Vending Machine HQ publishes a vending course, operating guides, a researched prospect list and simple tools for people starting a small vending route. This page explains how the site works and how it makes money, so you can judge the advice accordingly.
Vending Machine HQ is an independent website that publishes a vending course, operating guides and simple tools for people starting a small vending route. We don't publish typical earnings, because we have no verified operator data to base them on. Where a figure comes from a published source, we name it. Corrections are welcome.
We don't publish typical earnings or per-machine profit figures, because we have no verified operator data to base them on. Results vary widely, and some placements never cover their costs. Instead the course shows how to work out what a machine has to sell to break even, and the profit calculator lets you model your own numbers.
Costs and prices are given as ranges, and worked examples say when their numbers are assumed. Where a figure comes from a published source, such as NAMA's industry revenue or a state's sales tax rules, we name and link it. If you find a figure that looks wrong, tell us and it gets corrected or removed.
The prospect list is compiled from OpenStreetMap: open businesses in vending-friendly categories that list a phone number. None of them has asked for a vending machine, and we don't contact them, place machines or find locations for you. The course and the placement kit show you how to approach them yourself.
You will restock machines yourself. You will get told no by location owners. Machines jam, products expire, and some placements never make money. The guides here try to say that plainly instead of selling an easier story.
The course and prospect list are sold as a monthly subscription, and that is how this site makes money. If a page links to a supplier through an affiliate link, that page says so.
Found a figure that looks wrong, or a guide that is out of date? Email support@vendingmachinehq.com. Corrections get made and dated on the page rather than quietly edited.