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50 Best Vending Machine Business ideas You Can Start Today

Vending Machine Business

Do you want to start a vending machine business but want to go niche and be unique? If YES, here are 50 best vending machine business ideas / opportunities.

Starting a vending machine related business is one sure way of leveraging technology and retailing to make money. A vending machine business is a retail business that does not require face to face interaction with customers, and can be run for 24 hours every day depending on the location.

This business offers operator flexibility because it can be tailored to suit the lifestyle of the owner. A vending machine dispenses items such as beverages, snacks, lottery tickets, alcohol, cigarettes, perfumes, toys, candy and so much more.

There are very strict laws regarding the sale of alcohol and cigarettes through vending machines due to underage buyers. In the uk for instance; cigarette vending machines have been banned, and in Japan, Germany and Italy, age verification has been made mandatory.

Anyone can start a vending machine business because it isn’t financially tasking to start. You can purchase a used vending machine at a cheap price, and still get the most out of it. The vending machine business doesn’t require any expertise, and any serious minded entrepreneur is likely to make good profit out of this business.

The truth is that for those that own one or few vending machines within the same locality, operating cost will be minimal. This means that the owner of a few or even one vending machine can compete with those that have several vending machines in different locations.

The leverage in the vending machine business is in strategically placing the vending machines at a location that has the right amount of traffic, as well as ensuring that the vending machine has the right product for the traffic.

If you are interested in starting a vending machine related business idea in the united states of America, here are 50 vending business ideas you can comfortably choose from.

Best Vending Machine Business ideas

  1. Start Ice Vending Machine Business

Ice vending is one of the vending machine related business ideas that can thrive in the United States of America. An ice vending machine business is a retail business that does not require face to face interaction with customers, and can be run for 24 hours a day depending on the location. This business offers its operators flexibility, because it can be tailored to suit the lifestyle of the owner.

Anyone can start an ice vending machine business; it isn’t financially tasking to start, as you can purchase a used ice vending machine and still get the most out of it. The ice vending machine business doesn’t require any expertise or know-how, and any serious minded entrepreneur is likely to make good profit out of this business.

  1. Vend Groceries 

Groceries vending is one of the vending machine ideas that can be started in any country of the world. Starting a grocery vending machine business is a very easy business to start and it is not so capital intensive.

Getting the right products that people want to buy is the secrets of running a grocery vending machine. In order to maximize profits from this business, just ensure that you position your vending machines in strategic places with good human traffic.

  1. Drinks Vending Machine Business

One of the most popular vending machine businesses in the United States is drinks vending machine; a vending machine that dispenses chilled bottles of soft drinks and energy drinks.

You can find this type of vending machine in stadiums, public facilities, schools, office lobbies and hotel lobbies amongst others. So, if you are looking towards starting a vending machine business, then you should consider starting drinks vending machine business.

  1. Snacks Vending Machine Business

Another popular and no doubt lucrative street vending machine related business that can be started in any location is snacks vending machine business. A snack vending machine is a vending machine that dispense freshly backed snacks.

If your snack vending machine is loaded with snack foods such as potato and corn chips, pretzels, roasted and salted nuts, nut butters, popcorn and other similar snacks, you won’t struggle to generate sales. The bottom line is that a snacks vending machine business is bound to thrive if properly positioned.

  1. Children’s Toys Vending Machine Business

Starting a children’s toys vending machine business is yet another good vending machine business that can be started in any country of the world.

A children’s toys vending machine is a machine that dispenses various children’s toys. In as much as this is a profitable business, but note that children’s toys vending machine can only thrive in strategic locations; places like children’s parks, schools, playgrounds et al are suitable for this kind of business.

  1. Beauty Products and Cosmetics Vending Machine Business

Another lucrative vending machine business that an aspiring entrepreneur who is interested in starting a street vending machine related business should consider starting is a beauty products and cosmetics vending machine business.

If you are considering starting a beauty products and cosmetics vending machine business, then you must ensure that your vending machine is stocked with a wide range of:

Hair care and shower products, cosmetics, skin care products, fragrances, nail care products, deodorant and shaving products, sun care, baby care and other related products et al from different manufacturers both from the United States of America and from other countries. That’s only when you will continue to welcome repeated customers and of course grow your profit margins.

  1. Start Fruits Vending Machine Business

Fruits vending machine business is another flourishing vending machine related business that can be started in any country of the world.

Fruits vending machine is a vending machine that dispenses fruits. In order to maximize profits from this line of business, aside from ensuring that your vending machine is well-located, you also need to ensure that your fruits are fresh and if possible organic.

