Having a vending machine business can be an extremely profitable venture since there’s always a need for snacks, drinks, and other items at locations all over the country.
Before you consider your own business, it’s crucial to know about the different types of vending machines so you can make a wise decision.
Read on to discover more about the various vending machines available so you can choose the one that will be most profitable for you.
Cold Foods
From a crispy salad to a deli sandwich, cold food vending machines are a popular choice in a variety of environments. Most cold food can be eaten straight from the package or may just need a simple reheating in a microwave.
Cold food vending machines have a glass front so customers can see what’s inside. These units are refrigerated, which means they will likely require more maintenance than other types of vending machines. You will need to check on them regularly to make sure that the machine is running the way it should and keeping your inventory cold.
A cold food-style vending machine is a great option for places like hospitals or airports where people may spend long periods of time. It’s a great way to offer customers a quick, easy meal when they’re in a hurry. Look into companies like healthy you vending for some healthy options you can offer.
You can stock these machines with everything from breakfast items to lunch foods. Sandwiches and fruit are other excellent choices. One downside of these types of vending machines is that you will need to monitor and change the food to make sure it’s fresh.
A frozen food machine is another option that offers things like ice cream or microwaveable meals. Using frozen food should cost you less since it will last much longer than fresh food that needs to be kept cold.
Classic Types of Vending Machines: Snacks
From bags of chips to candy bars, the classic snack vending machine is still a popular choice. You can market these vending machines to local businesses, schools, and other organizations.
A snack vending machine can be a good option since you can easily fully stock it without having to spend a lot of money. The shelf life of most snacks is fairly long, too, which means you won’t need to “babysit” your inventory as much as you might with a cold food vending machine.
Ask your customers which items they feel will sell the most. For example, candy bars will do well in schools, while bags of chips or peanuts may fare better in an office building.
You can set your prices for the vending machine according to your needs and the request of your customer. Make sure you empty the machine’s money weekly and check current inventory levels in case you need to restock it. There are also combo machines that include snacks and soda.
Whether you opt to add granola bars or chocolate, these machines tend to be a profitable choice with low overhead. Look into local businesses that may be in need of an affordable vending machine for their employees or customers.
Coffee Vending
Everyone enjoys a good cup of coffee, and offering this as a vending machine can be a lifesaver for some. It eliminates the need for the business to maintain its own separate coffee machines and coffee pots while giving customers the ability to have hot coffee at the touch of a button.
You can find coffee vending machines that use whole beans with a grinder, or you can elect to use one that has the coffee already ground. The ground coffee machine is the most popular thanks to its dependability and easier maintenance due to less moving parts.
Modern coffee vending machines are easy to use, but you will still need to monitor it for restocks. Things like cups, lids, stirrers, and of course the coffee itself will need to be checked on constantly.
One benefit of using a coffee vending machine is that you can offer other hot beverages, too. Consider adding tea and hot cocoa as alternatives to help increase your customer base and your profit margins. Make sure the machine has a filter so that it’s always using clean, safe water that also tastes great.
If you prefer to offer cold beverages, try a soda vending machine. This is a much easier machine to maintain and you can easily switch out selections based on your customers’ preferences for use in the company breakroom or main entrance.
While maintaining a coffee machine can be involved and somewhat expensive, you can also get higher profit margins. As long as you take good care of the machine and keep things well-stocked, they’re a huge hit with most people. For those who need coffee in a pinch and can’t make it to the nearest Starbucks, these machines are a surefire success.
Finding the Right Vending Machine
With so many different types of vending machines out there today, it’s easy to find the perfect option for your new business venture. Get to know your market and think about things like stocking, overhead, and maintenance before you take the plunge.
Vending machines make life easier and they can be a real benefit to businesses. Whether you choose to offer cold or frozen foods, snacks, or coffee, they’re a great way to make extra money.
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