Vending business - what it is, where to start and how to open it. How to open a vending business. Necessary equipment for a vending business Business plan vending slot machines

One of the niches where you can successfully show your entrepreneurial spirit is vending.

The sphere is the retail sale of services and goods using special terminals.

What is a vending business?

Vending is machines that sell food, drinks, cigarettes, candy bars and even sandwiches, and also allow you to top up mobile and any other accounts, send money transfers around the country/world, and so on, with virtually no human intervention. Each of us periodically uses some objects of this business, for example a coffee machine.

Agree, it is extremely convenient to receive aromatic bean coffee in just a minute, sending several transfers at the same time, without having to stand in line at banks or wait for an order in a cafe.

This is a fairly simple type of activity in which you do not need to take an active part - all responsibility lies with the machines. However, there are several nuances that you definitely need to know if you decide to start this type of business.

Profitability: how much you can earn on terminals

According to statistics from a research company IHS Technology, there are less than 20 people per machine gun in China, 23 people in Japan, and 35 people in the USA - they are so common.

In our country, there are 625 people per machine - the niche is still practically not occupied by entrepreneurs, while machines are in stable demand.

There are about 20 million different vending machines installed around the world, but in Russia the vending business is most widespread in Moscow.

How much you can earn from running a business depends on the initial capital, the number of machines and many other reasons ( time of year, region, location). The cost of a coffee or snack machine varies from 100 to 200 thousand rubles (depending on the manufacturer of the machine, settings and loading volumes). About a quarter of the proceeds are spent on the purchase of ingredients; the rest must be allocated to salaries, place rent and taxes.

The profitability of the terminal, subject to the sale of 100 cups of coffee daily, will be $1,500 per month.

Once again, it is worth mentioning that each specific project may vary the indicated amounts. Average term payback of the trading device – from 10 to 16 months. Accordingly, the more machines you have, the higher the profit. Business profitability ( an indicator of economic efficiency, that is, how expedient it is to install automatic machines) – 29%. This is a pretty good number.

  • Remember: the vending business area is gradually filling up. In a few years it will be much more difficult to get started. If you are interested in business, perhaps you should think about implementing it right now.

Vending machines as a business

Before purchasing a vending machine business, you need to choose what exactly you will do. There are several types of automated machines:

  1. Coffee machines. Sales of coffee machines are growing every day. You can buy both the latest developments and old devices - and it’s up to you to decide which type to choose. The problems you may encounter are due to high competition - it is difficult to find a placement, and the machines also need to be constantly maintained.
  2. Soda and other drinks. They are in great demand, especially in summer, in the southern cities of our country.
  3. Snacks. The most profitable option. At the moment, there is a huge selection of models for selling products from various manufacturers.
  4. Hot food. A relatively new, but no less profitable variety.
  5. Vending machines for non-food products. This includes, for example, glass cleaners, lenses, presses, appliances and other inedible items.
  6. Services. Payment terminals, automatic copy machines, photo booths.

Success depends on his way of doing business. Sometimes it is not enough to buy a vending business and just wait for profit; you need to monitor the machines and service them. For example, visitors are attracted by a neat appearance - it is necessary to periodically check that there is no debris or dirt nearby.

Typically, machines are located in industrial enterprises, offices, educational institutions, Internet cafes, hotels, restaurants, hospitals and other public places. If you are placing vending machines with snacks and drinks, it is better to place them in pairs, in a place where the flow of people does not move very quickly.

Be sure to diversify your assortment.

It’s also better not to skimp on quality - if the coffee is tasty, people will come for it regularly. Check expiration dates; for convenience, place instructions for use on the machine. Come up with your own “trick” - something that will distinguish you from other owners. This could be design, promotions or prizes - the space for imagination is almost limitless.

Where to start a vending business

Starting a vending business can be organized in stages. First, choose the area in which you will operate: what will you sell? Decide on location by researching your future customers: think about who will buy your products. If the goods are designed for passers-by, it is advisable to place the machines in shopping centers or at bus stops. If your business caters to regular customers, consider placing the machines in offices, universities or hospitals.

