The vending business is considered one of the popular and profitable ways to earn money. Customers are attracted by the opportunity to take advantage of convenient forms of service that save them time and entertain them. In addition to machines for the production of hot and cold drinks, there are many other vending machines designed to sell food and industrial products, bringing high profits to the owners.
One of the most popular types of vending machines are coffee machines, the payback of which is achieved in a fairly short time. It is with them that we will begin the review.
The most profitable vending equipment
What is vending
This is trading without a seller. A special machine accepts payment and dispenses the product chosen by the buyer.
The very first machines were patented in the USA back in 1886. Since then, this type of trade has successfully evolved. Modern units offer everything: food, drinks, books, digital equipment, shoes and clothes.
In Russia, devices that offered carbonated water had all the characteristics of vending machines.
But in general, compared to countries in Europe or Asia, this business is not very developed in Russia. You don't see vending machines with food as often here. Therefore, you have a good chance of finding your place in this niche.
Advantages of vending trade
Selling goods using equipment has its advantages, both for buyers and for the entrepreneur. First of all, customers will always appreciate the availability of service at any time of the day, the absence of the possibility of body kit or underfilling. An entrepreneur will have the following advantages:
- Lack of human factor at the point of sale. The machine is always “polite” with customers and does not ask for days off or vacation. In addition, revenue always exactly corresponds to the sales volume of food or piece goods.
- Relatively short payback period in case of equipment purchase and the possibility of generating income when renting a vending machine. The last factor allows you to start with minimal investment.
- Possibility to combine main work activity with business. Typically, vending machines for cigarettes, chewing gum, toys and other non-food products need to be serviced no more than once a week.
- High competitiveness of business. Today it is possible to offer customers a product, a form of serving food or a service that is not yet on the market.
Benefits of food vending machines
What are the advantages of this type of trading? Isn't it easier to open a traditional outlet?
Among the main advantages are the low operating costs of the machine. To install equipment, you don’t need to rent large spaces; a small space is enough. There is no need to pay a salary to the seller. And your business doesn’t need advertising.
Reviews of the vending business confirm that it pays off very quickly. Initial investments are required to purchase specialized machines. If the location is unsuccessful, you can always quickly move to a new point. And the round-the-clock operating mode of the unit ensures that you will not be left without profit.
How to start a vending business
Like any business, trading through a machine must begin with the registration of your enterprise. You can register as an individual entrepreneur. Or collect documents and form a limited liability company.
Then carefully examine your tax options. Most likely, a simplified system will suit you. But in some regions you can pay a single tax on imputed income. If you find it difficult to make a decision on your own, then consult with specialists from the tax office. In the latter, by the way, you need to register.
Nuances of work
If you suddenly decide to make your own semi-finished products yourself (even the simplest sandwich), then you must acquire specifications, technical specifications, and control centers, equip the premises accordingly, and “talk” with the SES. That is, you will essentially work as a catering service. It’s easier to buy semi-finished products from someone by agreement - even from the same pizzerias, pie shops or factories that specialize in semi-finished products.
If you are going to buy a fast food machine, it is better to buy one that works with chilled products and not frozen ones, since when heating a frozen product, its outer surface can become very hot and the middle remains half-baked. Of course, this problem can be solved by stepwise heating of the product (with preliminary defrosting in the same microwave) - but then the heating time is long: about 5-7 minutes.
Of course, those vending machines that work with frozen foods store semi-finished products for a very long time, but given that such machines are designed for high sales, the long-term storage factor is not so important.
We purchase equipment
When choosing slot machines, focus on the most popular models. The easiest way to start is with units that sell hot (tea, coffee) or cold drinks. Second place in the ranking is occupied by devices offering snacks and sweets. And on the third - vending machines with toys. Other types of selling equipment are not yet so widespread in our country. As your business develops, you may well try other types of devices. For example, pizza machines.
When developing a business plan for a vending company, think about whether you will buy a machine or rent it. At first, while you are just trying your hand at it, it is worth considering the second option. If you realize that your business is not going well, it is easier to refuse to rent the unit than to look for a buyer for it.
Another pressing question is whether to purchase used devices or pay money for new equipment. If you don’t want to deal with machine breakdowns during the period of business promotion, then buy equipment from a trusted supplier who provides warranty service for their products.
