thank you so much for that.
Mary Coppin

It can vary greatly, but on average you should sell for double the cost.

Here are some examples of my pricing:

item cost sell
Can drinks: .35 .75
Bottle Pepsi: .70 1.25
Bottle Coke: .95 1.25

Chips: .25 .60
Candy bars .60 1.00
Pastries: .45 1.00
Cracker: .30 .75
Cookies: .35 1.00


Your drink prices are usually set by whatever Coke and Pepsi set their machines at.
Snacks are usually slightly less than convenient stores on most items.

Hey guys, I was wondering if anyone knew of forums that were focused on vending machine repair and service. It seems that these forums are geared more towards independent vendors, I was thinking it'd be helpful if such a place existed where Independent vendors and even Coke/Pepsi employees could discuss random issues regarding the wide variety of beverage vendors.

I would love to have that info too.
I was a field service Tech for years so I'm very good at fixing things.
But I would like to know the notorious troublesome machines
And what is the avg cost $$ in So Cal orother states to have someone do a typical or common repiar if it is beyond my capabilities.
For repairs, are they generally done on site or swapped out for a working machine and worked on back at a shop?
Also, I would love feedback on whether it is a good to get certified for repair. I have found a few sites. Are there in house schools rather than just sending off for a manual?.
Since I have an AS in electronics science and can solder (but also fixed mechanical problems in high end graphics equipment for many years) Being a tech was often on the fly, and even with much training, most often I had to fly by the seat of my pants to fix a problem.
Also are there technical support lines that a tech can call?
Thanks,
Mary

what is the normal/average profit per snack, can of soda, etc?
Thanks,
Mary

Value depends on many different things.

Is the seller desperate to sell? moving, new job, no time
Is the buyer needing to buy? take over a market, become fulltime

soco, you said "I understand the purchase price isn't about the locations", but it is about the locations.

If you have the same equipment at 2 different locations and location 1 has $200/week in sales and location 2 has $100/week in sales, then location 1 is worth twice as much as location 2. Equipment value is only used if the location is poor and the equipment needs to be moved.

I personally think mikepn is undervaluing the locations.

When you find new locations you want them to pay of in less than 1 year, but it is an unknown factor. You may do good but you may do bad.

When buying a known sales amount you may have to pay more.

A seller will probably be asking 1 year sales, as a buyer you should be offering 1 year profit and then you meet somewhere in the middle depending on who is more motivated.

I personally am trying to sell my small part time route right now and I wouldn't even consider 1 week profit times 40. But of my three locations 1 stinks and I'm pretty much throwing it in free, 1 is a full size snack machine that does about $120-$150 per week, and the best one has a snack ($200/wk), Pepsi ($200/wk), and a Coke ($150/wk). Total sales last year were over $31k and it only takes half a day per week to run.

To me this type of route would have more value than one with 10 machines doing $500/week total that takes a full day or more to run.

Just my point of view.