable if you have the right support and strategies. When you’re ready to start your vending business, partner with Naturals2Go, one of the top healthy vending companies in the United States.

Naturals2Go has helped thousands of entrepreneurs start successful businesses, both as a hobby and as a full-time job. Our team is here to support you every step of the way and has been voted Best Business Opportunity seven years in a row. The Naturals2Go system is designed to get you on the road to success and get your business up and running quickly with equipment, qualified leads, sales appointments, training, support, education and more – all without franchise restrictions or fees.

The key pillars of the Naturals2Go system include:

Supporting staff who act as mentors

Goals set by you, not a franchise administrator

Help secure funding if needed

Initial and continuing education

No license fees or fees

Totally independent control over your business

When you’re ready to get started, we’re here to help get the ball rolling. Contact Naturals2Go today to see how you can benefit from starting a profitable vending business.

Vending machines can often be found in your city, e.g. B. in buildings, airports, hospitals and even random public places.

Have you ever wondered how much these vending machines cost?

Why are vending machines so expensive? (Top 10 Reasons)

Vending machines are expensive because of the increasing cost of materials.

The machines are made of highly durable materials that also add to the cost.

The total cost of the vending machine depends on its condition, size, and features.

You can find both new and refurbished vending machines on the market.

Brand new vending machines can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000 or more.

The refurbished or used vending machines can be found in the $1,000 to $3,000 range.

1. Secure payment mechanism

There are different types of vending machines, each with their own unique characteristics.

For example, some machines only take cash.

These are very basic vending machines and are usually cheaper than other versions of vending machines.

Therefore, it is easier for thieves to break into these vending machines.

The relatively modern version of vending machines has strong security features.

On the other hand, they are comparatively more expensive.

Most of these machines allow you to choose from a variety of payment methods, including cash and card.

Therefore, these vending machines are not only physically secure but also have a strong mechanism to protect your financial information.

2. High portability

Vending machines are like small shops with high portability.

Imagine opening a store but then realizing that your location is not that good.

What can you do in such a scenario?

First you have to move, which can be a big hassle.

Not to mention the time and business you lose moving.

The situation is different with vending machines.

If after a few days you feel that the machine isn’t bringing you enough profit, you can easily change its location within a few hours.

The high portability factor adds to the cost of vending machines.

3. High durability of vending machines

Vending machines can be placed both indoors and outdoors.

The vending machines that are placed indoors are generally protected, but those that are placed outdoors have to take the brunt of extreme weather conditions and other environmental aspects such as heavy traffic and even vandalism.

This means that the vending machine must be strong enough to withstand all of these external factors.

Luckily, there are vending machines that are made from quality and durable materials that stand the test of time, even in tough conditions.

However, due to the high quality of the durable materials used in these vending machines, they tend to be more expensive than other vending machines made from inferior materials.

High durability can be one of the most important factors in determining vending machine price.

4. Rising material costs

Raw material costs have a massive impact on the price of the end product, including vending machines.

Material costs have risen for a variety of reasons, including financial instability and the coronavirus pandemic.

There have been many other events that have occurred as a result.

For example, in 2021 there was a global supply chain crisis that disrupted the global financial system.

The effects were widespread, especially in countries like the United States of America.

As a result, the cost of everything imported into the US rose.

In addition, there have been many micro and macro level events that have resulted in rising material costs.

As the cost of materials increases, so does the final price of the product.

This means that vending machines are becoming too expensive as the raw materials used to manufacture these vending machines are very expensive.

5. The Pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic was one of the most devastating events of the 21st century.

Millions of people not only lost their lives but also resulted in the destruction of thousands of businesses around the world.

It also increased inflation and caused the global supply chain crisis.

There was a clear imbalance between the supply and demand of various products in the country.

Along with everything else, slot machine prices were also affected.

The pandemic also created labor shortages that increased the cost of producing vending machines.

Another aspect of the labor shortage was that vending machines became more popular and their demand increased, causing vending machines to become more expensive.

6. Additional Features

Not all vending machines are the same as some have more features than others.

With the basic vending machine, you insert the money and get the product you want.

Nowadays you will find many different machines where you can use other payment options in addition to cash.

You can also collect loyalty points when you buy something from the machine.

These loyalty points can then be redeemed for a reward.

Nowadays, vending machines have become much more advanced.

You can even get pizzas, burritos, raw milk, champagne, and even over-the-counter drugs from vending machines.

Such unique vending machines are not without their price.

7. You are comfortable

Have you ever wondered why people pay extra to fly first class?

They want to enjoy the comfort, luxury, and convenience that comes with this experience.

This shows that if you are looking for convenience, you may have to pay extra for it.

Another reason vending machines cost so much is because they’re a convenient way to earn passive income, and manufacturers know it.

