We help you pick the right machine, find strong locations, and follow the simple steps that new operators use to grow steady income. You get clear guidance from day one so you can launch your vending business with confidence.
If you are thinking about starting a vending business as a side project or a full time income stream, you are in the right place. Many new operators choose this path because it offers flexible hours, low overhead, and steady monthly earnings. The vending business is simple to learn when you follow a clear plan.
The biggest risk for beginners is cost. Some companies ask you to spend fifty thousand dollars on a small starter package. Others try to sell machines for ten thousand dollars each with the promise of locations that rarely match your market. These high numbers are common in the franchise world, and they push new operators into expensive commitments before they understand the basics.
You do not need to spend that much to start a vending business with confidence. We help you understand the real numbers, choose high quality vending machines that match your goals, and avoid inflated franchise style offers. You get guidance on machine setup, product selection, pricing, cashless payments, and location matching so you can place your first machine without stress.
If you want a simple and affordable way to start a vending business with support at every step, we are here to help you get started the right way.
Starting a vending business does not need to be confusing. When you follow a clear plan, you can set up your first machine, secure a good location, and begin earning in a short amount of time. Here is the simple three step path new operators follow.
We help you select a machine that fits your goals. You can pick a snack machine, a drink machine, a combo machine, an elevator unit, or a coffee vending machine. We also guide you on card readers, screens, product capacity, and layout so your machine matches the needs of your location.
A strong location is the key to a successful vending business. We explain how free locations work, how to approach businesses, and how our location matching support can help you secure placements faster. Offices, gyms, hotels, warehouses, apartments, and schools are some of the most reliable spots for new operators.
We show you how to stock your vending machine, choose products, set prices, and use cashless payments. You also receive simple guidance on maintenance, restocking, and planning your route. This makes it easier to run your first location with confidence.
If you’re starting a vending business, one question matters more
Why Machine Type Matters If you’re serious about starting a
Introduction Starting a vending machine business isn’t just about buying
Why Cash Flow Should Be Your First Priority In vending,
How to Fund Your First Machine Without Breaking the Bank
What looks like a simple plug-and-play income stream often comes
We help you secure locations, choose products, and set up your machine so you can start earning with confidence.
You get simple pricing with no franchise fees and no hidden costs. This helps you understand your budget from day one and keeps your startup easy to manage. Financing options are also available if you want to spread payments over time.
Every machine can be set up for your exact location needs. You can add screens, card readers, cloud software, custom wraps, or layout changes that match the traffic and audience at your site.
Your machine can run snacks, drinks, or a combined layout. You can switch layouts as you learn what your locations prefer, so your machine always stays profitable.
You learn all the basics in a simple and clear way. We teach you how to stock items, set pricing, manage cashless payments, use cloud software for monitoring, and keep the machine running smoothly.
You get easy to understand guidance on how to find strong locations, how free placements work, and how location matching can help you start faster.
We start by matching your product to the machine type, then to your location. For example, drinks usually go into a glass front drink machine or a combo machine, snacks go into a snack or combo machine, frozen items need a freezer unit, and hot products work best in an elevator or microwave style machine. We look at product size, packaging, temperature needs, price point, and how many selections you want to offer. Share what you plan to vend, how many locations you have, and your monthly sales goal, and our team will recommend a short list of machines that fit your product and your budget.
Yes, all our vending machines are customizable. You can choose which products to include based on your specific business needs and customer preferences.
Yes. We offer all three.
If you are not sure which temperature band you need, we can review your product list and advise you before you purchase.
Yes. Many of our machines use an elevator system instead of a free fall drop. The elevator moves to the selected shelf, picks up the product, and lowers it gently to the pickup bin. This is important for glass bottles, cans with foam, fragile packaging, cakes, jars, meal prep containers, and electronics. If you have any product that can crack, leak, or break on impact, we will strongly recommend an elevator style unit.
Yes. Our machines use adjustable trays, spirals, and dividers so you can handle different product heights and widths. You can often mix bottles, cans, pouches, and boxes in the same machine. During your setup call we help you plan how many columns you need, how many facings for each product, and how to configure the tray layout so your inventory turns stay healthy and your machine is easy to restock.
In most cases, yes. Once you share the item’s height, width, depth, and approximate weight, we will confirm whether it fits within the machine’s standard ranges. For unusual sizes, such as tall bottles, wide bakery boxes, or odd shaped containers, we can recommend either a different tray design, a custom spiral, an elevator machine, or a smart cooler where items sit on shelves instead of in spirals.
Yes. We specialize in category specific vending, including:
Wine and alcohol vending with age verification and logging
Flower vending machines for airports, hotels, and hospitals
Ramen and cup noodle vending machines
Laundry product vending for apartments, dorms, and laundromats
Coffee vending machines for offices, buildings, and public spaces
Snack, drink, combo, and AI vending machines for many other categories
Tell us which niche you are in and whether you want a single location or a multi location rollout, and we will suggest the right platform.
