Start A Vending Machine Business

By Ned Dagostino

If you've ever dreamed of being your own boss but aren't sure how to get started, you may want to look into starting a vending machine business. It's not a way to get rich quick, but it is a good way to make a fairly substantial side income with minimal work once you set it up right.

Keep Your Initial Investment Low

This applies to a lot of business, but for a vending machine business you truly want to start slow. It can be tempting to run right out and get a dozen machines so you'll start making more money faster. But it's best to avoid this temptation. Get a couple of machines and get a feel for what the business is like. If you decide it's not for you, it will be easier to exit. You can sell you machines and your losses will be minimal.

Understand All The Costs

While the start up costs are relatively low compared to other businesses because the machines are not too expensive, you'll have other costs also. You'll have to pay for products to keep the machines stocked. You'll have to pay for the occasional maintenance or repairs on the machines. And you'll have to pay the property owner if you want him or her to allow you to place the machines on their property.

Picking The Right Location

It sounds obvious that you want to put the machines where there are numerous people. The first thing that comes to mind is a large business or a school campus. It sounds great, but it's not going to happen for you just starting out. Places like this typically work with large vending service firms. You on the other hand will need to find public places where there is plenty of foot traffic. Perhaps there are places available where large numbers of people need to stand around waiting. What you don't want to do is be near a restaurant or store that sells the same items as you. And of course, check for a nearby electrical outlet should your machine need one.

Service Is Key

I can't tell you how many people who start a vending business fail because they don't provide good service. Little things like changing the product tags matter. And don't forget to collect the money or customers won't be able to buy anything. And the cardinal sin is forgetting to keep the machines well stocked. Again, without product, you can't make any money.

One reason people let the service slide is that they don't see the initial profits they had hoped for. Then the service slides and you have absolutely no chance for success. Machines will often start slow until more people become aware that they are there. If you stick with it things will pick up. Once you start showing a profit, you can take that profit and invest in more machines in new locations. - 26221

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