They know that if the vending machine is strategically placed, the owner can recoup their investment within the first year.

Therefore, it allows people to have a large passive income stream.

In this fast-moving world, convenience is something we all need and that is exactly what vending machines offer to both the owner and the customer, ie. H. their level of comfort and convenience.

8. Rising inflation

Global inflation is at a record high.

A rise in inflation causes the price of almost everything in the market to rise.

The war in Ukraine, the pandemic and political instability have resulted in increased inflation, which has resulted in higher prices throughout the supply chain.

The materials used in the vending machines, the logistics to transport the machines, and everything related to vending machines have become expensive.

Of course, this factor has increased the price of vending machines.

9. Some regions require you to purchase a license to install vending machines

Many states require you to obtain a special business license to purchase and set up vending machines in various locations.

Depending on your location, you may also need to obtain a permit for the location where you intend to place the vending machine.

These licenses and permits cost money, which eventually causes the overall cost of the vending business to increase.

There may not be any direct costs associated with the vending machine itself, but in order to legally install and monetize the vending machine, you must pay for the license.

10. The popularity of the Vending Machine Company

There are hundreds of different vendors of vending machines.

Mars Incorporated is recognized as one of the largest vending machine companies.

This is the same company that brought us the delicious Mars chocolate.

Spain-based Azkoyen Group is another big name in the vending business.

Japan also has several major vending machine companies, including Fuji Electric.

The vending machine market is dominated by American and Japanese companies.

Each of these companies has their own vending machines with a number of unique features.

What you may find in one vending machine may not be available in other vending machines.

There are always certain aspects that make a slot machine more popular than others.

For example, if you want to buy a Mars Incorporated vending machine, it will cost you more than any other generic vending machine due to its high popularity.

Things to consider when buying vending machines

If you want to buy a vending machine, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

Let’s take a look at some of these factors.

1. The size of the vending machine

Vending machines come in various shapes and sizes.

When buying a vending machine, you need to think about the size you want.

If you are looking for a less expensive option, it is better to go to one of the smaller machines.

If you can afford to pay for a larger vending machine, this can be a great option as large vending machines can be more profitable.

2. The location

The next factor to consider is the location of your vending machine.

Placing your vending machine in a strategic location is very important.

When it comes to the machine, location is everything.

The location you choose can make or break your business.

If you put your vending machine in a low-traffic location, chances are it won’t be as profitable as you would like.

Because of this, it is important to choose a location that is crowded with potential customers.

3. Look at the inventory

If you are considering buying a vending machine, one important thing to consider is the type of items you plan to store in your vending machine.

Try to get a vending machine that allows you to stock different types of items, including snacks and drinks.

Vending machines with multiple food and drink options tend to be more profitable.

This is because the wide variety of items stocked in the vending machine gives consumers options to choose from.

4. The payment system

One important thing to consider when purchasing vending machines is the payment system.

First, you need to consider whether you want a machine that accepts cash payments, or whether you prefer a more modern version of the machine that accepts debit or credit cards.

If you want to protect your investment, it is best to use the more modern version of the machine.

The vending machines that accept card payments may seem riskier, but they are the safer option.

ATMs tend to be more vulnerable to break-ins.

These days, people tend to use plastic money rather than cash, so it’s best to get yourself a vending machine that allows payments with plastic money.

5. The brand of the vending machine

As mentioned earlier, several slot machine companies make millions of dollars from their slot machine business model.

Mars Incorporated vending machines are one such company.

If you’re looking for a vending machine, try to look for one from a well-established brand.

Even if you find a good brand used or refurbished machine, you should give it more importance than a generic machine in new condition.

Are vending machines worth the investment?

Yes, vending machines are totally worth it.

Machine owners can recoup their capital investment in the first month provided they place the machine in a good and strategic location.

It’s an investment that will generate you a long-term passive income stream.

The best part about all of this is that it requires very little maintenance and by putting it in someone else’s shop you can rest assured that the shopkeeper will take good care of it while you reap the most financial benefits from the vending machine.

With proper maintenance and regular refilling of your vending machine, you can easily make up to $10,000 a year.

What Type of Vending Machine Should You Get?

There are many different types of vending machines.

Some sell sodas, while others are for chips and a range of other snacks.

There are also vending machines that prepare hot pizza in minutes.

It is very important to note that all vending machines work on a similar principle but have different concepts.

Depending on your expertise and business ideas, you should choose a slot machine that you think will bring you the most profit.

For a bus stop, for example, a drinks machine would be better suited than a pizza machine.

A vending machine selling raw milk would ideally be placed indoors in a grocery store.

You can choose any machine based on your business idea and location.

Can you build a business out of vending machines?

You may have seen vending machines in your office and other public places.

