/biz/ - Business & Finance

Bumperino

...

I like the idea, Where are you based?

Where would you place them to insure no foul play occurs?

>>1442008
Southeastern US, little to no chance they get fucked with wherever I place them. Very low crime area, etc. Population is about 14k in the city I am in, but the surrounding "Metropolitan" including all the other little towns and such, the local population is around 25k.

I realize one machine will make close to nothing at first, but I have to start somewhere to not be a wagecuck, this seems to be the safest investment towards starting my own tiny business, unless I just save it and let the money I accumulate sit stagnantly, but I don't plan on doing that.

I am open to other ideas and advice if anyone would like to help a newfag.

Entire family is very poor/crazy/addcited to drugs, and pretty much always has been, I don't want to live my life like that. I want to be a respected citizen with a nice net worth.

What kind of ROI does a vending machine even make?

How much do these machines even cost? Some of the nicer ones I've seen must surely cost several thousand.

You're buying the snacks and you have to pay a percentage to the store you're keeping it at, so you can't be making more than a few dollars a day at the absolute best.

I'd imagine it takes forever to break even, and that's assuming no one gets pissed and shakes the shit out of it when their food gets stuck.

>>1442029
Well, the picture of the candy machine I posted is only ~$200
I can probably set it up at the local park (gets a good bit of foot traffic from pokemon go players/kids at the park) for a low fee from the city. I know the first machine is going to make make profit very slowly, but the vending license cost in my area is like $8 per machine or some shit, haven't looked completely into it. But the more I buy, the more money I make. If I buy one of these every 2 weeks until I have around 5 in different areas, I could start pulling in a pretty decent amount of money, compared to what I make at my shit-near minimum wage job, it would help me out greatly.to have the passive income.
I realize I'm not going to become mega-wealthy from vending machines like this, but it is a start and it's low risk and I think it'd give me great insight for future ventures.
I've pretty much made up my mind I"m going to invest in at least one, I'm just looking for advice to help me along the way.

>>1442034

I thought you were talking about pic related kind of vending machines, not just little gumball machines.

So roughly $208 for each machine plus the cost of the candy. How much will one machine make if it goes from completely full to empty?

>>1442045
Most deposits in the type of machines I'm talking about hold $100-$150 in quarters.

I really should find out how much candy is dispersed per quarter so I can calculate how much I'm making per turn, etc.

I've read on the candy machines you make earn about 150% of what you spend on the candy, which isn't huge, but it would definitely add up over several machines per week.

>>1441891
I wonder if Vendingbro still lurks here.

Anyway, we used to have these threads pop up all the time because
>m-muh passive income meme

Vendingbro used to do this and would answer everyone's questions and it always came down to it not being worth the time.
Due to theft, vandalism, licensing (depending on area), storefronts/owners always trying to shaft you on deals to use their location,
and other vending machine owners supposedly take on a mafioso mentality and will break your shit in broad day light.

>>1442051
I've only been lurking /biz/ for about 2 days, so I didn't know that. My location is pretty much devoid of behavior like that, and as I said, I would put it in the local city owned park instead of in another business (there are drink vending machines at the park, so I'm assuming it wouldn't be terribly difficult). I think it could be worth my time financially if I really try and do things correctly.

Really wish that guy was still here, would love some advice in getting started.

>>1441891
With vending the hardest part is buying the equipment and building a solid route. People will try and steal your locations. Build a good relationship with local businesses. Plus the profits snowball. You can get to the point of building a route so big you need to hire people. It all depends..

tried to get into it here on the east coast but its my understanding that it's really a organized crime thing

>OP buys vending machine
>Puts it in laundromart offering 20% to owner
>Few days pass
>Comes to collect le jew coins
>Machine is missing

>>1442154
>few more weeks pass
>OP smartned up, chained the new machines to a door
>Few weeks later
>OP is making hundos
>Has gf replace machines one time
>A week passes
>receives letters in mail
>"Class Action Lawsuit"
>Op put the jawbreakers in the gumball machine

>>1442026
Honestly, you should leave your shit family in the dust and get out of town. Maybe go to college or something. A family like that will do nothing but drag you down.

Where are you located in the Southeastern US? I'm also from that area and would be willing to help you out if you're close. I have some gumball and other novelty machines that I used to operate before I got my current job in my garage.

>>1442051
No joke, I was intimidated out of the candy dispenser business. I had put a few at a bunch of doctor's offices around town because my father knew them. It was going so well that I decided to branch out to my local mall. A guy who apparently had a vending machine monopoly on our town followed me on my route to empty the machines one day all the way back to my house, then threatened to do "bad things" to my machines, my family and my dog (again, this was over a god damned gumball machine) if I set anything up in the mall or any other spot of his in town. I'm assuming he paid the guy I had to ask to set them up in the mall to notify him if someone else was interested in setting up candy dispensers in the mall.

