Thread: Vending Machines?

Buy Soda Vending Machines & Snack, Ice Cream, Coffee, Candy, Used & New Vending Machines

i'll look at it thanks

SOSJ

ok, now that I know a place to get them, any1 have any sorta advice on where to place them? or what items are good/bad?

Check Craigslist for used machines in your area. Makes much more financial sense, and, sometimes, you can take over a route.

10 Essential Tips Regarding Your Vending Machine Business Success

How to find the best vending machine locations

If you just use Google you'll be able to find a lot of answers for the questions you're asking. I know nothing about the vending machine business but for your first question I simply typed in "where to buy vending machines" and for your second question I simply typed in "best places to put vending machines". It's okay, I got scolded a few times on here when I was new for not practicing "due dilligence" and just rapid firing off questions I could've easily found the answers to myself. Just do a quick search for yourself first and then if you get stuck there will be plenty of people on here willing to help you out further. Good luck!

Search this site, there have been several long threads surrounding vending machines.

My wife is in the vending business, the big time business (she sells over 1.5M in vending business per year). I can tell you that it has held very well through the recession and provides a pretty stable income.

It is very easy for vending to become a JOB. That's not what you want. Your biggest challenge will be to turn it into a fastlane business - a highly scalable and time independant business.

Suggest you spend most of your time focused on scaling your business effectively.

Here is the best forum regarding vending machine and questions about it. Vending Machines Business Chat Room & Bulletin Board Discussion for the Vending Machine Business, Amusements, Locating, etc..

I don't think I would buy any machines until I found a place to put them. If you buy them up front where are you going to store them? It's not like you can put them in the corner of your room. I am not in the biz but did look into it. What type of machines? Bulk candy or snacks. THen you have snack machines or snack and soda combo machines. Try to get a machine that accepts dollar bills and change. Look on ebay for used machines and craig's list. If you are going to buy a route make sure the person you are buying from can back up his/her numbers and what ever they tell you the route or mcahine grosses the net is usually about half the gross.

I looked into vending machines a few years back and started a very small operation. What type of vending business are you attempting to develop?

Surplus stores are a great place to find cheap used machines. They usually just need some cleaning up. New are always way over priced and don't fall into the scams for purchasing a number of machines with promises of support to help you place them. Keep google searching until you find the answers, they are out there.

I bought my first machine on ebay. I have small 25 cent machines. I like the 3 machines better than just the single dispenser. Think about security for unattended machines, people are ruthless and don't care about your machines when they don't get what they want.

Don't think that vending will be fastlane. It is totally an "S" business. Even with employees. Too many machines will be a full time JOB! But it is a great way to get cash fast if you find some good locations. I am actually in negotiations for a great location for my machines right now.

There are a few good books available out there. I went to Barnes and Noble. I am sure Amazon has some as well. If you are interested, PM me your address, I can send you mine on loan. The Rich Dad Success Stories also has a story of a teenager and how he came up with his plan.

Good Luck

(Non googled question) How do you obtain the rights to place vending machines? I would assume it is a lease system with land owners?

Originally Posted by humphrey

(Non googled question) How do you obtain the rights to place vending machines? I would assume it is a lease system with land owners?

Owner permission mostly.

I always approach it so there is a passive gain for the owner to allow me to have them there.

Some options to get an owner to agree are:
-A % of the profit to pay the owner for allowing me to place my machines.
-Agreements to frequent their business and buy from them (I had a sandwich shop that allowed my machine for payment of lunch each week. Worked well because I had to go maintain the machine once a week anyway)
-Pay rent for the space.
-Club membership

One nice thing is, you can use whatever avenue that works the best for the situation. I had machines in a hockey rink that I was responsible for, I had a whole routine and went when no one was around - got to be kinda relaxing.

thanks for your input "Wild". Lets see where this goes with "son". LOL.

Sorry, been working and haven't had time to use the computer.

I have 1.5k or so that i can spend. I was just looking to have a few to start and go from there. I do realize i would have to go around and refill/collect money. So I do realize it could turn into a job, but not if i have just a few machine. Im just looking for a little income to pay off a $4,000 debt to my father. And instead of giving him the 1,500 i thought i could invest and make more.

Im glad I found this thread! I have another question as well along the lines of vending machines. Does anyone have any experience/know anyone, that is involved in the atm machine business? I'm talking about owning the actual ATM machines that you see in gas stations, bars, etc...

I've been doing some research on my own, but wanted to get some other input from you guys.

Thanks

I saw a thread by ATW about ATMs, but was unable to find it by searching on "ATM" and didn't remember other details I may have used to find it.

Maybe she can help you/us.

Aha... here is the thread-
http://www.thefastlanetomillions.com...-fastlane.html

Originally Posted by son_of_slim_jim

I was thinking about getting into the vending machine business but know nothing about it.

I'm not familiar on this subject, but this is strange because I had an idea to start a line of vending machines called "Penny Machine"...lol. These vedning machines would only take pennies and the prices would be half of normal vending machines.

I had in idea of them being connected with Oprah's Angel network or The Children's Miracle Network or a cause and 1/2 of the profits would go into that, but of course was told that was a stupid idea (hehe). I was a teen when I thought of that idea though.

Got Wild's book today and im gunna read that b4 asking anything else

I was recently speaking with a family friend who worked for a company that owned all the vending machines on the Garden State Parkway and NJ Turnpike in the entire state of New Jersey. He told me about how some people stayed in a single room just counting coins for days upon days from single deliveries. This business was solely based on vending machine ownership. The founder of the company had contracts with each rest stop and had to pay rent for them. Some cons of the business though were people smashing in machines and sometimes robbing them. Other than that it seems like a very profitable business. Just a little story to show you that even owning vending machines can be a Fastlane business.

Any updates here? Would love to hear how it is going.