In most cases, the machine is not owned by the office where it is located, but by a machine company that has a contract with the office in question.

The machine company pays the building owner a certain amount of money to install their machine in the building.

The machine owner, in turn, makes money when people use their machines.

We’ve already seen that vending machines can be very lucrative when placed in the right place.

Can you build a business out of this?

The short answer is yes.

A single vending machine might not be as profitable, but having multiple machines installed in different locations across the city could cover your costs and make a decent profit.

The best thing about a vending machine is that it is passive income.

Yes, you’ll need to check and top up the machines every few days, but overall very little maintenance is required.

Yes, you can build a business from vending machines.

If you can afford to buy multiple slots at once, then you should.

If you buy in bulk you might be able to get a really good deal.

However, your overall acquisition cost will be higher if you buy individual vending machines, so you can save money by buying multiple vending machines at once.

This is how you protect your vending machines from theft and vandalism

Did you know that the very first vending machine was introduced to the world in 1883?

Since then, vending machine design and functionality have improved tremendously.

This also means improved security.

Outdoor vending machines are vulnerable to vandalism and theft.

Sometimes there’s nothing you can do about it.

This is a negative part of this market to watch out for.

To protect your vending machines from theft or vandalism, try placing them indoors in grocery stores, supermarkets, hotels or even hospitals.

Another thing you can do is install a camera on the vending machine.

It would be better to install the camera on a nearby wall facing the vending machine so you can see the customer’s face.

This way you can contact the police and share the video with them if they try something fishy.

Conclusion

We’ve covered 10 reasons why vending machines are so expensive.

There are various factors such as the type and size of vending machines that affect the overall cost of vending machines.

High durability and increasing material costs have also added to the cost of vending machines.

If you’re looking for ways to generate a decent amount of healthy passive income, then vending machines are the way to go.

Vending Machine Knowledge Base

Finding vending machines for your business can be a challenging task. That’s why Vending Solutions is happy to provide these FAQs as a resource for people interested in Vending Machines, Coke Vending Machines, Pepsi Vending Machines, Soda Vending Machines, Soda Vending Machines, Pop Vending Machines, Juice Vending Machines, Soda Vending Machines, and Snack Vending Machines.

Click on a question below to navigate to the answer

How much do vending machines cost? << BACK TO TOP>>

Vending Solutions provides all vending machines and services free of charge. The machines are installed, loaded with products and serviced/serviced free of charge. However, if you’re looking to buy a soda machine and your own supplies, they generally start at around $3,600 for a quality device. Snack machines start at around $3,000. Visit our sales and leasing page for more information.

How does full service vending work? << BACK TO TOP>>

Our goal is to be the best customer service company in the vending business. We service all of our vending machines. This means we manage every imaginable facet of your vending program. We take care of everything. Vending Solutions understands that your time is very important. Leave the vending machine business to us.

What are the requirements for installing a vending machine? << BACK TO TOP>>

For a vending machine to work in a business, Vending Solutions requires at least 40 employees or high customer traffic. Hotels/motels generally require at least 20 rooms to support a vending machine and apartment buildings generally require more than 100 apartments in the facility.

What are the requirements for setting up a snack vending machine? << BACK TO TOP>>

Unlike sodas, snack foods have a much shorter shelf life. It is important that the snack machine has enough volume so that the products do not spoil. The bigger the office, the better when it comes to selling snacks. Vending Solutions needs at least 75 employees before we install a vending machine. In addition, since the majority of sales revenue comes from the vending machine, it is often difficult to find a vending operator who will set up a vending machine without also doing the on-site beverage sales.

What types of vending machines are there? << BACK TO TOP>>

Cola vending machines, Pepsi vending machines, soda vending machines, soda vending machines, pop vending machines, juice vending machines, water vending machines, soda vending machines, and snack vending machines are all available through Vending Solutions, regardless of what you call them. When it comes to beverage machines, we have both bottle (20oz) and can (12oz) machines. We also have a variety of snack machines available.

How do the machines look? << BACK TO TOP>>

Vending Solutions offers a variety of sizes of vending machines to suit most locations. All machines are attractive, newer top models.

What sizes of vending machines are there? << BACK TO TOP>>

The standard soda machine measures 72″H x 39″W x 33″D. However, if the machine is to be placed in an enclosure, it is best to consider 80″H x 45″W x 40″D. These dimensions allow for space for the door opening, as well as space at the back of the machine for the plug-in and the need for air movement for the compressor.

Where should you place or set up your vending machine? << BACK TO TOP>>

Specific locations may vary depending on the nature of your business, but the goal is always the same: place the vending machines in locations that get the most traffic and in areas that are most profitable.

When you sign up for Vending Solutions’ free sales services, we send a representative to interview your business. Our vending service professional will determine the best locations and how many vending machines to place.

