Menu
Close
Starting a vending machine business can be a very lucrative and rewarding venture. But before diving into the world of vending machine businesses though, it's important to familiarize yourself with everything you need to operate and maintain your machines effectively.
Having the proper equipment is essential for not only optimizing profits but also for maintaining your equipment and keeping customers satisfied.
In this article, we’re going to cover the most important pieces of equipment you’ll need to succeed as a vending machine business owner.
The 10 most important pieces of equipment you'll need for your vending machine business are:
A hand truck is by far the most essential piece of equipment for your vending machine business. You’ll be using your hand truck every time you visit a location to restock your machines. As such, it's crucial to invest in a high-quality hand truck that is durable, reliable, and easy to maneuver.
When selecting a hand truck, consider one with a convertible design. Convertible hand trucks allow you to effortlessly transform them into a cart, making it easier to transport soda, snacks, and other inventory to and from your vending machines. This versatile feature streamlines the process of restocking your machines, reducing time spent on each stop along your route.
Additionally, when choosing your hand truck, prioritize models with sturdy construction and reliable wheels. A high-quality hand truck will not only last longer but also make your job safer and more efficient. Look for features such as puncture-resistant tires and robust materials to ensure the hand truck can withstand heavy loads and daily usage.
If you’re interested in reading more, we have a more indepth article on hand trucks, which you can find here
There are a lot of good hand trucks out there, but this has been our go-to:
Not only is it extremely reliable, but it is extremely affordable as well.
You can buy it here.
As a vending machine business owner, you'll need a proper storage system for your inventory. You’ll be bringing a lot of snacks and beverages into establishments, so having good product storage is essential.
Some vendors will just bring entire boxes of product into establishments. We’re not a fan of this for 2 reasons:
You’re much better off putting your product into storage bins and carrying them into establishments that way. This is known as Pre-Kitting.
When Pre-kitting, you want to use durable bins that can store a lot of product. Construction and industrial tote bins work great for this.
These are the bins we recommend using. They are durable, secure, and have a high capacity.
You can find them here: https://amzn.to/48YFaIf
Chocolate can be a challenging product to manage in your vending machine business. You need to take extra measures to ensure proper temperature control.
If conditions are too hot, the chocolate will melt.
But if it’s too cold, the chocolate will end up getting the Bloom. Most customers will give you a problem if they see this, so you want to avoid it at all costs.
The best way to enforce temperature control when dealing with chocolate is to use a cooler. Storing a chocolate this way will reduce exposure to hot and cold temperatures.
This is the type of cooler we recommend:
You can find it here: https://amzn.to/3Sa7roi
If you’re doing a full route that has you working full time hours (about 8 hours a day), you should also consider getting a bigger cooler to keep your chocolate in while you travel from location to location.
We recommend something like this:
You can find it here: https://amzn.to/3OcBUkJ
Basic hand tools, such as screwdrivers, wrenches, and pliers, are a must-carry for any vending machine operator.
During your work in the vending machine business, you will occasionally run into occasions where you will need to do some physical work on the machine. This can involve anything from tightening a few screws to having to completely remove & replace parts. The good news is that most repairs are small and you will rarely need to do anything more complicated than tightening a few nuts & bolts.
Carrying a small toolbox with you when servicing your machines will allow you to do minor repairs as needed, preventing possible downtime and lost revenue.
This is the toolset we recommend. It has everything you’ll need to keep your machines in good shape while also being extremely portable.
Buy it here: https://amzn.to/4apQoX9
In your vending machine business, having a spare coin mech is essential. Most machine errors with not accepting coins & cash are attributed to a coin mech that needs servicing. When facing such issues, a spare coin mech offers a quick solution by allowing you to replace the problematic coin mech until it gets fixed.
Coin mechs are responsible for validating and directing coins into the appropriate change tubes within the vending machine. They are subjected to constant use, which means dirt and grime can accumulate on the coin tracks, leading to jams or improper functioning. Having a spare coinmech ensures that your business won't suffer from extended downtime due to malfunctioning equipment.
You can find a spare coinmech at your local vending machine warehouse. You can also find good deals for coinmechs from other vendors on sites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace.
This is not something we recommend purchasing online unless you have complete trust in the website you’re buying from. You will need to look over the mechanism and make sure it’s in working order before making a purchase, and buying online prevents you from doing this successfully.
When starting your vending machine business, one essential equipment you need is money bags. These bags play a crucial role in keeping your cash and coins organized, secure, and easy to transport between machines and your cash storage location.
Why Money Bags are Essential
As a vending machine business owner, you will be frequently handling cash and coins collected from your machines. It can become cumbersome and time-consuming to carry loose change without proper organization. Money bags help you streamline and simplify this process. They come in different types and sizes, allowing you to choose the ones that suit your needs best.