The number of cars to start depends on the initial capital. The more money you have for business development, the more machines you can supply, which means the higher your profit. The only thing is don’t buy a lot of cars at once, do it gradually, studying the market and observing how the buyer behaves. After choosing a specific niche, you can begin to directly organize your business:

  1. Create a limited liability company (LLC) or register as an individual entrepreneur (IP). The type you choose depends on the size of your network. If you have a few machines, it is better to open an individual entrepreneur (it is much easier to manage an individual entrepreneur), if the whole network is an LLC. Select a tax system (the most common is simplified).
  2. Buy the necessary equipment. At the same time, it is not necessary to spend personal money; you can purchase them on credit or leasing (long-term rent with the possibility of purchasing the devices at the residual value). You can buy used equipment, but it is better, of course, to buy new one.
  3. Establish the cost by studying competitors' prices. Then place the machines in the selected locations. To do this, you need to draw up a lease agreement. You will pay the owner of the place where the machine is located a fixed amount or a percentage of sales (usually the cost of renting a place is from one thousand to five thousand rubles per month).

Business plan

Don’t think that it’s enough to just buy a machine, put it in the nearest pharmacy or store and wait for profit. These thoughts were inspired by those who sell these machines, as well as consumables for them.

One of the first stages of creating a vending business is carefully developing a business plan. This is a document that includes all the nuances and aspects of your activity, discusses possible risks and problems, and also describes options for solving these problems. The tips below will help you create a business plan for vending machines. Remember: under no circumstances should you skip this work: the success of the whole business depends on the plan.

  1. First of all, estimate the cost of purchasing the devices. Take a notebook or create a table in the program Excel. Indicate the cost of each device by filling out the following columns: “Name”, “Number of devices”, “Cost”. Remember that you will have to pay an additional amount for delivery ( usually does not exceed 1000 rubles per machine).
  2. Create another table dedicated to your monthly expenses. This includes refueling machines, salaries for service personnel, rental costs, gasoline, installing a banknote acceptor, and taxes. Write down the name of each type of expense, their quantity, calculate how much you will spend per month and year. Write down your income in the same way (estimated, and only then, after a month of work - real). Having data on expenses and income, you can easily calculate profits.
  3. The next task when drawing up a vending business plan is to compare indicators. This way you will find out how long it will take for the business to pay for itself. For example, you have two machines - a snack and a coffee machine, the cost of purchasing them together with delivery is 310 thousand rubles. Across all expense categories, you will spend about 30 thousand per month. In a year, both machines will bring you 310 thousand rubles of net profit. In total, you can pay for your business in about two years.

If you don’t want to deal with developing a business plan, buying machines and placing them, you can purchase a ready-made vending business. Its cost varies depending on the region, location, success, and so on ( the cost of selling a business also depends on these indicators). It can cost as much as 500 thousand rubles, much less or more.


* The calculations use average data for Russia

The rapid pace of development of the vending business is one of the most noticeable trends in recent years. The general director of one of the largest vending companies in Russia, Vendorus Group, Svetlana Timoshenko, tells readers of the site about how to enter this fast-growing and very promising business.

- Svetlana, tell us what your company does?

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Our group of companies Vendorus Group has been on the market for 11 years. We started as an operating company managing a network of snack vending machines in Moscow. Later we added a service department, sales of vending machines and coffee machines (we sell equipment from Italy, Spain, USA, Austria, Switzerland), and we also supplied ingredients for coffee machines from Spain.

Three years ago we started working with freshly roasted coffee beans under our own brand, offering the service “Coffee service for offices and catering.” We often start working where there was nothing before. In particular, more than 2 years ago we brought the first machines for selling bottled milk to Russia. There are now three successfully operating chains selling bottled milk, in which we were directly involved.

- Was it easy for you to decide to become an entrepreneur? How did you come up with the idea of ​​starting this particular business?

The decision was very easy, because... I always wanted to have a greater degree of freedom in decision making. But the awareness of responsibility, also greater, coming along with freedom, came a little later. In any case, the opportunity to manage your life and change the world around you, the way I see it, is worth the increased responsibility.