When buying machines, pay attention to the presence of a convenient bill acceptor equipped with a reliable system for recognizing banknotes being inserted. Your device must have a function for issuing change. It’s great if your unit is equipped with an intelligent payment system. Then customers will be able to pay using plastic cards without any problems. Nowadays, most young people prefer cashless payments.
Snack vending machines
This type of equipment has become widespread in our country relatively recently. Snack machines are designed for dispensing finished packaged products. The assortment includes a selection of sweet drinks, chips and other goodies.
According to their characteristics, snack vending machines are divided into:
- conveyor type models;
- spiral;
- cellular;
- mini snacks.
If you are thinking about vending, we recommend paying attention to models from the Necta brand:
- The snack machine SNAKKY RY is a cell-type unit equipped with refrigeration equipment. Spacious design with 6 shelves, which can comfortably accommodate more than 230 items of goods.
- The Melodia Health Food snack machine is perfect for selling fresh vegetables, fruits and other products related to a healthy diet.
The profitability of a business largely depends on the location of installation of vending machines, the demand for goods, and economic stability in the region. It has been established that in large, successfully developing cities, the development of snack vending is most successful.
Choosing a good place
The profitability of a vending business directly depends on a well-chosen location.
What should the ideal place be like? Passable. Shopping, entertainment and business centers fit this definition.
Good prospects for those who place their machines with drinks or chocolates at train stations or airports. In hospitals or clinics there are also good chances to quickly make a profit. These places are not only constantly crowded with people, but they also spend a lot of time waiting. And not everyone will go looking for a catering outlet; they would rather buy a glass of coffee and a package of snacks from the nearest vending machine.
In office buildings, employees love to snack on sweets, but do not have time to go out to get them. Therefore, they will also be very happy at the prospect of having a unit with chocolates and drinks nearby.
Educational institutions are also attractive in this regard, but, unfortunately, their devices are often attacked by vandals. Therefore, you can suffer much more losses.
When launching a new vending business, try to estimate the profitability of the future location in advance. But even if you miscalculate something, it’s not scary. The mobility of the device allows you to quickly change its location.
Once you have chosen a place, inquire about the rent. Sometimes office building owners are interested in installing free coffee machines for clients and employees. This is a great success, as you get a source of stable income. And you only have to pay for electricity consumption.
Coffee machines
Devices for selling this aromatic and invigorating drink are an excellent option in any public places, and they retain their functionality both indoors and outdoors. Without wasting time standing in line, you can buy a wide variety of coffee types and drink it on the way to work, in the car or at a cozy table in a cafe.
Due to their popularity and versatility, coffee machines are perhaps the most profitable vending machines that are installed in a variety of places:
- shopping and entertainment centers;
- waiting rooms at bus, airport and railway stations;
- in universities and colleges;
- in administrative and financial institutions;
- in industrial plants and offices.
The list where you can find vending equipment can be endlessly expanded, as its popularity is growing rapidly. Today you can order devices from the coolest brands, for example, those presented in our catalog:
- The NECTA KIKKO Es 6 coffee machine is the leader in sales among equipment for the production of coffee beans. The compact model features spacious containers and the ability to prepare 16 drink options.
- The Necta CANTO Espresso 8 coffee machine is a stylish machine equipped with many useful functions and a vandal-proof coating. The menu includes recipes for preparing aromatic coffee, hot chocolate and tea with lemon or raspberry flavor.
The cost of the machine can range from 1.5 to 5 thousand dollars, it depends mainly on the functionality and condition of the unit.
Used vending machines cost significantly less than new models, so they are great for beginner businessmen. And if you install machines with sweets nearby, your income will increase significantly.
Underwater rocks
Before starting a vending business, familiarize yourself with its pitfalls. Vandalism comes first. You must be prepared for its manifestations. Unfortunately, in Russia this is the main inhibitory factor.
Of course, machines located in large business and office centers are less susceptible to attacks by hooligans. As a rule, security guards monitor the maintenance of order in such buildings. But in shopping centers or public institutions (especially if we are talking about train stations) there is a risk of losing the device. Therefore, it makes sense to insure your property.