It's a dirty fucking business. Luckily I made it out with my thumbs intact.

>>1442170
I live in Northeast Alabama. My parents moved to TN when I was 16, I stayed here with my grandmother and now live with my gf and her mom. I'm 21 and alone trying to piece shit together.

Also, you guys are making me paranoid that people are really gonna try to fuck my shit up.

The online site that I was considering buying from says they are made with plexi glass/lexan. To my knowledge, I dont think there is much competition around here... Really doubt it's mob type shit going on, and I'd be starting with one machine for 2 weeks to a month so even if they did trash my shit it isnt that much of a loss. Doing this for the learning opportunity just as much as the financial opportunity, so even then it wouldnt be a total loss

>>1442202
Then you answered your own question my dude. You seem set on it, so go do it. Good luck and hope your life turns out for the best.

>>1442189
If theyre going to try and intimidate me they'll have to do more than that. I'd probably laugh if some dude came at me like that over a candy machine.

I am in a volatile state of mind as of late and will attack motherfuckers.

>>1442205
Thanks, Anon. I appreciate it! Difficult to follow through with shit when people around think my idea is a waste, but I really need to strive for more than dead end wagecuck, even if it is baby steps.

>>1442170
Also, if you are close to Northeast Alabama, leave contact info and let me know about that machine, if you were being sincere

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORE2kqA1HD8

watch it. gives you a pretty good look into the life of a vending machine runner.

>>1442279
Hmm, that was... insightful. Except my operation will not be nearly as large and I will be using only my money, so anything I make or lose will be on me. It also wont be my only source of income

>>1442189
Solutions to the problems im hearing about in this thread:

1. do NOT deal in low income/"bad" parts of town if it can be avoided.

2. only try and setup in areas that have 24 hours security (cameras, guards, etc)

3. offer a competitive rate to the owner of the location so hes happy to be working with you. You'll make up the losses in volume due to being able to get more locations

4. make friends with each establishment you get to sign up. Make the manager/employee(s) there like you over all the other pieces of shit lowlifes that are apparently swarming this market. Rotate buying and having lunch with whosoever's manning the establishment when you're there once per run, doesn't have to be fancy get some value menu shit from McDonalds or Jack or whatever. Food gifting is one of the best ways to create/solidify relationships, the ritual of eating together bonds you.

5. invest in consultation with a lawyer to get a proper legally binding contract written up with as much detail put into legally bound print as possible. This may include things such as how long you will work together, profit split, agreement that surveillance will be up 24/7 or bust, they are responsible for the safety of your machine while on their property, etc.

6. when you make your rounds use a go pro or one of those awesome spy cams. Make dat youtube dollarydoos and have video evidence if some fuck comes up threatening you again.

7. Get a CHL, stay strapped

Pic related, retarded yet awesome spy cam pen I just got.

>>1442378
Just dropping in to say this anon is offering solid advice. I think I will even get invested into this, when I stop living in such a crime ridden shit hole.

OP don't be a faggot and listen to this anon.

>>1442436
>>1442378
I will definitely take everything said into consideration

>>1442378
>All of this work just to earn a few dollars profit a day in quarters

I'd hope most people are smart and wouldn't do this.

>>1442545

I've never dealt with this business personally, but it's pretty obvious that the amount of success you see will be directly related to:

A. the quality and type of location(s) you operate in
B. the distance necessary to travel to make your route
C. the products you work with

Arcade machines can still yield tons of money in laundry mats for example. I knew the owner of a laundry mat in the city I lived in a few years back because I didn't have a washer/dryer in the apt for a while and met him. He had arcades posted that he bought n repaired himself, he made a killing with them.

Coke and vending machines too.

Why? because anyone born after 1985 likes videogames and will happily throw a quarter in for a few minutes on some quality mame titles, as long as its not garbage like pac man and space invaders. (Garbage as in games that draw no attention)

99.99% of the population drinks soda and will buy a drink during their 1+ hour sessino at the laundry mat, and roughly the same amount will probably consider wanting chips or something.

with small children the success change increases to roughly 100% i'd assume for the drinks/snacks.

Also, those machines that push quarters off is like fucking catnip to day laborers/no english mexicans on payday in a gas station that cashes checks.

with that said, ANY venture you ever pursue for profitable gains should be treated like a serious business. If you treat your business like a trashy 3rd world scam rink, that's what itll become. take your time and efforts seriously, and reap the rewards for it.

>Vending machine mafia

Good luck OP

>>1442545
>I'd hope most people are smart and wouldn't do this.
Dude, you waste your time on 4chan. Let's not point fingers.