I came to vending because at that time there were very few machines, the growth potential was obvious (it remains today, only the cost of entry has increased). And it seemed that the business process diagram was quite simple. Later, as usually happens, “pitfalls” were discovered, and we had to work out a lot ourselves and act according to the situation.

- What difficulties did you encounter in the initial stages of doing business? How did you solve the problems that arose?

No one taught how to work with automatic machines then, there were no technical service specialists. We had to recruit staff and train. In addition, we had to independently develop the entire documentation base (contracts, job descriptions, procedures for working with the cash register, etc.), banks did not accept coins for collection well, in our country there are always a lot of coins in the machines.

At the first stages, we agreed with stores that always have a need for small change and exchanged our small change for paper money, later we entered into a collection agreement with the bank and now this problem has been completely resolved. Buyers did not know how to use the machines; they had to stand next to them and show them. In addition, detailed instructions, even in pictures, began to be placed on all machines. Today, customers use the machines easily and the problem has disappeared.

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It was difficult to rent space for installation, especially in government institutions, because... no one wanted and does not want to rent out 1 sq. meter. The solution is simple - we work in commercial organizations. They also began to use agreements not for renting a place, but, on the contrary, for renting out a machine. In addition, auctions for rental rights are now often held, this is convenient, but often the price rises higher than is economically justified. In these cases, we simply look for another place.

Later there was a problem with the implementation of cash register systems. At a certain point, the Federal Tax Service decided that all machines should be equipped with a cash register. Technically, only a limited number of models can be equipped with these devices, due to the layout of internal parts and operating mechanisms. Nowhere in the world do they use cash registers in vending machines. According to our legislation, all cash registers are registered with the tax authorities at the location of the cash register, if you install a cash register in a vending machine, you will have to register it at the location, but there is always a chance that the machine will need to be moved more than once, which means you will have to deregister each time and register again. The procedure is not complicated, but it is extremely time-consuming and expensive.

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If the network of machines is large, then it would be necessary to have a staff dedicated exclusively to these issues. Another argument is that the cash register requires the closing and opening of the cash register every day; if you are late, the system is blocked and you need to call an inspector from the tax office. This means that you need to visit each machine at least twice a day. Which kills the very meaning of automated trading. As an argument against cash registers, it was also stated that all machines were initially equipped with a sales accounting system both for money received, change issued, and for the number of goods sold. So, it is simply impossible to hide something when trading in automated mode. This problem was solved through joint efforts, but in the process of solving it, we created NAAT (National Association of Automated Trade) with our colleagues. The new trade law contains clarifications regarding automated trading and all issues regarding cash registers have been resolved.

According to your estimates, what is the minimum amount with which you can start this business today? What equipment will be needed?

The minimum entry threshold is 10 machines, approximately 50,000 Euros. Less does not make sense, because... maintenance costs will “eat up” all income. It’s a good idea to have a reserve for the first purchases of goods (if you work with snacks or bottled drinks, or other small-packaged goods) and for the payroll fund for the first couple of months. As equipment, you should only consider machines from proven, long-established suppliers; it is better if they are foreign manufacturers from Europe or the USA.

For example:

  • For coffee machines we can recommend Bianchi Vending Group (Italy), Necta (Italy), Azkoyen (Spain);
  • for snack machines, Sanden-Vendo (Italy-USA), Azkoyen (Spain), Necta (Italy), Bianchi (Italy), U-Select-It (USA) machines have proven themselves to be excellent;
  • For ice cream machines, vending machines from Sanden-Vendo (Italy-USA) are reliable.
You can buy such machines and get competent advice from us, Vendorus Group and our colleagues - “Siba-Vending”, “Vendex”, “Lucky Choice” and others. You should not buy Korean and Chinese equipment - it breaks, the same applies to Ukrainian. There are also equipment assemblers in Russia, but the build quality is still not up to par. Next, you will need a van, for example a Renault Kangoo or similar for delivering goods. That's all.

