Cost of Operating a Vending Machine

Operating a vending machine, or a network of vending machines, has become one of the most popular business ventures lately because of its accessibility to entrepreneurs and its continual demand in an on-the-go society. Vending machines can serve a multitude of purposes for consumers that range from providing food items to exchanging coins for paper money (or vice versa).

Because the pathway to starting a vending machine business is so accessible, the sum of costs involved in operating the machine(s) is sometimes overlooked. Below we explore four general cost areas associated with operating vending machines so you can make a more informed decision before entering this industry.

Initial Investment

The initial investment when running a vending business includes the cost of the machine(s) and the initial stock to fill your machines. Machines can be bought new or refurbished. The initial investment required within this industry can fall anywhere from the low thousands to the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Traditionally, gumball and candy machines are the least expensive with machines priced in the hundreds of dollars. On the other end of the spectrum, snack, soda and combo machines can cost quite a bit more with certain models costing several thousand dollars each. Some companies offer inclusive packages that vary in price by level.

Your personal investment will depend on what kind of machine you want to operate in conjunction with how many machines you start with. While the initial investment range can be substantial within this industry, the startup costs are still noticeably lower than in other industries. For example, the minimum average amount of cash required to start a vending business among the 13 business opportunities and franchises currently listed on our site is just over $23,000. Yet at the same time, over half of those vending business opportunities and franchises currently listed require less than $10,000 to start.

Ongoing Expenses

Ongoing vending machine business expenses include, but are not limited to, general liability insurance, cost of keeping the machine(s) stocked, and traditional business administrative costs. Monthly rental or commissions paid to the business owners where you place your machine(s) are common, but not a universal expense to the owners of vending machines. These location royalties typically range up to 20 percent of sales made, most often in the 5 to 10 percent range if one is assessed.

Transaction fees are another potential ongoing expense for machines that have card readers for debit and/or credit. An important thing to note is that driving to check on your machine(s) will cost you money, particularly if you own multiple machines. As a result, fuel costs and vehicle maintenance should be factored in as well.

Taxes

Just like any other business, vending machine businesses are responsible for paying taxes. In most cases, you will have to obtain a tax license and decal stickers for your machine(s). Depending on the area you operate in, you may be subject to additional state and/or county taxes on the revenue generated by the machine(s).

Servicing & Maintenance

The amount of service a machine will need is dependent on several factors including where the machine is located and how much traffic it gets. Maintenance expenses include the cost of the parts that you have to purchase and the cost of the repairmen. You would be responsible for these costs if the machine isn’t under warranty. Distributors and franchisors typically will offer at least a limited warranty to cover issues that arise from normal usage for set number of years from the purchase date. Even if your machines are in good running condition, it’s wise to have regular maintenance checks to hopefully prevent major problems in the future.

As previously stated, the exact cost of doing business in the vending machine industry will be largely dependent on which kind of machine(s) you choose and how many machines you decide to operate. The vending machine business can be very profitable, but it is just like any other industry: you have to put in the work for it to be successful.