Selecting Appropriate Money Bags
Here are some factors to consider when selecting money bags for your vending machine business:
If you’re starting out, we recommend using money bags such as this:
You can purchase these money bags here: https://amzn.to/4akKw1f
As your vending machine business continues to grow and you secure bigger locations, you should absolutely be using money bags with a lock.
We recommend something like this:
These bags are VERY secure and durable. Great for storing significant amounts of cash and coins.
You can find these bags here: https://amzn.to/3Tjflwd
In the vending machine business, it's essential to have a garbage bag on hand. This is because, as you maintain and restock your vending machines, you'll encounter stales - products that are past their "best before" date.
Stale products should never be left for customers to purchase, as it can tarnish your business's reputation and even lead to potential health issues for the consumer.
While cleaning and restocking your machines, keep a garbage bag with you to collect these outdated items. This will help keep your vending machines clean and ensure that customers are only purchasing fresh, high-quality products. Additionally, proper disposal of stales can help you maintain a healthy inventory turnover, keeping your stock at the optimal level.
You can find appropriate garbage bags at pretty much every hardware or department store. Alternatively, Amazon has a 50 pack of reliable garbage bags that you can find here: https://amzn.to/3PnOHBj
Regular maintenance of your vending machine business equipment is essential to ensure smooth operation and a longer lifespan. One crucial aspect of maintenance is lubrication. Lubricants help reduce friction and wear on various moving parts, from hinges to glass fronts. Though the motors of a vending machine itself have enough lubricant and should not be touched, other parts of the machine need occasional attention. In this section, we will discuss two common lubricants suitable for vending machine maintenance: WD-40 and Food Grade Silicone Spray.
WD-40 is a well-known, versatile lubricant that can help maintain your vending machine equipment. It serves multiple purposes, such as cleaning, protecting, and lubricating various parts. When using WD-40, be sure to apply it sparingly and only on the components that require lubrication, keeping in mind the following points:
We recommend using WD-40 to lubricate the parts of your machine that do not necessarily come into contact with products. Some parts include the cage of your drink machine, hinges on the front, etc.
We do NOT recommend using it on any electrical parts such as the motherboard or keypad. Doing this can and will cause damage to your machine.
You can find WD-40 at your local Wal-Mart or Hardware store.
Alternatively, you can buy it online at Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3IHrfve
For areas of the vending machine that come into contact with food or consumable products, using a food grade silicone spray is essential. This lubricant is non-toxic, odorless, and safe for use on equipment that handles food items. Some key considerations and benefits of using a food grade silicone spray include:
Another essential application for lubricant is in glass front drink machines that use a robot arm to retrieve drinks for paying customers. While they can be very aesthetic and versatile, they do have a reputation for having drinks getting stuck in the glass. Spraying the glass with food grade silicone spray will reduce the rate at which this happens.
This is the Food Grade Silicone Spray for vending machines that we recommend:
You can buy it here: https://amzn.to/48XLjnt
By regularly maintaining your vending machine equipment and using the appropriate lubricants, you can ensure a longer-lasting and more efficient operation.
Cleaning supplies are an essential thing to have with you as a vendor. A clean vending machine is not only more likely to attract more sales, but will also help you maintain a good reputation with establishment owners.
Vending Machines that are not regularly cleaned also run into problems of their own, such as:
You should be carrying a box of cleaning supplies with you whenever you’re visiting a location.
Some of the supplies you should always be carrying include:
You can find all of these equipment at your local hardware or department store. Alternatively, you can visit the Amazon links we’ve included above if you prefer shopping online. The products we have included are all products that we either use ourselves or would have used.
A small vacuum cleaner is important to have in your vending machine business. While it will help with keeping your Vending Machines clean, the real reason to have a vacuum cleaner is to reduce the risk of damage to your equipment.
An excessive amount of dust and dirt can cause damage to the motherboard of your machines which can lead to a shorter life expectancy.
Additionally, it can cause the compressors of your drink machines to blow. We’ve spent over $3000 in repairing compressors that have blown from excessive dust, so we cannot recommend getting a vacuum cleaner enough.
Look for a hand vacuum cleaner that’s cordless and rechargeable. Since you’re moving from location to location and vacuuming small areas, we don’t recommend a shopvac or a bigger vacuum that you would have to plug in to use.
This is the one we recommend:
You can buy it online here: https://amzn.to/3x0TyC7
We hope you found this article on essential equipment helpful in your journey as a successful vending machine business owner.
For more guides and articles on the vending machine business, click here to visit our blog.
If you’re a business owner in Toronto or the surrounding areas and would like vending machines at your, click here to contact us.
