5 replies to this topic

[one_of_a_kind92805]

I really need some help. I just started doing this candy machine thing. But I don't know how to do the calculations on how much candy to give per quarter. I started putting skittles and peanut M&M's in the machines. After collecting the money, I have to give a cut to the owner. Please help thanks.

[Gabe .Z.]

I give about 9 m&ms/skittles, amnd 8 PMMs. And 11 M&Is.

[Vending_General]

I really need some help. I just started doing this candy machine thing. But I don't know how to do the calculations on how much candy to give per quarter. I started putting skittles and peanut M&M's in the machines. After collecting the money, I have to give a cut to the owner. Please help thanks.

Another way to do it, is calculate how much profit you would want to make. Another way to make more profit is to buy the most amount of candy they offer at Costco or Sam's because the more you buy the cheaper is essentially what they are getting at, therefore you can dispense the same amount and make more money because you are spending less money in the long run.

[markvend]

Good question and one of the most vital if you will be doing this as a business and not a hobby. I agree with the person who wrote the other post about deciding what profit you want to make. I figure a cost per vend for all my toys and candies with this simple formula:

COST OF PRODUCT divided by NUMBER OF VENDS

Then multiply the NUMBER OF VENDS by .25 or .50 depending on your coin mech.

This will help you decide if a product gets too expensive to vend for .25 (like MMP if they go up in price any more).

I have a whole website dedicated to questions like you posed. The two links below will give you the best overview for increasing your profits: (The first link has an article on figuring your cost per vend.)


http://www.vendingar...r_CashFlow.html

http://www.vendingar...up_Vending.html

One thing I'll tell you is that some people dont agree with me about the number of vends I give. I give small amounts because our margins are getting more and more squeezed. Some vendors won't be in business in a year because they are failing to figure how much their products cost and adjust accordingly. Just like you can't buy a good car for 10000 any more, you cant just vend entire handfuls and make any money.

Just some thoughts to help you prosper.

Mark

[horgonzo]

You should give half an ounce per quarter. Vendstar has a great chart that you might be able to find online that specifies exactly how many per quarter depending on the candy.

[For The Kids Vending]

The way I like to think of it is to take your average $0.65 pack of peanut M&Ms from any store and count the M&Ms you get in that pack. Lets say there is 21 in the pack. Round the price to the nearest quarter - so that pack is now $0.75 for 21 skittles. Divide by 3 - $0.25 for 7 M&Ms. Try to have it vend around 7 M&MS.

You get the point. I've run across a vending machine that would only give out 3-4 peanut M&Ms per vend and all of the employees there thought it was a rip off.

Just do the same for skittles and You'll have a good reference.