Vending Machine Business Plan: Steps To Starting a Successful Vending Business
How to Start a Vending Machine Business
The vending machine business has good potential for making profit. Individuals would always want to get some snacks, beverages, and quick meals when they are about, waiting for their friends, or engrossed in activities far away from the home.
If you are looking for a perfect way to earn additional income, the vending machine business is worthy of consideration.
The business can be established in various places like government buildings, public places, and a small space close to commercial centers.
Truth is, people would always want to eat and this makes the business a considerably lucrative one.
You do not need to spend all your time running the business. You only need to drop by once in a while to check if the machine is full or not.
You equally do not need very huge amount of money to kick start. Just make sure you stock the machine full and come by once in a while to find out if it is still full or needs refilling.
How then can you start yours?
Starting a Vending Business
Some important things you need to consider before starting will be discussed below.
Write your business plan (see various samples of business plan you can use)
The business plan is important in the sense that it will act as your road map to a more progressive business and will also act as your guideline as the business progresses.
It will help you identify where you are at any particular point and where you are heading to. It will also help link you with sources of financing.
In the event that you need loan to start the business, you can get such loan easily if the business plan is well composed.
The business plan must contain information on how you will start up and what your plans are for the future of the business.
You are supposed to state your strengths and your weaknesses. Your strengths are those things that make you feel you can handle the business well, and your weaknesses are those possible hindrances that may prevent the progress of the business.
You are equally required to state what your plans are on overcoming the perceived weaknesses.
Other contents of the business plan are:
- Cost of the vending machine
- Location of the machine
- How to get supplies to be put into the machine
- How much will the supplies cost
- How much will you be able to make periodically.
Writing a business plan is a bit technical for a lot of people, however, you can find help using professionally created templates, as well as using business planning software you can work with online.
Getting financial help
As hinted earlier, the vending machine business is not cost intensive. You can start off with small amount of money and grow over time, provided you are not scared of starting small.
However, if you desire to start it big time, you can always go for loan. If you are unable to raise the little startup capital too, loans can help you out.
Since the money needed is generally small, you can approach your parents and other members of your family, or even your friends for money to start off.
Some lending houses too can be of help. Lending houses do not give as much as a bank would give you, but they help provide the money fast and do not take forever in processing such money.
The vending machine business can be done on part-time basis as hinted earlier. You can use the money saved from your other businesses or 9-to-5 job to start off.
Important considerations before you start
As mentioned before, the business does not take too much of your time. All you need to do is just fill up the machine and check it once in a while to find out if it is still full or not.
Laziness will however ruin you if you let it; an empty vending machine that is unattended to will put you out of business.
But you will always be in business so long the machine is always loaded.
Before you start the business; properly compose a cash flow plan. Truth is, the vending machine business will not bring in regular income like your 9 to 5 jobs.
Are
you ready to form a new business?
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How to buy the machine
Before you buy a machine for vending business, you need to first consider its age. Is it new or not?
It is better to go for new machines. Find out also if it is of top quality or not. The fact is that not all machines are reliable.
You may need the help of a professional to help check them out and confirm their state. Make sure to buy only machines with easily available spare parts.
Machine location
The machine should be placed in high volume locations, like schools and government buildings, or business areas.
Private business establishments too will be a great place to site them.
How much would you have to pay as commission for occupying a location? Consider this too before you place your machine in a particular location.
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