11 replies to this topic

[Joel]

I have been thining about buying a soda machine mainly as a hobby to make a little money and possibly expand if I'm successful. I work a steady 9-5 job and enjoy the stability but hate the corporate culture. I've heard that starting a vending machine business is hard work but can pay off relatively quickly and I want to ask a few questions to anyone who has been in the field for a few years.

1. How much should I expect to pay for a good working machine, either new or used?

2. What are the best locations to put either a soda or snack machine?

3. Should I expect to have to pay a participating location to keep a machine on their premis?

4. To stock the contents, is it best to find a vendor or to just buy in bulk from somewhere like Costco?

5. How many hours per week/ month does it usually take to maintain one machine?

6. Is it imperitive to have a truck or SUV to operate this kind of business? (I have a 4 door Carolla)

7. What are the long term odds of being successful in this business? As someone new to this, how much research do I need to do before I start?

I have more questions but this is a good starting point.

Thanks.

Joel

[For The Kids Vending]

I have been thining about buying a soda machine mainly as a hobby to make a little money and possibly expand if I'm successful. I work a steady 9-5 job and enjoy the stability but hate the corporate culture. I've heard that starting a vending machine business is hard work but can pay off relatively quickly and I want to ask a few questions to anyone who has been in the field for a few years.

1. How much should I expect to pay for a good working machine, either new or used?

2. What are the best locations to put either a soda or snack machine?

3. Should I expect to have to pay a participating location to keep a machine on their premis?

4. To stock the contents, is it best to find a vendor or to just buy in bulk from somewhere like Costco?

5. How many hours per week/ month does it usually take to maintain one machine?

6. Is it imperitive to have a truck or SUV to operate this kind of business? (I have a 4 door Carolla)

7. What are the long term odds of being successful in this business? As someone new to this, how much research do I need to do before I start?

I have more questions but this is a good starting point.

Thanks.

Joel

#1 - Search craigs list for a used machine in your area. Price depends on the features. You probably want to have one that takes bills for sure. I wouldn't buy new starting off. Also, find the location first if possible. You can get a free machine from Coke or Pepsi if you have a location and ask, but that is both a blessing and a curse.

#4 - If you have your own machine then Costco or Sams Club will be cheapest with a lower variety. You can also order directly from Coke or Pepsi but it costs more.

#5 - It may take an hour a week to fill a machine with travel time. Depends on how busy it is.

#6 - You could probably do 5 locations with a Carolla (service one every day). Any more and you won't have enough room.

#7 - Search the forums. People do pretty well.

[qualityvs]

I have been thining about buying a soda machine mainly as a hobby to make a little money and possibly expand if I'm successful. I work a steady 9-5 job and enjoy the stability but hate the corporate culture. I've heard that starting a vending machine business is hard work but can pay off relatively quickly and I want to ask a few questions to anyone who has been in the field for a few years.

1. How much should I expect to pay for a good working machine, either new or used?

2. What are the best locations to put either a soda or snack machine?

3. Should I expect to have to pay a participating location to keep a machine on their premis?

4. To stock the contents, is it best to find a vendor or to just buy in bulk from somewhere like Costco?

5. How many hours per week/ month does it usually take to maintain one machine?

6. Is it imperitive to have a truck or SUV to operate this kind of business? (I have a 4 door Carolla)

7. What are the long term odds of being successful in this business? As someone new to this, how much research do I need to do before I start?

I have more questions but this is a good starting point.

Thanks.

Joel

1. craigs list is great for someone in your position I would say $800 to $1000 should buy a nice good working machine

2. tuff one there but my answer is somewhere it gets used I have had machines in places with 12 or so employees do 4 times the business of machines in places with 100 employees

3. sometimes but the way I work that is I have a set price for drinks if a location wants commision I increase the price normally a nickle and explain this to them in the beginning

4. actually for just a couple of machines I would hit Wmart or local grocery stores when drinks are on sell they will be cheaper than sams

5. If machine does ok 1hr every other week if machine does good 1hr every week if machines does great 2+hrs a week this depends on your distance from location it really doesnt take that long to fill a machine

6. no not for just a couple machines that being said how are you planning on moving machines?

7. it is stuff getting started from scratch but if you do a good job it will pay off with time

[snack dude]

I have been thining about buying a soda machine mainly as a hobby to make a little money and possibly expand if I'm successful. I work a steady 9-5 job and enjoy the stability but hate the corporate culture. I've heard that starting a vending machine business is hard work but can pay off relatively quickly and I want to ask a few questions to anyone who has been in the field for a few years.

1. How much should I expect to pay for a good working machine, either new or used?

2. What are the best locations to put either a soda or snack machine?

3. Should I expect to have to pay a participating location to keep a machine on their premis?

4. To stock the contents, is it best to find a vendor or to just buy in bulk from somewhere like Costco?

5. How many hours per week/ month does it usually take to maintain one machine?

6. Is it imperitive to have a truck or SUV to operate this kind of business? (I have a 4 door Carolla)

7. What are the long term odds of being successful in this business? As someone new to this, how much research do I need to do before I start?

I have more questions but this is a good starting point.

Thanks.

Joel

The best advice I can give you is to start working your way thru the past topics on this site. You will pick up more info in an hour on here than anywhere else.

[marks_vending]

I have been thining about buying a soda machine mainly as a hobby to make a little money and possibly expand if I'm successful. I work a steady 9-5 job and enjoy the stability but hate the corporate culture. I've heard that starting a vending machine business is hard work but can pay off relatively quickly and I want to ask a few questions to anyone who has been in the field for a few years.