The second disadvantage is the inability to install such vending machines on the street. In Russian winter conditions they will refuse to work. And after the attack of local hooligans, they will not survive.
Vending machine for preparing and selling hot lunches
We have already written about GOURMET food machines. These machines may be quite suitable for selling fast food (shawarma, hamburgers, hot dogs, etc.). Gourmets work with chilled products, and there are, for example, PoinFood vending machines that work with frozen products.
GOURMET is equipped with a built-in microwave oven or grill module. The product dispensing mechanism is a conveyor-elevator feed, which allows you to sell products in fragile packaging. The machine is equipped with a system for monitoring the expiration date of products, after which the marked products will not be sold.
Staff
How many people do you need to operate the machines? A vending company is a business that you can easily run on your own. You will only need assistants when your business expands. If the number of your food and beverage units exceeds thirty, then there will be a need to hire additional staff.
Typically, the number of employees is calculated according to the following scheme: one person per ten machines.
When selecting candidates, ask them if they have a driver's license and a car. Warn the applicant in advance about the traveling nature of the job.
Payback
Let's now calculate the costs of running your business. We will include the cost of equipment in the cost calculation. The price of one machine ranges from one and a half to five thousand dollars. Renting a space can vary greatly depending on what region you live in and where you install your units.
But on average the amount is approximately one hundred dollars (about 4 thousand rubles). Every month you will pay for the electricity consumed by your equipment. If we have employees, we include their wages in the cost amount. And of course, taxes.
And now about income. The machine can bring a profit of 500 rubles or more per day. We multiply this figure by the number of days in a year and get approximate monthly revenue.
If the machines are located well, you will recoup your investment in two years.
When thinking about how to start a vending business, immediately calculate the options for its development. You shouldn’t stop at two or three units with hot coffee. Invest the proceeds in purchasing additional devices. Place machines with packaged snacks or sweets next to vending machines that sell drinks. By summer, install cold water machines. This way you will be insured against falling profits.
Appearance
Vending coffee machines are large in size and are comparable in height to a person’s height or higher.
The higher the coffee machine, the more convenient it is to use - you don’t have to bend over to pick up the change and a glass of drink. Large dimensions allow you to place a bunker for ingredients of larger capacity inside the device. Also, the larger the size of the machine, the more conveniently the internal blocks and units can be placed in it; the easier and faster you can access them, both for maintenance and cleaning, and for repairs.
The pictures above show that each device has:
- buttons for selecting drinks
- drink cup dispensing window
- change window
- holes for inserting coins and bills
Let's go through each point in more detail
Buttons for selecting drinks
In almost all models, the menu buttons are located on the “belly” of the machine. They are arranged in 1, 2 or 3 vertical rows. The buttons are waterproof for easy cleaning with a damp cloth or tissue.
The appearance of the buttons can be changed: print out your own stickers and insert them into special “pockets” from inside the device.
Window for dispensing a cup of drink
The dispensing window is closed with a transparent glass door. The door opens upward (in most models) or sideways (for example in Colibri). Many owners of coffee machines immediately remove these doors, since the doors interfere with picking up the cup. If the room has clean air and is not dusty, then it is wiser to remove the door so that the delivery window is always open.
The cup falls out of the bay and is fixed on the holders. After preparation, the glass is removed by moving it towards you. At the bottom there is a grate, under which there is a tray with a drain. The drain directs liquid waste into a bucket located at the bottom of the coffee machine. The grid and drain are necessary for washing the device (automatic and manual).
Holes for inserting coins and bills
To pay for drinks, the coffee machine is equipped with a banknote acceptor and a coin acceptor. These devices recognize the denomination of funds deposited, check their authenticity and place them in special boxes.
There is a coin return button next to the coin slot. This button is not usually used, since change is given automatically after the drink is prepared.
Window for change
The machine gives out change using a special device “coin dispenser” or coin dispenser. Coins are poured into a small drawer at the bottom of the machine. There are cases when a buyer pays with a 1000 ruble bill, buying coffee for 25 - 30 rubles. Imagine 970 rubles change in coins 
The opening of the change window is covered with a transparent door. If there are a lot of coins for change (as in the case described above), the door may not open because it is blocked by a large number of coins. Therefore, try to pay at the coffee machine with smaller bills (50 or 100 rubles).