  1. Vegetables Vending Machine Business

Similar to starting fruits vending machine business is starting vegetables vending machine business. Vegetable vending machine business is a viable and lucrative street vending machine business that can thrive in most locations. In order to maximize profits from your vegetable vending machine business, then you must ensure that your vending machine is stocked with fresh vegetables.

  1. Start Handkerchiefs and Towels Vending Machine Business

Another simple but of course lucrative street vending machine business that an aspiring entrepreneur can start and make money from is handkerchiefs and towels vending. In the United States, this type of business does pretty well during summer.

This goes to show that if you are planning on launching handkerchiefs and towels vending machine business in the United States, then you should expect to make more sales during the summer. You can as position your vending machines in places like gyms, and sports centers; places where people are bound to sweat.

  1. Flower Vending Machine Business

A flower vending machine business is yet another profitable vending machine business that an aspiring entrepreneur can make money from. A flower vending machine is a vending machine that dispenses fresh and artificial flowers. So, if you are looking towards starting a street vending machine business, then you can settle for flower vending machine.

  1. Lottery and Events Tickets Vending Machine Business

Another easy to set up vending related business that can be started in the United States of America is lottery and events tickets vending machine business. The fact that most people would rather wait for late hours to purchase their event tickets makes lottery and events tickets vending machine business a viable business to run.

In order to maximize profits in this line of business, then you must ensure that you partner with key events managers/organizers and lottery companies so as to help them sell their tickets from your vending machine.

  1. Alcohol Drinks Vending Machine Business

Alcoholic drinks vending machine is one of the most popular street vending machine business you can find around. A standard alcoholic drinks vending machine is expected to have assorted beers, wines, liquors, distilled spirits, and martinis amongst others.

Please note that there are very strict laws regarding the sale of alcohol through vending machines due to concerns regarding underage buyers. Just ensure that you position your alcoholic vending machines in night clubs, and any other locations where adults relax and you won’t struggle to generate sales.

  1. Cigarettes Vending Machine Business

Having a cigarettes vending machine business is another lucrative street vending machine business that an aspiring entrepreneur can successfully start. If you are planning on starting this type of business in the United States of America, you have to check the existing law so as not to run afoul of the law.

This is because there are very strict laws regarding the sale of cigarettes through vending machines due to concerns regarding underage buyers. In the uk for instance; cigarette vending machines have been banned, and in Japan, Germany and Italy, age verification has been made mandatory.

  1. Music and Movie Vending Machine Business

There is indeed a large market for music and movies and this market cuts across people of different faith, race and culture. The United States of America has the largest entertainment industry in the world and products from this industry can be retailed via vending machines.

If you live in the United States or in any part of the world and you are considering starting a street vending machine business, one of the businesses that you can successfully start is music and movie vending machine business. In other to stay competitive in this industry, you must vend music and movies in all formats; that is in softcopies (downloads) and hardcopies (CDs and DVDs et al).

  1. Cupcake Vending Machine Business

Another vending machine business that an aspiring entrepreneur can start is cupcake vending machine business. It is a known fact that some cupcake bakers have started retailing their cupcakes to the public through vending machines just like the owner of Sprinkle Cupcakes, Candace Nelson did.

In order to maximize profits from your cupcake vending machine business, you must ensure that you have cupcakes in different designs, themes, and flavors and of course different packaging in your vending machine per time.

  1. Frozen Food Vending Machine

Frozen food vending machine is another typical vending machine business and it is indeed a thriving and profitable business venture.

Frozen foods such as fish, chicken, turkeys et al are generally consumed worldwide. So if you are looking for a street vending machine business to start; a business that is not capital intensive and simple to manage, then you need to consider setting up a frozen food vending machine business.

It is important to state that the location you choose to start this type of business will go a long way to determine if the business will become successful. The ideal places to locate this type of business are market places or residential estates et al.

  1. Bread Vending Machine Business

A bread vending machine business is another lucrative vending machine business that an aspiring entrepreneur should consider starting.

Bread is a stable food that people eat in all parts of the world. If you are looking for a street vending machine business to launch, a business that requires little capital to get started, then you should consider retailing bread via vending machines.

All you need to do is to secure deliveries of bread from different bakeries and then display them in your well – located vending machines. It is a cool way of making money but you must ensure that you sell them all as fast as you can because breads have short shelf life.

  1. Ice Cream Vending Machine Business

An ice cream vending machine business is another cool vending machine business that any serious minded entrepreneur can successfully start and make cool cash from. It is a business that requires little training and skills to set up and manage.