Pricing depends on the machine type, size, payment system, and level of customization. As a simple guideline, most new commercial machines fall into these ranges:
Standard snack or drink machines: entry level to mid range, starting around $6000
Combo or elevator systems, smart coolers, and touchscreen machines: mid to higher range, generally between $12000 to $17000 depending on features
Category specific or highly customized builds: higher range, based on features, software, and hardware, often within the $12000 to $17000 range or above for advanced configurations
Once we know your product, location type, and whether you need financing or not, we can give you a clear price range and a recommended setup.
Yes. After a short call or form submission where you share location type, product category, quantity, and any special needs, we put together a written quote that includes:
Machine model, specs, and features
Payment system options
Customization or wrap costs if needed
Shipping, tax, and estimated lead time
You can review it, ask questions, and then move forward when you are ready.
Yes. If you are ordering multiple machines, rolling out a program across several locations, or working with us as a commercial account, we can offer volume based pricing. We provide bundled deals with discounts up to 20 percent, and we also offer bulk pricing for commercial quantity orders. The exact discount depends on the total number of units, mix of models, and your deployment timeline. Once you share your full project details, we will confirm the final discount and structure pricing that supports your growth.
Yes. We can help you understand:
Estimated revenue based on price per vend and target vend count per day
Typical product cost percentages for your category
Expected payment processing fees
Power usage estimates and approximate electricity cost
Basic payback period examples for new operators
These are estimates, not guarantees, but they give you a clear picture of how a vending machine can perform when it is placed correctly and managed well.
Branding costs depend on:
• Whether you want a full machine wrap, a partial wrap, or just decals
• Whether you provide final artwork or ask us to design it
• The number of machines in the order
Our custom wrap pricing starts at $600 as a base reference.
Yes. We partner with trusted third party providers like PayPal, Klarna, Credova and others. You can choose flexible monthly payments, Pay in 4 options, or longer term financing depending on the provider. Once you select a vending machine and request a quote, you will see the available financing options.
Most partners only require basic personal or business details, estimated equipment cost, and consent for a soft credit check. Many approvals are instant with no impact on your credit score. After you choose a machine and request a quote, you will be guided to the right financing option.
Terms depend on the provider and the amount you want to finance. Short plans, interest free options, and extended terms up to 48 or 60 months are available. Once approved, you will see your exact monthly payment and can choose the plan that fits your budget.
No. We do not offer leasing or rental machines. All options are financing only, which means your payments go toward full ownership of the machine.
In many setups, you can combine an upfront payment with financing for the remaining amount, depending on the lender. A larger down payment may help you qualify for better terms or lower monthly payments. Let us know how you prefer to structure your purchase, and we will confirm which lenders support that option.
All VMFS USA machines support cashless and cash payment options. You can run credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, tap to pay, QR payments when supported, and traditional bill and coin acceptors. Our standard vending machines support both card readers and bill and coin acceptors. Our screenmount vending machines are designed for card reader setups only. Our AI vending machines also support card readers only. Most models ship ready for Nayax or Cantaloupe readers, and you can run multiple payment methods at the same time where supported.
Processing fees usually range between 3 percent and 10 percent of each sale depending on your provider, card type, and machine setup. Some systems may also charge a small monthly connectivity fee. For example, on a 2.00 sale, you might take home around 1.90 after fees. Even with fees, operators earn more overall because customers buy more when cashless options are available.
Fees cover secure transfer of payments through global banking networks. This includes encryption, card verification, fraud checks, and settlement. Without these systems, card and mobile payments would not work. Cashless vending still increases total revenue because customers spend more when they can pay with cards or phones.
Yes. Almost all modern payment devices we offer support Apple Pay, Google Pay, tap to pay cards, and NFC. QR payments and app based payments depend on the provider. Nayax and Cantaloupe both support a wide range of contactless options.
Yes. All VMFS USA machines are fully MDB compliant and work with leading payment providers like Nayax and Cantaloupe. If you already have an account, we help configure your reader. If you are new, we guide you through choosing and activating the right device for your business.
Payout schedules depend on the payment processor you select. Many processors issue payouts daily, others weekly. You can log in to your payment dashboard at any time to view transactions, reports, and settlement times.
Every machine comes with MDB support built in. Open the machine, find the MDB harness, plug in your reader, and power on the machine. Run a test payment to verify it works. Most setups require no special tools or coding.
We support three main platforms:
• VMFS Cloud for real time tracking, video surveillance, mobile access, and AI restock suggestions
• Nayax Cloud for strong payment analytics, loyalty tools, and multi location support
• Cantaloupe Cloud for enterprise operators that need route planning and warehouse integration
All VMFS USA vending machines are compatible with these cloud systems.
