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Vending machines

A vending business places machines in host locations and restocks them on a route. Location quality drives sales.

Updated

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What the public data shows

U.S. businesses with no employees in the Census Bureau’s Vending Machine Operators category (NAICS 445132), 2023.

Exact match.

Businesses with no employees
21,746
The middle business took in
$10,000–$24,999
in sales for the year, before expenses
Average sales per business
$34,415
pulled up by a few large ones

How much these businesses took in, 2023

  • Under $5,00032%
  • $5,000–$9,99917%
  • $10,000–$24,99921%
  • $25,000–$49,99912%
  • $50,000–$99,9999%
  • $100,000–$249,9996%
  • $250,000–$499,9992%
  • $500,000–$999,9991%
  • $1,000,000–$2,499,9990%
  • $2,500,000–$4,999,9990%
  • $5,000,000 or more0%

71% took in less than $25,000 for the whole year — many are side or part-time businesses. If you plan to do this full time, your plan needs sales well above the middle. The local plan works out exactly how much.

What these numbers are — and aren’t. Sales (receipts) before any expenses: not profit, and not what the owner takes home. Counts every business with no paid employees that filed a tax return, including side businesses. The Census Bureau adds a small amount of noise to protect privacy. Businesses with employees aren’t included.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics 2023 (released 2025) (data files), retrieved 2026-10-31.

Main caution: Machines don’t earn without good locations. Secure host agreements before buying machines.

What it costs to run

These are the categories to price with local quotes. The plan lists every one of them for you.

Every item

  • Product cost per item
  • Host commission per item
  • Other per-sale costs

Every month

  • Insurance (liability and commercial auto)
  • Vehicle (business share)
  • Phone and internet
  • Scheduling, invoicing and payment software
  • Ongoing marketing
  • Bookkeeping and tax preparation
  • Machine repairs
  • Other monthly costs

To start

  • Machines (purchase or down payment)
  • First stock
  • Business registration and local licenses
  • Website, logo and booking or store page
  • Other one-time costs

Your own pay is part of the cost, too. The plan works out the price that covers it — or start with how much to charge for vending machines.

Licenses, insurance and rules to check locally

Requirements differ by state, county and city. Check two layers:

1. Your own license, if the work needs one

Some work needs a personal license or certificate (a food-handler card, for example). Search the CareerOneStop License Finder (US Department of Labor) for your kind of work and state.

2. Business licenses, permits and insurance

Start with the SBA: Apply for licenses and permits guide, then your city or county. Questions to answer:

  • Does your city or county require a general business license or registration?
  • Does your state or city require a vending license or machine stickers?
  • Does your state charge sales tax on vending sales?

Check local prices before you set yours

Get three real prices from vending machines businesses near you, the way a customer would: their websites, a quote request, local listings and review sites, or neighborhood groups. Note what each price includes. Enter them in your local plan — it shows where your price sits and whether your costs leave room to compete.

Test demand before you spend

Pre-sell a small first batch at your real price to people who match your customer — through a simple order page, a local market or your network — before investing in more stock or equipment.

Decide your pass mark before you start — for example, a set number of paid items within 30 days.

Questions your local plan has to answer

  • What do local competitors charge? Ask for quotes the way a customer would.
  • How long does each item take you, including travel and preparation?
  • How many items can you deliver in a week at a quality you’re proud of?
  • How will customers find you, and what will it cost to win each one?

This profile is educational. It describes how this kind of business generally works; it doesn’t show that it will be profitable where you are, and it isn’t legal, tax or financial advice.