If you are looking towards starting this type of business and you don’t have the skills, you can quickly learn them, it is likely not going to take you more than a week to learn how to make different flavors of ice cream. Even if you don’t have the required capital to purchase brand new vending machines, you can start with fairly used vending machines.

  1. Hair Extensions and Hair care Products Vending Machine Business

It is observed that ladies spend more on shopping when compared to their male counterparts which is why any business that is geared towards ladies would thrive.

If you are looking for a street vending machine business to start, a business that is easy to start and manage, then you should consider vending hair extensions and a wide range of hair care products. It is a thriving business and profitable business.

Just ensure that you choose a good location for the business, places like salons and female hostels is ideal for such vending machine business.

  1. Bottled Water Vending Machine Business

One of the most popular street vending machine business in the United States is bottled water vending machine. You can find this type of vending machine in stadiums, public facilities, schools, offices and hotel lobbies amongst others. So, if you are looking towards starting a street vending machine business, then you should consider starting bottled water vending machine business.

  1. Chocolate Bar Vending Machine Business

Another vending machine business that an entrepreneur can consider starting, a business that is easy to set up with low startup capital, is a chocolate bar vending machine business.

This type of business is easy to manage and it is indeed a profitable venture especially if you carry out detailed feasibility studies before choosing a location to position your vending machine. You don’t need any specially skills to successfully run this type of business.

  1. Children’s Educational Materials Vending Machine Business

A vending machine that dispenses children’s educational materials is yet another street vending machine business that an entrepreneur can successfully start without any form of technical skills. Materials such as kids learning pads, story books, Lego, jigsaw puzzle, educative video games, educative CDs and DVDs et al are highly sellable as long as you position the business is a location where there are children.

You can as well position your vending machines in schools. Vending children’s educational materials is indeed a profitable business and anybody can start this type of business. As a matter of fact, you would not need any special license or permit to run this type of business.

  1. Perfume Vending Machine Business

Vending of perfumes from different designers is yet another profitable vending machine business that an entrepreneur can consider starting. This type of business is simple to start and it is also easy to manage.

The major things you need to do to get the business running is to get vending machines, locations to position the vending machines, and then stock the vending machines with various designer perfumes. Just like most street vending machine businesses, location is key. If you are able to secure a good location perhaps in a busy lobby, you won’t struggle to make daily sales.

  1. Frozen Yogurt Vending Machine Business

Frozen yogurt vending machine business is yet another money spinning vending machine related business that is open to all and sundry.

Yogurts are consumed by almost everybody in our planet as such, anyone who chooses to establish a frozen yogurt vending machine in any part of the world especially in tropical regions or countries in the equator is sure going to get good returns on his or her investment as long as they are doing the right thing.

So, if you are considering starting a street vending machine related business, then one of your options is to start a frozen yogurt vending machine business.

  1. French Fries Vending Machine Business

A French fries vending machine business is yet another popular vending machine related business that an aspiring entrepreneur can successfully start and make good money from. In an ideal French fries vending machine, you are expected to find products such as potato and corn chips, pretzels, roasted and salted nuts, nut butters, popcorn and other related snacks.

These are street foods that are consumed by a whole lot of people not just in France but all across the globe. So, if you are considering starting a street vending machine related business, then you should consider starting a French fries vending machine business.

  1. Start a Dessert Bar Vending Machine Business

Starting a dessert bar vending machine business is yet another sustainable vending machine business that an aspiring entrepreneur can successfully start in the United States of America. Dessert bars, or simply bars or squares, are a type of American cookie that has the texture of a firm cake or softer than usual cookie.

They are prepared in a pan and then baked in the oven. The ingredients used in the production of desserts bars are sugar, eggs, butter, flour and milk etc. More exotic bars can be made with ingredients including sour cream, rhubarb, pretzels, candies, vanilla, raisins, and pumpkin.

  1. Biscuit and Candies Vending Machine Business

Another vending machines business that an aspiring entrepreneur with low startup capital can successfully start is biscuit and candies vending machine. If you are thinking of starting a biscuit and candies vending machine business, then you should locate the business close to a school or children’s park.

This is so because children are the major consumers of biscuits and candies. Just ensure that your vending machine is well stocked with a wide range of biscuits and candies and children’s drinks and you won’t struggle to generate sales daily.

  1. Start a Photo Booth Business

Starting a photo booth business is no doubt one of the highly profitable and thriving vending machine business that an aspiring entrepreneur can successfully start and make money from. When we talk about the photo booth, we are talking about a vending machine or contemporary kiosk that contains an automated, usually coin-operated, camera and film processor.

