Free tool
Vending machine profit calculator.
Pick a machine type to load typical starting points, then replace them with your own figures. It all runs in your browser, and nothing is sent unless you ask for a quote.
Before valuing your own time: net sales less product, card fees, the host's share, the reader plan, insurance, travel, repairs and spoilage, and other costs you enter. Servicing labour is left out.
The cash surplus less your service hours at the value of an hour you enter. Before tax.
Cumulative cash over 36 months
Starts below zero by the machine and setup cost, then climbs by each month's profit after your time. The chart shows half and one and a half times the expected sales per day.
- High volume
- Expected
- Low volume
Show as a table
Results are estimates, not a promise of earnings. Real sales depend on the site, the product mix and your prices.
How it works
How the figures are worked out.
Results are estimates, not a promise of earnings. Real sales depend on the site, the product mix and your prices.
- Net sales are your sales after HST, if your prices include it.
- Sales days are the operating days a month, less downtime.
- Contribution per sale is the net price less product cost and card fees.
- Cash surplus takes contribution from every sale, then subtracts the host's share, the card reader plan, insurance, travel for service visits, repairs and spoilage, and other costs you enter. It leaves out the value of your own time.
- Profit after your time is the cash surplus less your service hours at the value of an hour. Both are before tax, and cover only the costs you enter.
- Operating break-even is the sales per day that cover the running costs. Break-even including the machine also covers the machine and setup cost, spread over its useful life.
- Payback is the machine price plus setup costs, divided by the monthly profit after your time.
Starting values by machine type
| Machine | Typical new price | Price per sale | Cost per sale | Sales a day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee | $9,000 to $25,000 | $3.00 | $0.70 | 40 |
| Cold drinks | $5,000 to $12,000 | $2.75 | $1.10 | 25 |
| Snacks | $5,000 to $10,000 | $2.25 | $0.90 | 25 |
| Snack and drink combo | $6,000 to $14,000 | $2.50 | $1.00 | 30 |
| Hot meals | $15,000 to $35,000 | $8.00 | $4.25 | 15 |
| Ice cream and frozen treats | $10,000 to $30,000 | $4.50 | $2.00 | 15 |
| Smart fridge | $5,000 to $12,000 | $6.00 | $3.30 | 20 |
| Tech and charging | $6,000 to $15,000 | $18.00 | $9.00 | 4 |
| Personal care and travel | $5,000 to $12,000 | $6.00 | $2.50 | 8 |
Typical range for a new machine of this type in Canada, before HST, rounded widely. Your quote will differ. Sales per day and costs are planning figures to replace with your own.