Profitable Vending Machine Locations

 When ironing out a business plan for a new vending business (or one that is ready to expand) one of the key factors to consider early is where to place vending machines for the most success. The vending site can truly make all the difference when it comes to success and profitability. Below, we’ll outline the best locations for profitable vending machines whether you want your machines to be located in a highly public place or somewhere a little more private.

Airports

Market research has proven that airports are one of the best locations for profitable vending machines it is possible to find. For the most part, airports are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there are thousands of people making their way through the airport every day. Airports allow you to target your vending machines to people from all walks of life, and they will be keen on buying snacks, drinks, or even toys for their children without waiting in long lines or paying expensive airport prices.

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Another thing that makes an airport one of the best locations for a vending machine is the versatile site options. The immense size of the average airport means it can house many, many vending machines at a time without causing too much competition between them. As a result, it won’t be as difficult to acquire a site as it would be in smaller, less versatile spaces. You’ll be able to get your vending machine running faster and start earning profits with minimal downtime.

Hotels/Motels

Hotels and motels are another incredibly good location for profitable vending machines. They see a wide range of people on a daily basis, and the constant turnover ensures there is always someone in the building that can become a customer. Many hotel/motel guests won’t want to make the trip to a restaurant for a meal and may also prefer to skip any dining options the establishment offers.

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Placing vending machines in the lobbies, on each floor, and next to other amenities such as ice machines, gyms, and pools is the perfect way to set up a vending business for success.

Office Buildings

Many office workers have gotten away from packing their own lunches and instead choose to go out for lunch or order in delivery for the team on special occasions. However, this can get expensive pretty quickly, and they may not always have the time to leave the building for a meal. As a result, profitable vending machines do very well in office buildings.

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As long as there are 50 or more regular employees in the building each workday, vending machine owners can earn a tidy profit. Whether they provide snacks, cold drinks, or full meals, it is more than likely that multiple people will take advantage of the offerings each day. Plus, they will appeal to delivery people, maintenance staff, and other groups that help improve machine profitability.

Shopping Centers

Shopping centers are great locations for vending machines for one main reason: foot traffic. The sheer volume of people that visit a mall or other shopping center ensures the vending machine will reach tons of potential customers. Since shopping can work up an appetite and parents may need to appease children, vending machines can become incredibly profitable in these locations with the right stock.

Apartment Buildings & Complexes

Apartment complexes are another fantastic location for guaranteeing a profitable vending machine. Not only do the residents of the apartment buildings have access to the vending machines every day, but most individuals will walk past the machine twice a day, if not more. Plus, any visitors they have will also be exposed to the vending machine and have the potential to become a customer. Apartment lobbies are great spaces for vending machines for that reason.

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Many apartment complexes have amenities such as gyms, pools, communal laundry rooms, party spaces, and more. Each space can be a profitable location for a vending machine since they offer decent foot traffic and will likely be frequented by the same people on a regular basis. Outdoor amenities may also be visited by other community members, further improving the reach to different customers and the overall profitability of the machine.

Industrial Buildings (Warehouses, Manufacturing Facilities, Etc.)

Manufacturing plants, warehouses, distribution centers, and other facilities in industrial parks are all highly rated locations for vending machines. Most of them are staffed by rotating shifts 24/7, and the employees often don’t have time to go out for snacks or meals on their shorter breaks.

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Vending machines in these spaces not only provide hundreds of people with access to food and drinks throughout their shifts, but the income is also fairly steady. Once the workers know what the vending machine has to offer, they are likely to purchase items on a regular basis. One major component of vending machine profitability is the consistency of purchases, and industrial buildings offer excellent reliability in that way.

Hospitals

Hospitals and other medical centers are some of the most popular sites for vending machines. They are open 365 days a year and do not ever close their doors to the public. They are staffed by hundreds of employees each day and will reach a massive customer base when you factor in the employees, the patients, the visitors, the maintenance staff, the volunteers, and more.

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Hospitals are also one of the most versatile locations for a vending machine business. They are usually immense, multi-level facilities that offer countless locations for profitable vending machines indoors and out. Plus, with the broad range of people available to purchase items from the machine, every machine type can find success. Meal/cold food vending machines, snack vending machines, cold or hot beverage machines, and specialty retail machines all have a place in a hospital. The potential for exceptional profits in this kind of environment speaks for itself.  

Long-Term Care Facilities

Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities are excellent sites for profitable vending machines. These facilities are home to many individuals at any given time, and most of them will have visitors at least on a weekly basis. Vending machines offer them a nice break from the facility’s food, and they provide quick snacks and drinks to family members and friends that visit. These facilities provide a steady stream of income for vending owners, and they can find success with pretty much every product type.

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Long-term care facilities boast another potential revenue source as well: the employees. Most workers in these facilities work long hours with short breaks, and this combination is perfect for increasing vending machine sales. Since there are people up and about at all hours of the day and night, these locations are undeniably lucrative for vending business owners.

Car Dealerships

There are a number of advantages offered by car dealerships when it comes to starting and expanding a vending machine business. The vast majority of dealerships will be one member of a larger dealership family; as a result, developing a relationship with one dealership will offer avenues for expansion down the road.

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When it comes to the actual profitability of a vending machine in a dealership, there are a number of factors that make them incredibly successful. Almost every dealership is also equipped with a service center, and the wait time for a vehicle may be as long as 3 hours. Customers that choose to wait for their car would likely make use of a vending machine that is offering a snack or cold drink, to help pass the time.  

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Additionally, people who go to dealerships to look for a new vehicle will likely spend at least a couple of hours there browsing and talking to a salesperson and would be presented with the opportunity to purchase a vending machine item on a number of occasions.

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In addition to the high foot traffic from customers at the dealership every day, vending machines also serve the employees that work there. Since they will often work extended hours and may not have long enough breaks for a restaurant run, a vending machine may become their ideal source of cold drinks, fresh snacks, and delicious meals.

Gyms & Other Fitness Centers

The fitness industry in every city is saturated with public gyms and other fitness centers. They are one of the most profitable locations for vending machines, but not every stock type fits in well here. Since people are at gyms to get fit and healthy, they won’t be too pleased about soda machines or unhealthy snacks in food vending machines.

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However, they are a prime location for vending machines that offer healthy snacks, protein shakes, electrolyte-balanced beverages (sports drinks), and even specialty items like towels, deodorant, and more. These items will be highly appreciated by gym goers and employees alike, and vending machine business owners will receive a pretty good income from them since they can be marked up more than standard vending items.

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Whether vending machines offer unique retail items, a quick snack to fuel a workout, or a healthy meal and drink to refuel after pushing physical limits during their training, the profits are sure to roll in. Plus, gym members will become steady customers in more cases than not, guaranteeing a reliable income stream.

Schools (All Age Groups)

Whether vending machines are placed in middle schools, high schools, or on college/university campuses, the potential for earnings is quite high. Students have healthy appetites and short lunch breaks, and there may be days when parents just don’t have time to make a packed lunch for their kids. Healthy vending machine options can be a great comfort to them. They also provide teachers with healthy snacks, drinks, and meal options between classes.

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College and university campuses offer even more flexibility than lower-level schools. Dorm rooms, libraries, and other facility buildings are great locations for vending machines that can help fuel late-night study sessions or to boost performance before a sporting event or exam.

Most Profitable Vending Machines in 2023 - Vending Locator

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