A large percentage of photo booths that are in operations in the United States are digital. So, if you are considering starting a vending machine business, then one of your options is to start a photo booth business.

  1. Egg Vending Machine Business

Another viable vending machine business that an aspiring entrepreneur can successfully start in the United States of America is egg vending machine business. A vending machine where either fresh or boiled eggs will be dispensed will sure do pretty well if well positioned.

So, if you are looking for a street vending machine business to start, then you should consider starting eggs vending machine business.

  1. Coffee Vending Machine Business

If you are considering starting a vending machine business, one of the options you can choose from is to start a coffee vending machine business.

Starting a coffee vending machine business can be interesting at the same time rewarding especially if you situate your coffee vending machines in strategic locations where you can easily attract coffee lovers. The fact that people drink coffee on the go makes it one of those businesses that are in high demand.

  1. Birth Control (Condom and Contraceptives) Vending Machine Business

A birth control (condom and contraceptives) vending machine business is yet another lucrative vending machine business that an aspiring can start and make money from. A birth control machine is a vending machine for the sale of birth control like condoms or emergency contraception.

Condom vending machines are often placed in brothels, hotels, stripper clubs, campuses, public toilets, subway stations, airports or schools as a public health measure to promote safe sex. Many pharmacies also keep one outside, for after-hours access.

Rare examples exist that dispense female condoms or the morning after pill. Adults who want to avoid sexually transmitted diseases are encouraged to make use of condoms and this encourages the sale of condoms.

  1. Food Supplements Vending Machine Business

One unique vending machine business that an aspiring entrepreneur should consider starting is a food supplements vending a machine.

A food supplements vending machine is a machine that dispenses supplements such vitamins and minerals tablets/capsules, specialty dietary supplements, herbs and botanicals, protein powder, meal replacements and weight loss products, specialty and elite sports nutritionals et al.

You would have to check the existing law as regards dispensing medicine products without prescriptions before launching your food supplements vending machine business.

  1. Stationery Vending Machine Business

Stationary vending machine business is another good vending machine business that can be started in any country of the world. If you intend maximizing profits from your stationery vending machine business, then you must be willing to position your machines in exam centers, job centers, schools and office environments.

You should stock your vending machine with stationeries like pens (black, blue, red, and green et al), erasers, permanent marker, pencils and pencil sharpeners, colored pencils, colored pens, colored markers, correction tape/fluid/liquid paper, mechanical pencil and spare leads amongst others.

  1. Change Vending Machine Business

Another popular vending machine business that an investor can start in the United States is change vending machine business or better still change machine. A change machine is a vending machine that accepts large denominations of currency and returns an equal amount of currency in smaller bills or coins.

These change vending machines are used to provide coins in exchange for paper currency, in which case they are also often known as bill changers. So, if you are looking towards starting a vending machine business, then one of your options is to start change vending machines business.

  1. Start a Full – Line Vending Machine Business

A full – line vending machine business is another highly profitable vending machine business that can be started in any country of the world. A full-line vending company may set up several types of vending machines that sell a wide range of products.

Products may include candy, cookies, chips, fresh fruit, milk, cold food, coffee and other hot drinks, bottles, cans of soda, and even frozen products like ice cream.

  1. Newspaper and Magazine Vending Machine Business

Another highly profitable vending machine business that an aspiring entrepreneur should consider is newspaper and magazine vending machine business. A newspaper and magazine vending machine is a vending machine designed to dispense newspapers and magazines.

Newspaper and magazine vending machines are used all across the globe, and they can be one of the main distribution methods for newspaper and magazine publishers.

  1. Bus and Train Tickets Vending Machine Business

Starting a bus and train tickets vending machine business is one of the highly moveable vending machine business ideas that can be started in the United States of America. A ticket vending machine is a vending machine that produces tickets.

Ticket machines dispense train tickets at railway stations, transit tickets at metro stations and tram tickets at some tram stops and in some trams.

The usual transaction consists of a user using the display interface to select the type and quantity of tickets and then choosing a payment method of either cash, credit/debit card or smartcard. The ticket or tickets are then printed and dispensed to the user.

  1. Stamp Vending Machine Business

Stamp vending machine is yet another viable vending machine business that can thrive in most countries of the world. A stamp vending machine is a mechanical, electrical or electromechanical device which can be used to automatically vend postage stamps to users in exchange for a predetermined amount of money, normally in coin.

So, if you are looking towards starting a street vending machine business, then you should settle for stamp vending machine business.