Yes. All three cloud systems allow you to track live or near real time sales, stock levels, machine status, and alerts. You can receive notifications for low inventory, faults, door open, or power issues. VMFS Cloud also offers mobile app access for iOS and Android so you can manage your machines on the go.
Yes. You can log in to your cloud dashboard from any mobile phone or desktop. VMFS Cloud gives you real time sales reports, income tracking, inventory views, video monitoring, AI restock suggestions, and remote configuration tools.
Software costs depend on the cloud system you choose. VMFS Cloud plans start at 4.99 per month for live inventory, real time sales, alerts, and mobile access. VMFS Ads Cloud is 16 per month with remote pricing and advertising control. VMFS AI Cloud is 39.99 per month with AI restock guidance, remote diagnostics, and advanced features.
VMFS Cloud is our built in platform designed for operators who want everything in one place at a low monthly cost. It includes real time inventory, income tracking, remote pricing, video surveillance, AI restock suggestions, fault alerts, and a full mobile app. It offers more features at a lower cost compared to many traditional systems.
Yes. VMFS Cloud allows remote pricing, product settings, temperature adjustments, and configuration changes. You do not need to be on site. This is included in Ads Cloud and AI Cloud plans.
You can connect your machine using a cellular SIM card or a local Wi Fi network if the location supports it. Many operators prefer SIM cards for easier installation and fewer location restrictions. We help you choose the best connection based on your setup.
We can work in two ways:
You provide final print ready artwork based on our template
Our design team creates the wrap layout for you using your logo, colors, and brand guidelines
Design services are quoted up front so there are no surprises.
Once the design is approved and payment is processed:
We prepare a print file for your specific machine model
The wrap is printed on high quality vinyl
The vinyl is installed on the machine cabinet by professionals
The wrapped machine goes through final inspection before shipping
You receive photos of the finished machine before it leaves our facility.
Yes. For best results we ask for:
Vector logos, for example AI, EPS, or high resolution PDF
High resolution images if you want to feature products or people
Brand guidelines if you have specific fonts or color codes
If you do not have vector files, we can review what you have and tell you what is possible.
Yes. You will receive digital mockups that show how the design will wrap around the front and sides of the machine. We allow revisions within an agreed round count so you can adjust details before we print.
Most machines are built for indoor or sheltered use, such as offices, schools, gyms, and lobbies. For outdoor or semi outdoor placements, such as exterior walls, transit areas, and uncovered plazas, we will recommend weather resistant models with appropriate insulation, gasketing, and security. Always tell us whether your location is fully indoors, partially sheltered, or fully exposed so we can guide you correctly.
Returns are accepted within 30 days of delivery for machines that are in new and unused condition. Please note that a restocking fee may apply. For detailed terms, visit our Return and Refund Policy page.
Yes. Our machines are used in a wide range of locations, including hospitals, medical centers, gyms, offices, warehouses, schools, universities, apartment buildings, hotels, short stay rentals, airports, and more. Each location has its own rules for product mix, payment options, and compliance, so we help you choose the right machine and setup for your specific environment.
Most vending machines are easy to place, you only need a few basic conditions for smooth operation.
Space And Placement
• A flat and level floor that can support the average machine weight of 500 to 900 pounds
• Clear space in front so customers can stand comfortably and open the product door
• A few inches of clearance at the back and sides for airflow and service access
• If your location has tight corners or narrow halls, we guide you on the best machine size
Power Requirements
• Standard 110 to 120 volt outlet
• A dedicated 15 or 20 amp circuit is recommended
• No extension cords to avoid voltage drop
Climate And Environment
• Indoor spaces with temperatures around normal room temperature
• Avoid direct sunlight or heat sources that raise the load on the cooling system
• Good airflow around the compressor area
Compressor And Cooling Technology
Our vending machines use modern compressors with efficient cooling logic and eco friendly refrigerants such as R290 or other compliant options. These systems help maintain stable temperatures and support lower energy use without requiring special installation.
Special Cases
Frozen, ice cream, and hot food machines may need stronger airflow or higher amperage. We share the exact requirements during the quote and onboarding stage.
Yes. Most machines run on a standard 110 to 120 volt outlet in the United States.
Lead time depends on whether the machine is in stock and how much customization you request. In stock units with no wrap or major changes usually ship within 7 to 10 days. Custom builds, wraps, and special configurations take around 45 days. During the quoting process we give you an estimated production window and update you if that window changes.
Yes. We keep several popular models available for fast delivery. These typically include Smart Combo Vending Machines, Combo Elevator Vending Machines, and selected Pro Coffee and Tabletop Coffee Vending Machines.