1. How much should I expect to pay for a good working machine, either new or used?
A. $500-$600 for a used 8-10 can machine and $750-1500 for a bottle machine used. Stick with used as it's generally cheaper in the long run.
2. What are the best locations to put either a soda or snack machine?
A. Anyplace that will take them.
3. Should I expect to have to pay a participating location to keep a machine on their premis?
A. 10% maximum of profits, not 10% of sales. But tell them you need to see how the sales go first of all, let them know that you're investing about a thousand bucks for a machine for their location so you need to see how well things go first.
4. To stock the contents, is it best to find a vendor or to just buy in bulk from somewhere like Costco?
A. Costco or grocery store wholesale, sometimes dollar stores are cheaper for their chocolate bars.
5. How many hours per week/ month does it usually take to maintain one machine?
A. One machine on one location depends on sales. No definate answer. Rule of thumb to start off is check back once a week.
6. Is it imperitive to have a truck or SUV to operate this kind of business? (I have a 4 door Carolla)
A. No. I have a 4 door car and a 2 door car. I have nearly 30 machines on the go. When your business grows, then think about used. I use collapsable coolers, so that when one location is done servicing, I collapse the cooler to save major space.
7. What are the long term odds of being successful in this business? As someone new to this, how much research do I need to do before I start?
A. Get a machine, then go for the location. The odds are you'll eventually make a profit after 6-12 months. If you can pay cash for your machine, that's the best that way you don't have to worry about monthly payments, and you can enjoy profits from your sales instead of handing them over to a loan payment. If you sell 10 cans in your first week it's money for you, not a loan or credit card payment. Again, it all depends on location, location, location.
I have more questions but this is a good starting point.

Thanks.

Joel

[Joel]

Thanks all, this information really helps.

I guess the next step is finding a good machine at a decent price. I think I'll look on craigslist to see if there is anything available and go from there.

[Dixienormas2]

You can get a free machine from Coke or Pepsi if you have a location and ask, but that is both a blessing and a curse.

Could Someone elaborate on this a little better? How does this generaly work? How is it a blessing and a curse? Simply not profitable? Do you service the machines or does coke or pepsi? Who supplies all of the drinks???

[qualityvs]

I dont know if its the same in all areas. In my area I can get signed up with Pepsi or Coke to buy drinks. Any time I need a machine I can call them up and tell them I need a machine at "X" location and they will install it for me. Thats the blessing. The curse is I have to buy a minium number of cases per week from the bottler. Which costs a lot more than getting them from Sams etc. All drinks placed in these machines is supposed to come from the bottler. Also with Pepsi (not sure about Coke) I have the option of doing a "full service" where they do all the work (keeping the machine filled and collecting the money) and at the end of the month I get a check.

[Dixienormas2]

I dont know if its the same in all areas. In my area I can get signed up with Pepsi or Coke to buy drinks. Any time I need a machine I can call them up and tell them I need a machine at "X" location and they will install it for me. Thats the blessing. The curse is I have to buy a minium number of cases per week from the bottler. Which costs a lot more than getting them from Sams etc. All drinks placed in these machines is supposed to come from the bottler. Also with Pepsi (not sure about Coke) I have the option of doing a "full service" where they do all the work (keeping the machine filled and collecting the money) and at the end of the month I get a check.

Ok, lets say that I do a third party with pepsi.....and I buy all of my merchandise from them......How much more expensive is that? How much per case on average? I know I can get it @ sames for 6 bucks a case usually....how much more from pepsi? Also if they do a "full service" and send me a check......what percentage would I actually make? Would it even be profitable???

[qualityvs]

Ok, lets say that I do a third party with pepsi.....and I buy all of my merchandise from them......How much more expensive is that? How much per case on average? I know I can get it @ sames for 6 bucks a case usually....how much more from pepsi? Also if they do a "full service" and send me a check......what percentage would I actually make? Would it even be profitable???

In my area regular drinks from pepsi are 8.50 a case and special drinks are 9.50 (tropicana orangeade etc.)
On the full service deal Im thinking they would pay me 4.50 or 5.00 per case sold. Its been a while since I talked to my local Pepsi man about this, ( seems like I remember I would get $2 less per case if I did full service verses me doing the service) so Im not 100% on the full service numbers.

[marks_vending]

In my area regular drinks from pepsi are 8.50 a case and special drinks are 9.50 (tropicana orangeade etc.)
On the full service deal Im thinking they would pay me 4.50 or 5.00 per case sold. Its been a while since I talked to my local Pepsi man about this, ( seems like I remember I would get $2 less per case if I did full service verses me doing the service) so Im not 100% on the full service numbers.

They make sure you ONLY buy from them. They keep your orders on file, so they see how many cans/bottles you purchase. When collection is done, they can see through the control board how many sales were done, so if you were thinking of buying from somewhere else the product, they can catch you.

[Dixienormas2]

They make sure you ONLY buy from them. They keep your orders on file, so they see how many cans/bottles you purchase. When collection is done, they can see through the control board how many sales were done, so if you were thinking of buying from somewhere else the product, they can catch you.

I contacted both Pepsi and coke here locally.......neither of them offer machines anymore. If someone calls them to have a machine placed in their place of business they refer you to 1 of 2 local vendors. There 2 vendors have the market CORNERED locally. They even took Pepsi and Coke out of the game! Just thought I would let everyone know what I found out...Kind of CRAZY.