What if I need vending machines for more than one location? << BACK TO TOP>>

Finding vending machines for more than one location, possibly in more than one state, is tedious. How would you orchestrate such a program? In most cases you would need to work with more than one slot machine company. Each sales company would have its own billing system and service department. How would you ever keep track of who to call when you need service and commission payments?

If you need service in more than one location, let Vending Solutions help you, visit our Managed Program Benefits section.

How long does it take to install the vending machines << BACK TO TOP>>

and how is the process?

It will take approximately 15 business days for your vending machine to be installed and filled. The Vending Solutions process for installing vending machines is simple and seamless.

Step 1: Sign up for free using our online form or call us at 1-800-655-7564

Step 2: Vending Solutions will contact you to arrange an appointment for our representative to meet with you.

Step 3: A representative will meet with you and determine the best location in your facility to set up a vending machine, verify that you have the correct outlets and discuss product selection with you.

Step 4: The machines will be delivered shortly after the order is placed.

How much does a lemonade from the machine cost? << BACK TO TOP>>

The cost of the product in the vending machines varies depending on your geographic location. Vending machine prices are based on what Coke and Pepsi bottlers set for their national retail prices.

What products do you have in the vending machines? << BACK TO TOP>>

We have variety of products in Vending Machine, Cola Vending Machine, Pepsi Vending Machine, Drink Vending Machine, Soda Vending Machine, Pop Vending Machine, Juice Vending Machine, Drink Vending Machine and Snack Vending Machine. Products include all product lines from Coke and Pepsi and much more. Visit our product page for more information.

How many different selections can the vending machines hold? << BACK TO TOP>>

Drink machines hold 7-9 selections at a time.

How do you deal with repair and refill problems? << BACK TO TOP>>

Many things can go wrong with vending machines. Vending Solutions is always prepared for the worst-case scenario. We have a staff of vending specialists on call to help you and ensure your vending machines are always working properly. We take proactive preventive measures to ensure your vending machines keep running year-round. Every time a vending machine breaks or runs empty, revenue is lost. For this reason, it’s important to have a service department that is well managed, detail-oriented, and willing to provide the follow-up needed to fix any problems that arise.

Please contact us if you have a problem with your machine. We are available 24/7 via our website. When you contact us, your service order is logged into our database and your vending machine is tagged in our VendTrak™ system. We can have your issue resolved within 2-3 business days and will contact you to ensure your service order has been corrected.

What if someone loses money in the ATM? << BACK TO TOP>>

Vending Solutions refunds money lost in the vending machine. Refunds will be mailed within 48 hours of receipt.

What happens if my vending machine is vandalized? << BACK TO TOP>>

Vending machine vandalism can happen and is usually a temporary situation. Choosing the best location for vending machines can help prevent vandalism. Vending Solutions prefers placing vending machines indoors. Interiors are better monitored. There is a significantly reduced likelihood that an indoor vending machine will be vandalized. If your machine is vandalized, you will not be held responsible for any damaged equipment or lost money. Vending Solutions reserves the right to remove vending machines if vandalism remains a problem. Before we install a new vending machine at your location, we ask that you find a better location or take steps to troubleshoot the issue.

What happens if I have to move my machine? << BACK TO TOP>>

In some cases, vending machines may need to be moved for building remodeling. In any case, we ask you to report the relocation of a machine as soon as possible. Please contact us at least 20 days before the date you need to change the machine. This is because we need to remove the product before the vending machines can be moved.

How often should the machines be refilled? << BACK TO TOP>>

Vending machines should always have sodas for sale. Every time a machine is empty, money is lost. Many vending companies place their vending machines on a generic refill schedule that is not appropriate. Usage at each machine varies with the seasons. The most important season in vending is summer. If vending machines don’t have the right refill schedule for the summer, much of the year’s sales will be lost. At Vending Solutions we understand that no two locations are alike and that each vending machine deserves our individual attention. We take care of the replenishment planning for each vending machine to meet the needs of your business.

What are the electrical requirements for a vending machine? << BACK TO TOP>>

Most vending machines run on 115 volts at about 10.5 amps. Most standard three-prong sockets are suitable for supplying power to a vending machine. Electricity consumption is typically around 3.1-4.4 kWh/day for lighting and 3.5-4 kWh/day for cooling. Power consumption may vary depending on whether the machine is installed outdoors or in some other extreme environment.

Which products should be in the machine? << BACK TO TOP>>

It is very important that the correct vending products are loaded into the vending machine. Vending Solutions will work with you to ensure you have the product selection that best suits your business.

What if I have a question that isn’t in the FAQ? << BACK TO TOP>>

If you need more information, call us toll-free at 1-800-655-7564 or fill out the Questions section of our Free Setup form. Someone will contact you the next business day.