Choosing a location to place your vending machine is essential for how successful this side hustle can be. The key is to get others compelled to buy from your vending machine. The last thing you want to do is put it in a location that doesn’t attract customers.
In this guide you’ll figure out some of the best places to place a vending machine, reasons why a location is profitable, and things to avoid. Your goal is to have a return on investment and maximize sales.

Why Location Matters in the Vending Business

Captivate others with your vending machines. Give people a reason to walk up to your machine, have an urge to purchase for their convenience.
Select a location that has consistent foot traffic daily, doesn’t have a lot of food or drink options, and people who are waiting, busy, or take breaks often.

Best Places to Put Vending Machines

1. Office Buildings
Throughout an office building, people often walk up and through the halls throughout a workday.
The benefits to this are that employees may not have access to a nearby break room, need to fuel up throughout the day, and it allows predictable traffic.
The types of goods to put in this type of location are coffee vending, drink or snack machines, and even healthy options.
When narrowing the type of vending machine, consider 50 + employees and limited access to restaurants.

2. Manufacturing Factories and Warehouses
There are factories and warehouses that often operate 24/7. When you put a vending machine at these locations, you know that people work long or overnight shifts. Furthermore, workers may not have the benefit of leaving for breaks, and it’s a quick way for workers to recharge and refuel throughout their shifts.
Consider having a combination of items, hot food option, energy drinks, and protein snacks.

3. Schools and Colleges
Vending machines placed at educational institutions can provide consistent foot traffic throughout the school year.
Students, teachers, and the staff can have access to these machines on their way to classrooms. Additionally, it’s a wide audience and high foot traffic.
To keep everyone fueled, you can have machines stocked with water, juice, snacks, and even put coffee machines.
It is imperative that you comply with the school’s or college’s nutrition regulations. So stock items that do that.

4. Hospitals and Medical Centers
Hospitals are 24/7.
This is the perfect location to attract visitors, patients, and staff. Putting vending machines here gives ease of access to people who are waiting for a while and when the cafeterias close for the night.
Add drinks, snacks, fresh food, or coffee machines for this type of location.


5. Apartment Complexes
Steady income can come from vending machines being placed in apartment complexes.
If you target an apartment complex with over 100 units, it has the potential to drive in sales.
It gives residents access to late night snacks, not a lot of access to stores, and more.
You can add snacks, drinks, and more. Get creative!

6. Gyms and Fitness Centers
Day in and out, people go to the gym to maintain a daily balance.
The best thing you can do is add water, healthy snacks, sports drinks, and protein bars to these vending machines. It gives members of the gym the essentials to refuel and to decompress.
You can make a consistent income because people who go to the gym are willing to invest in their health.

7. Laundromats
People go to laundry mats and have to wait for their load to finish. This is an opportunity to give customers access to snacks, drinks, or a combination of goods that allows them to remain in one place as they wait for their laundry.

8. Hotels and Motels
Anyone who books a hotel or motel stay guests will have access to those machines when they have that late night hunger, leaving, and more.
You can stock these vending machines with personal care items, drinks, snacks, etc…

What Makes a Vending Location Profitable?
The top factors you want to consider are the number of people who come into the location, dwell time, competition, accessibility.
The Foot Traffic
On average, how many people stop at that location?
Is the location you choose consistent?
Dwell Time

How long do people stay in that area throughout the duration of the day?
Understand where people wait or stay.
Competition
There are places you’d want to avoid that offer free snacks or drinks, convenient stores, or where several vending machines are already located.
Power and Accessibility
Make sure you place the machine in an area people can see it, easy access for you to restock your goods, and electrical outlets.

How to Secure a Good Vending Location

1. Check out the location—Take out time to scope out the location.
2. Talk to the owner or manager — This is your chance to explain why having a vending machine in their area is crucial.
3. Pitch yourself — Give them a reason why they should put your vending machine in their place.
4. Consider offering a commission — It could range from 5-10%.

Things to do

• Place vending machines in high-traffic areas
• Know your target audience
• Selecting places that are near other places
• Places with free food.
• Check in for regulations.

Final Thoughts

You absolutely can have a successful vending machine business. Selecting a location that works in favor of your vending machine can make all the difference.
Start off with one location, maintain a record of the performance, and expand overtime.
A vending machine can give you that hands-off experience with low maintenance required as long as you have a system in place.