Vending ROI Calculator
Set machine count and costs, then adjust traffic and pricing to estimate revenue, profit, and payback.
SETUP
Quick presets — fills in common starting numbers.
SALES ASSUMPTIONS
Defaults: 2.9% + $0.30 per card sale, 70% cashless, 10% location commission.
AI & PLATFORM FEES
VMFS fees are separated from third-party costs so you can see exactly what you pay us, what you pay others, and what is optional. All fees below are applied per machine unless noted.
Product processing & supplier fee
5%
Applied to cost of goods (product cost). Covers supplier handling, inbound shipping, and restocking fees. Typical range is 3–10% depending on product type.
3%10%
Branded snacksFresh / localSpecialty goods
VMFS
Paid to VMFS — AI system & platform
VMFS AI Cloud
AI platform, machine management, alerts, updates & software tools.
$39.99/mo
AI Recognition Fee
$0.07 per completed transaction. Only applies when AI processes a purchase. Auto-enabled with AI Cloud.
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AUTO
Weight Sensor Add-On Optional
+$0.03 per transaction. Only if your machine is configured with weight sensor support.
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3RD PARTY
Paid to outside providers — optional & provider-dependent
SIM Card / Cellular Data Optional
$15/month. Not needed if you use your own stable WiFi connection.
$15/mo
Card Reader Service
~$10/month. Standard terminal or activation fee from your payment provider, not VMFS.
$10/mo
Monthly fixed fees scale with machine count. Per-transaction fees apply across all transactions. Uncheck optional items to see their impact on your profit.
Scaling rule: machine count multiplies results (assumes each machine is placed in a comparable location).
RESULTS
Monthly revenue (total)
$2,268
Transactions/month: 378
Per machine: 378
Per machine: 378
Monthly net profit (total)
$895
After product costs, processing, fees & AI platform
Payback period
5 months
Investment: $4,000
Net profit (per machine)
$895
Helps compare locations
Revenue
$2,268
Product costs
−$907
↳ Processing & supplier fee
−$45
Gross profit
$1,316
Card fees & commission
↳ Card fees & location commission
−$352
VMFS platform fees
↳ AI Cloud ($39.99/mo × machines)
−$40
↳ AI Recognition ($0.07/tx)
−$26
↳ Weight Sensor ($0.03/tx)
−$11
Third-party fees
↳ SIM Card ($15/mo × machines)
−$15
↳ Card Reader ($10/mo × machines)
−$10
Net profit
$895
Estimates vary by product mix, fees, and location terms. Uncheck optional fees on the left to model different setups.