In stock machines ship within 7 to 10 days. Machines built to order or quoted with customization take around 45 days. Delivery timelines can vary based on your location, the freight carrier, and their route.
We ship throughout the United States and can ship to Latin America depending on availability, customs requirements, and freight feasibility. If you are outside these regions, share your location and we will confirm whether shipping is possible or recommend a better option.
Every VMFS USA vending machine includes a standard 3 years parts warranty at no additional cost. This covers electrical components, motors, sensors, control boards, and payment modules. If a covered part fails under normal use, we provide a replacement and cover shipping within the continental United States. Some products may have specific warranty terms, which we confirm for your model before purchase.
Returns are accepted within 30 days of delivery for machines that are in new and unused condition. Please note that a restocking fee may apply. For detailed terms, visit our Return and Refund Policy page.
The warranty covers functional issues caused by manufacturing defects or normal use. Covered items include electrical parts, vending motors, internal sensors, control boards, and cashless payment modules. Support also includes remote diagnostics, troubleshooting, and help with VMFS Cloud setup and related software if your machine remains connected.
Yes. We support you with remote diagnostics, troubleshooting, and technical guidance. If a part needs replacement, we ship it under warranty. For hands on repairs, we help coordinate with a qualified local technician or connect you to service networks that work with vending equipment.
Yes. We guide you through startup, loading products, setting prices, using the payment system, managing your cloud dashboard if included, and basic maintenance tasks. Training is available by phone, video call, or recorded walkthroughs.
Yes. We provide manuals and, for many models, video guides showing how to stock the machine, adjust spirals, set pricing, clear errors, and perform simple maintenance. These resources help you operate the machine with confidence.
After your purchase is confirmed, we schedule an onboarding session. In this session we review:
You can ask questions, take notes, and get comfortable with the equipment before or shortly after delivery.
Yes. We can provide product category suggestions based on your location type and target customer. For example, what works best in a gym, school, office, hotel, or apartment building. While we do not usually act as a wholesaler for snacks and drinks, we can recommend common brands, package sizes, and distributors that operators often use.
Yes. We can give you sample price ranges and product mixes for similar locations so you have a starting point. From there, you can adjust prices based on your local costs and demand. For higher value or niche items, such as hot meals or specialty products, we help you think through margin, turnover, and customer expectations.
Our main focus is providing reliable equipment, training, and ongoing support. For connected machines, you will have ongoing software and data costs through your payment or cloud provider. In some cases we can structure extended support or service agreements for larger fleets. If you plan to scale and want a long term support structure, let us know so we can design the right package with you.
You do not need experience to get started. With the right vending machine, a strong location, and simple guidance, you can launch your first route with confidence. If you want help choosing your machine or placing your first location, our team is here to support you.
At VMFS USA, you can buy in one of two ways. Some machines are in stock and ready to ship, other machines are build to order. Follow the path that fits your machine.
We keep the process clear and predictable, from checkout or quote approval to delivery or pickup. If you have any questions, contact our support team and we will guide you step by step.
From the moment you place your order, you are not just a customer; you are a partner. Our VMFS Customer Success Team is a dedicated, personalized, and virtual resource committed to ensuring your vending business thrives from day one. We have designed a proactive onboarding process to prepare you for success, even before your machine arrives.
Here is a step-by-step overview of your journey with our Customer Success Team:
At VMFS USA, our commitment to you doesn’t end once your vending machine is delivered. We’re here to support you every step of the way, ensuring your machine runs smoothly and efficiently for the long term.
If an issue requires hands-on attention, we’ll connect you with our network of certified and qualified technicians. These experts are trained to handle repairs, adjustments, and maintenance, ensuring your machine is back to optimal performance in no time.
From technology setup to technical troubleshooting, our team is ready to assist with:
We’re dedicated to fostering a lasting relationship with our customers. By providing reliable, responsive support, we aim to ensure your vending machine continues to serve your business effectively for years to come.
Your success is our success, and we’re here to help every step of the way.
At VMFS USA, we aim to make the setup process for your vending machine as straightforward and stress-free as possible. Here’s what you can expect:
Every vending machine comes with a detailed installation guide that simplifies the process. Whether it’s setting up the machine at your location, connecting it to Wi-Fi, or securing it to the walls, our guide ensures you can handle it without a hitch.
For machines equipped with cloud software, managing your vending machine has never been easier. The software allows you to: Add and edit products effortlessly. Monitor the machine’s functionality remotely.
Manage inventory and sales data seamlessly.
Our vending machines are designed for easy self-installation. With intuitive interfaces and straightforward assembly, you’ll find the process to be a no-brainer.
Technical Support:
Wi-Fi setup, software configuration, and troubleshooting.
Clinical Support:
Bolting, location setup, and alignment assistance.