Business Ideas

Many people don't realize that those vending machines are often operated by average people who use the machines to generate an extra source of income.
How much can you make?

Income levels vary from location to location. But the average single candy machine might earn anywhere from $5 to $150 month. Now, that might not sound like a lot at first. But keep in mind that's only one machine. As a bulk candy vendor, you could easily manage hundreds of locations with multiple machines at each location. Let's say you have just 50 locations with 2 machines at each location. That would bring your income to $500- $15,000. And remember, that's all cash. No checks. No credit card transaction fees to pay.

 

How much time does it take?

Most vending machines can go a full two months without being serviced – but again, it depends on the popularity of the location. Servicing each location may only take you about five minutes. Of course, you'll have to factor in drive time, re-ordering candy, and time spent on accounting. If you only service a few machines, this may only take a few hours each month, which is why many start-up vending businesses are operated as weekend hobbies by their owners.

 

How much do you need to get started?

You can start a simple one-machine vending business for as little as $200. Beware of companies who try to make you buy dozens or hundreds or machines to get started. You don't need to spend thousands of dollars to get started – and if you do, you may quickly be in over your head with no immediate escape plan.

 

How do you get locations?

The hardest part of running your vending business will likely be finding the locations to put your machines. The good news is that once you've secured some spots, the hard part is taken care of. The bad news is, it may take some persistence and hard work to make that happen.

 

The key to getting locations is scouting out the towns around you, finding a high-traffic spot (where the machine will be seen and passed by many people on a constant basis. That's the easy part. Then, you need to talk to the business-owner to get permission to place your machine. Sometimes, this is easy. Other times, it might take some skillful persuasion. One of the best ways to persuade a business-owner is to simply explain that the machine will add value to the location: it will make kids happy; it offers a quick treat for employees who work there; and the owner won't have to hassle with it at all.

 

Once you have your locations, all you need to do is keep them stocked and collect the cash!