Three Ways to Get Started Buy a vending machine franchise St..

Three Ways to Get Started
Buy a vending machine franchise
Start your own vending machine business
Start your own vending machine business
Regardless of which method you choose, you will want to discuss legal matters with an attorney and financial and tax matters with an accountant or tax advisor. Costs can vary widely when starting a vending machine business. The method of getting into the industry, the types (and number of) vending machines that you use, and the products that you choose to sell will impact how much you spend upfront and on an ongoing basis.

Option 1: Buy an existing vending machine business

Buying an existing vending machine business or route can be a fast track into the industry. It gives aspiring vending entrepreneurs instant customer accounts and a secured revenue stream. It’s critical to thoroughly research opportunities like these before diving in. Find out why the current owner wishes to sell and examine all aspects of the business to discover any deal-breaking issues. For example:

Inspect the machines to make sure they function correctly.
Review existing contracts with clients and vendors.
Scrutinize the financial reports.
Option 2: Buy a vending machine franchise

Franchise opportunities provide an established business model for starting a successful vending machine business. Buying a vending machine franchise allows entrepreneurs to start a business with much of the administrative and operational infrastructure in place.

Keep in mind that franchise costs and levels of support vary from one to the next. Generally, there’s an up-front franchise fee to buy into the opportunity, and then the franchisor takes a percentage of the franchisee’s profits or charges the franchisee a monthly fee.

Read the franchise agreement carefully to determine if there are any unreasonable restrictions (such as on where you get your machines and products).

Also, make sure you understand your responsibilities for operating your franchise unit according to the franchisor’s rules (for example, does the franchisor require you to form a legal business entity, such as an LLC or corporation.)

Option 3: Start your own vending machine business

Naturally, this option involves the most work. However, it also provides the most freedom to start a vending machine business that matches your vision. Starting from scratch means sourcing machines and locations to place them yourself.

Because option 3 involves the most work and considerations, let’s take a look at the general steps to make it happen successfully.

13 Steps to Get You Started Off Right
1. Decide what you want to sell

You’ll want to confirm there’s a viable opportunity to succeed before jumping into running a vending machine business. Do plenty of market and industry research to assess the potential and decide what you want to sell in your vending machines.

Some products can do well almost everywhere, whereas others may be appealing to people with particular interests or preferences. For example, coffee, water, soda, and snacks may sell well nearly anywhere. Salads, sandwiches, and microwaveable meals might be most attractive to people in offices or colleges. Keep in mind that food and drink items have expiration dates. And if you’re selling perishable items, you’ll need to be especially conscious of matching your order volume with what you can sell.

You might also consider non-food items, like over-the-counter pain medications, which could attract customers in restrooms at office buildings, malls, shopping centers, and transportation hubs.

Below is a list of other non-food items that are sold in vending machines. As you can see, the possibilities are extensive!

Laundry supplies (detergent, fabric softener, dryer sheets)
Electronics accessories (phone chargers, earbuds, headphones)
Skincare products
Hair products (shampoo, conditioner, styling products)
Toiletries and hygiene products (toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, feminine hygiene products)
T-shirts
CBD products (oils and lotions)
Fitness merchandise (supplements, towels, gloves, hair ties, earbuds)
Dog treats
Beach supplies (sunscreen, goggles, toys)
Nail polish
Pens and pencils
When looking for a reliable source of products, consider their price per-unit for the items you want to stock in your machines. Depending on the inventory you plan to maintain, you may be able to negotiate some sizable bulk discounts.

As you analyze your options, realize that it’s not always higher-priced vending items that yield the best returns. They usually have more overhead costs associated with them (per-unit cost, dispensed from machines with advanced features, etc.). You may be remiss in not considering lower priced items dispensed from simple vending machines.

For example, a $75 refurbished bulk vending machine selling stickers for 50 cents at a busy grocery store may deliver a better profit than a higher-end item from a computerized machine. The sticker machine surely won’t make anyone rich overnight, but it may prove to be a viable way to earn a reliable stream of passive income.

2. Determine the vending machine features you want

After you’ve decided what you want to sell, decide what features you’ll need and want in your vending machines. Some of the special features and capabilities available include:

Functionality to accept credit and debit card payments
Interactive touch or voice-activated screens
LED lighting
Graphic and branded wraps that go around the machine to make it more visually interesting and attractive
Combination food and drink dispensing
Software for remotely monitoring stock levels in the machine
3. Determine from where you’ll buy or lease your vending machines

Some sources of vending machines include:

Manufacturers,
Wholesalers
Specialty retailers and online sellers
Craigslist
Amazon
eBay
To reduce your capital investment costs, you might consider buying used vending machines or leasing machines.

4. Determine locations for your machines

Just like any retail business endeavor, the location of a vending machine will affect its sales success. Areas with a lot of foot traffic provide the best opportunities. And, of course, locations should be a good match for the type of products your machines sell.

Places where vending machines often do well include:

Grocery stores
Malls and shopping centers
Apartment complexes
Hotels and motels
Schools
Universities
Hospitals and health centers
Laundromats
Airports
Train stations
Bus stations
Manufacturing facilities
Realize that there may be ADA compliance standards to adhere to when placing vending machines in certain locations. Also, consider how safe your machines and products will be. Locations prone to theft or vandalism will cost you time and money if you have to repair or replace machines.

5. Choose a business name

Carefully consider what you want to name your business. Your business name will be one of the brand assets to set your company apart from its competition.

After deciding on the business name you would like to use, make sure it’s not already taken by another vending machine company (or similar type of business) in your state by conducting a corporate name search.

6. Decide on your business entity type

The business structure you select for your company will have legal and tax implications. Your decision will also affect the time and costs involved in keeping your company in compliance and good standing with the state.

Popular small business structures include:

Sole proprietorship
Partnership
Limited Liability Company (LLC)
S Corporation
C Corporation
I think it’s important to note that with sole proprietorships and partnerships, a business and its owner(s) are considered the same tax-paying and legal entity. Therefore, if the company gets sued or runs into financial issues, the business owner is held personally responsible. That means the entrepreneur’s personal assets may be at risk of being taken to satisfy the legal claims and debts of the business.

With the other structures, however, the business owner and the business are considered separate entities, thus providing a degree of personal liability protection.

It’s wise for entrepreneurs to consult an attorney and accountant or tax advisor for guidance on which business entity type will be most advantageous for their situation.

7. Designate a registered agent

Companies that will operate as an LLC, S Corporation, or C Corporation must appoint a registered agent in the state where they’re formed. A registered agent is an authorized party that will accept “service of process” (legal and government notices) on behalf of the business.

To be a legitimate registered agent, an individual or company must have a physical street address in the state where the vending machine business is registered. For your convenience, CorpNet provides registered agent services in all 50 states.

8. Register your new business with the state

Registration paperwork must be filed with the state to form an LLC or incorporate a vending machine business. An LLC must file Articles of Organization, and a corporation must file Articles of Incorporation. There might be other filings, too (such as S Corporation election).

States don’t usually require sole proprietorships and partnerships to submit formation paperwork. However, if a vending machine business will use a business name other than one that includes the owner’s legal first and last names, it will need to file a DBA (Doing Business As). You may have also heard of DBA referred to as “fictitious name.” The purpose of a DBA is to inform the public of who is operating a business.

The costs to register a business vary by state. States’ government websites provide details, and most states make their forms available online. It’s critical to prepare business formation paperwork correctly to avoid processing delays. Consider asking CorpNet to assist you in preparing and submitting business registration, S Corp, and DBA paperwork. Our filing experts