It is actually not the worst idea in the world.
1. It is scaleable.
2. A profitable location is profitable and is likely to be for a long time. If it ceases to be profitable, you have instant metrics telling you so.
3.One could run a minor local empire of machines. If it gets too big, just hire someone.

All in all it sounds like a possibility of a decent monthly income without having to work full time.

I've wanted to get into this business but it seems like there's a lot of competition. It would be hard to find decent spots in my city that dont have machines already

>>1442254
I'm in Central North Carolina man. Sorry. If you feel like making the drive that's cool, but you'd probably come out cheaper finding some on your local craigslist or a flea market.

>>1442189
MFW i learned the candy vending machine business was an organized crime ring.

>>1444050
probably cause you're getting cash and you don't have to declare it if you don't want to. There's no paperwork involved with cash.

>>1444137
Intersting. Probablyba good way to launder small amounts too. Didnt even think of this. Ive seriously beed considering a cuckshed full of vending machines. Open 24/7 and cameras hid all over and a few obvious ones. Smalltown usa here. 90% i will know who gives my machines shaken baby syndrome. Thing is tho, i'm not easily rattled and i have freinds maderatly over the line on both sides of the law. Coke dealers to chief of polices...

I honestly feel sorry for the next fuck that threatens me.

Im generally a nice guy. But its a trigger that ive had to control.

Im a 275lb bearded hillbilly with a harley and 4x4.

As u can imagine i dont take to kindly to threats...

>>1441891
Go for it, it's a legit side business. I been doing this for a couple of years now. However, I don't deal with small gumball machines, because I started with one soda/snack combo machine and just grew the business from there. (Pic related, this was my first machine) Got it for $650, and it makes me about $100 in profit a month. It's in an office building with 60 to 80 employees. The owner was getting divorced, and was liquidating his whole route. But I was broke at the time, and could only afford this one.

I buy used machines that are already on location in employee lounges inside office buildings, warehouses, and trucker companies (this ones are cash cows). Many truckers live on chips and soda.

Also, rarely does anyone messes with my machines. A working environment tents to be safer than out in public. I had an incident where someone broke the glass in one of my machines. It was a disgruntle employee who was fired soon after. It wasn't just cause of my machine. He took it out on the machine, but they where already having issues with the dumb fuck. As far as intimidation goes, there is this small Korean lady who also has machines in one of my locations, and talks shit in her language whenever she sees me...LOL

Oh, and most of my locations don't charge me anything to have my machines there. They are happy to have them there, and could careless as to how much I'm making. They see it as a service to their employees.

Hmmm, what else, From the very beginning I made up my own uniform to appear more professional; specially when entering places with expensive equipment and inventories. With civilian clothes I would feel out of place. This also makes your business appear much bigger than what it actually is. In addition, I try to be cordial with the managers. I don't go as far as taking them lunch or anything, but I might hook them up with a soda every now and then.

Right now I'm at 22 machines, and quit my day job about a year ago.

>>1441891
Its a terrible ivestment vehicle. The big soda and snack machines average less than a dollar a day all said and done (net profit so - money you keep after the cost of goods / refill etc)

Thats the number from scaling , I tesearched this deeply for a year and got hold of the financials for a company that owns 3k machines of this variety.

Overhead eats tour lunch and even if you have a few machines in a great location theirs essentially no barrier to entry so you cant rely on contract renewal.

>>1444522
same guy here, just to clarify, I don't have anything against the small candy machines. I have zero experience on this side of the vending bus. So, if that's what you can afford right now DO IT.

>>1444552
man, 3k machines... that's a huge business (investment) with employees, vehicles, and storage costs etcs. You probably saw a business that was a train wreck waiting to happen.

I'm a one man operation with my personal truck, and I been doing good in this industry.
I'm also in the Los Angeles area, so with a population in the millions opportunities to expand pop up all the time.

and yeah the profits can be peanuts if you look at them on a day to day basis for each machine, but it all adds up. I see my machines as a working drone (a person going to work instead of me). Each machine needs to make me at least 75 dollars in profit a month to make it worth it. But some make more, and the ones that don't, I sell them back.

Right now I'm averaging around $2,500 a month in profit, all take home money. Also, since it's a cash bus., I save a lot in taxes. If Facebook, apple, and Walmart do it all the time. Pfft, so can I.

I actually took a huge pay cut after quitting my job, but considering the amount of hours I actually work I'm making more, and it's totally worth it. I only work Mondays and Thursdays. and FUCK YOU DAVID!! FROM FINANCE!!

in the town i live the vending machines get refilled by disabeled persons
thats a cheap way to refill them you dont have to pay them very much and maybe you can get subsides for employing disabeled persons

>>1444650
yeah, fuck David from finance!

>>1444715
man this is gold. I'm going to look into this if I ever plan to hire someone. thanks