Vending Machine Profit Calculator
Enter the machine price, how many vends a day you expect and your costs. You get monthly profit, how many months until the machine pays for itself, first-year return and the break-even sales a location needs.
Your rates (change to match your business)
What if the location sells more, or less?
Traffic is the number you can’t control. This table keeps your costs the same and changes only the vends per day, so you can see the downside before you sign.
| Vends per day | Sales / month | Net / month | Payback |
|---|
1. Sales
vends per day × average price × 30.4 days. Ask the location how many people are there each day; a busy break room often does 1 vend per 4 to 6 people.
2. What comes off
Product cost, the location’s commission, card fees on card sales, your service trips (miles × mileage rate plus your time) and fixed monthly costs.
3. Payback
machine + setup ÷ net profit per month. Under 12 months is a strong spot for most operators. Over 24 months, negotiate the commission or keep looking.
Track every machine on your route
The Vending Machine Business Tracker has this calculator built in, plus machines, service visits, restock, products, expenses and monthly commission statements. Excel and Google Sheets.
- Net profit, payback % and months to payback for every machine
- Next service date with overdue machines flagged red
- Profit per vend and margin for every product you stock
- A commission statement for any month, ready to send each location
$27 one-time, instant download
Questions
How much does one vending machine make a month?
It depends almost entirely on the location. A quiet spot may sell 5 to 10 items a day and net under $100 a month; a busy warehouse or gym can sell 50 or more and net several hundred dollars. Put the location’s expected vends into this calculator before you buy.
What commission should I pay a location?
Many small locations take 0% to 10% of sales; busy or corporate sites may ask for 15% to 25%. The calculator shows exactly how much each point of commission costs you and how it changes payback.
What is a good payback period for a vending machine?
Many operators look for 12 months or less on a new machine and even faster on a used one. Over 24 months usually means the location is too slow or the costs are too high.
Should I count my time and mileage?
Yes. Restocking trips are a real cost even if you do them yourself. Leaving them out makes a weak location look profitable.
Is my information saved or sent anywhere?
No. Everything is calculated in your browser and nothing is stored or sent.
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