  1. Pizza Vending Machine Business

One fast growing vending machine business that has started gaining popularity in the United States of America is pizza vending. Let’s Pizza is the first vending machine that makes fresh pizza from scratch. It was developed in 2009 by Italian company Sitos srl.

The machine combines water, flour, tomato sauce, and fresh ingredients to make a pizza in approximately three minutes. It includes windows so customers can watch the pizza as it is made. The device was invented by Claudio Torghele, an entrepreneur in Rovereto, Italy. You can start something similar.

  1. Books Vending Machine Business

Books vending machine business is yet another vending machine business that is gaining popularity in developed countries of the world. Book vending machines dispense books. Some libraries in the United States make use of book vending machines.

GoLibrary is a book vending machine used by libraries in Sweden and the U.S. So, if you are looking for a vending machine business to start, then you should consider settling for books vending.

  1. Bait Vending Machine Business

Another unique vending machine business that an aspiring entrepreneur should consider starting is bait vending business. A bait vending machine is a vending machine that dispenses live fishing baits, such as worms and crickets, for fishing.

If you want to maximize profits from the business, then you must ensure that you position your vending machines in and around fishing sites.

  1. Automobile Vending Machine Business

An automobile vending machine business is of course another new vending machine business howbeit highly capital intensive but profitable. Yes you heard me right! Automobile vending machine. In November 2013, online auto retailer Carvana opened the first car vending machine in the U.S. located in Atlanta.

So also, in late 2016, Autobahn Motors, a car dealership in Singapore, opened a 15-story-tall luxury car vending machine containing 60 cars, dispensing Ferrari and Lamborghini vehicles. So, if you are rich or have an accredited investor who is interested in vending machine business, then one of your best options is to start an automobile vending machine.

43. Repair, Servicing and Maintenance of Vending Machines

Another demanding and money spinning vending machine related business that an aspiring entrepreneur should consider starting is to go into the repair, servicing and maintenance of vending machines. The truth is that vending machines are subjected to wear and tear, and they will need to be fixed.

So, if you are looking for a vending machine related business to start and you know that you have the engineering background, then you can start your own vending machine repair, servicing and maintenance company.

  1. Marijuana Vending Machine Business

A marijuana vending machine business is another money – spinning street vending machine business that can be legally started in the United States of America especially with the new legislature supporting the sale of recreational marijuana in some states in the U.S. A marijuana vending machine is a vending machine for selling or dispensing cannabis.

As of the 2010s, they are in use in the United States and Canada. The primary challenge faced in selling restricted or controlled merchandise like cannabis is to verify the identity of the user making the purchase, which is overcome by the application of biometrics and smart vending software technology.

  1. Mold – A – Rama Vending Machine Business

Another interesting street vending machine business that can thrive in the United States of America is Mold – A – Rama vending machine business. The Mold-A-Rama is a brand name for a type of vending machine that makes blow-molded plastic figurines.

Mold-A-Rama machines debuted in late 1962 and grew in prominence at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. The machines can still be found operating in dozens of museums and zoos.

  1. Start Social Networked Vending Machine Business

A social networked vending machine business is a new street vending machine business that can be started in developed countries of the world. With the rise of social networks, vending machines have been integrated to social media in order to proliferate the interaction of the vending machine with the users of the physical machine to the social networks.

The common application of social-networked vending machine is that the user can connect his/her social account to a specific social media designated by the vending machine, the user will be getting some rewards in return, normally in the form of free gift dispensed from the vending machine.

  1. Greeting Cards Vending Machine Business

Greeting cards vending machine business is another flourishing street vending machine business that an aspiring entrepreneur should consider starting. People love cards. They love the warmth that exudes from the messages that is conveyed by the cards.

Yet another thing that captures people’s fancy in cards is the color combination and images captured in them. In order to maximize profits in this line of business, you must ensure that you stock your vending machine with a wide range of greeting cards such get well cards, birthday cards, congratulation cards, thank you card, baby shower cards, consolation and condolence cards et al.

  1. Manufacturing of Vending Machines

The fact that business people will require customized vending machines to suit the type of vending business they want to start makes manufacturing of vending machine a good business to pursue.

If you have the startup capital or technical training as it relates to manufacturing vending machines, then by all means you should consider going into the production of vending machines. It is indeed a highly profitable business due to the increase in the use of vending machines.

  1. Supply and Installation of Vending Machine

If you are considering starting a vending machine related business, one of your options especially if you are not interested in retailing via vending machines is to start a business that is into supplying and installation of vending machines.

Trust me, there are loads of retailers that will be willing to order vending machines from you. It is becoming trendy for retailers to adopt vending model in expanding sales.