Vending Machine Profit Calculator
Estimate monthly profit from a vending machine fleet, factoring in product cost, the location’s commission and servicing costs.
How it works
Revenue = machines × daily sales × 365 ÷ 12 · Profit = revenue − product cost − location commission − servicing
Vending economics are a game of small margins at scale. Each machine’s gross sales are reduced by three things: the wholesale cost of the product (often around half the vend price), a commission paid to the location for the floor space, and the real cost of driving out to restock, repair and handle card fees. What is left is profit per machine — modest on its own, which is why route operators run many machines to make the numbers add up.
Worked example
Five machines each selling $25 a day gross about $3,802 a month (5 × 25 × 365 ÷ 12). With 50% product cost ($1,901), a 10% location commission ($380) and $60 servicing per machine ($300), profit is about $1,221 a month, or roughly $244 per machine.
Frequently asked questions
What product-cost percentage is typical for vending?
Cost of goods commonly runs 45–55% of the vend price, so a $1.50 item costing you about $0.70. High-traffic locations sometimes support premium pricing that lowers the percentage; competitive or price-sensitive sites push it up.
Do I always have to pay the location a commission?
Not always. Some sites take a flat commission on sales, some take nothing in exchange for the traffic, and a few charge rent. A commission only bites when sales are strong, so it is often a fairer deal for a new location than fixed rent.
Why include a servicing cost per machine?
The hidden cost of vending is the route: fuel, your time restocking, occasional repairs and card-reader transaction fees. Machines in far-flung or low-volume spots can cost more to service than they earn, so tracking per-machine servicing keeps you from running unprofitable stops.
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Educational estimate, not financial advice.