What is Vending and Why Is It a Smart Business Choice?

When most people think of vending, they picture grabbing a soda or snack on the go. But behind that convenience is a business model that’s been around for decades, and it’s still growing strong today. A vending business is simple: you buy and operate machines, stock them with products, and place them in locations where people will use them. You collect the sales and profit from each item sold.

What makes vending appealing is its low startup cost, flexibility, and scalability.

You don’t need a storefront; you can start with just one or two machines and grow into a full fleet over time. Globally, the vending industry is booming, with an expected value of over $146 billion by 2027. In the U.S. alone, nearly 7 million vending machines are operating, creating plenty of opportunity for new operators.

Of course, vending isn’t entirely passive. You’ll need to restock machines, maintain them, and manage relationships with location owners. But with the right products in the right spots, a single machine can earn hundreds of dollars in monthly profit, making it a solid entry point into entrepreneurship.