Expenses:

    Purchase of equipment (for example, 20 LEI 400 coffee machines from Bianchi) 4200*20=84000 euros

    Bill acceptors and coin changers – 20 pieces: 800*20=16000 Euro

    Rental of machine installation sites (approximately) – 40,000 per month

    1 operator – 30,000 rubles, outsourced accountant – 5,000 rubles. (monthly)

    Rent of a small office – 10,000 rubles. per month.

    Purchase for loading ingredients - 120,000 rubles. per month

At the first stage, we use an operator in a car. Compensation for fuel and lubricant costs – 5,000 rubles. per month.

Total for purchase: 100,000 euros

Total for the first 2 months of work: 90,000*2=180,000 rubles.

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How much will we earn: 20 coffee pots can generate revenue of 400,000 rubles. per month Income before tax will be 400,000-120,000-90,000=190,000 rubles. If we pay 15% in the scheme of income minus expenses, then 190,000-15% = 161,500 rubles. The payback period will be just over 2 years.


Are there any additional administrative requirements (for premises, experience of specialists, etc.)?

Requirements for equipment – ​​availability of a quality certificate or Manufacturer’s Declaration (depending on the type of machine). The machines can be installed in any room, at above-zero temperatures; all you need is a regular grounded socket. If you work with coffee pots, you often use bottled water (the coffee tastes better), but you can also connect to the water supply through a filter. Specialists will have to be trained. We help our equipment customers with this.

- How should you approach choosing a location to install the machine?

To achieve effective results from the machines, the installation location must meet the following parameters:

    Must be constantly present in the organization where we install the machine for at least 300 people

    It is better if the organization works around the clock

    If visitors have to spend time waiting, great.

    Purchasing power should be high enough - a person should not skimp on a chocolate bar or a cup of coffee

    The machine itself should be clearly visible; you should not place it in the far corner

    The best places are business centers, sports facilities, universities, and transport hubs.

- What is the operating life of the machines? How often do they break down and need repairs?

The service life of the machines is at least 10 years (these are normal European machines!!!) The condition for normal operation is careful maintenance and operation in accordance with the rules established by the manufacturer. Snack machines practically do not break down; there are only problems with the cooler, and then only if they are transported in a lying position, which is expressly prohibited in the instructions. For coffee machines, the main thing is cleanliness; if the machine is not maintained, it will stop brewing coffee, because... the coffee group will simply break. You also need to be careful about the ingredients, don’t choose them only based on price, otherwise dry ingredients can clog the dispensing tubes, and dried coffee beans can cause the coffee grinder to break down.

The cost of repairs, if such a problem does occur, is very individual. The repairs are minor and adjustments can be made by the operator himself, because all suppliers teach their customers how to service the machines. Complex repairs, which are extremely rare, are carried out by the service departments of most machine suppliers.

Now in the West, vending machines are very popular as a form of trade, and through vending machines today you can purchase almost any product, from household appliances to fresh products, such as vegetables and meat, and even buy spare shoes, an umbrella, style your hair and even make an investment in gold. Manufacturers of vending machines are constantly improving them, adapting them as much as possible to the needs of customers.

- Is it possible in Russia to order a machine for any product? How and where can this be done?

Yes, in Russia you can buy any machine gun existing in the world. The question is how in demand is the product that the machine offers. In addition, many types of automated trading are not possible in Russia due to legislative prohibitions.

Example:

    Vending machines for selling over-the-counter medicines and hygiene products. In Europe, mini-pharmacies successfully operate with small items that you may always need. We had conversations, we ourselves carried out several iterations with three pharmacy chains, but none of them dared to start automated trading, due to constant prohibitions.

    Selling fresh fruits and vegetables in vending machines is not at all difficult and even useful, for example, in universities or schools. But you need to understand that the cost of a portion will not be cheap. Washing-cleaning-packing will be required in portions and the price will include renting a place, etc.

    We tried selling umbrellas. In my memory, two such sellers went bankrupt. The same thing clearly awaits shoe sellers in vending machines.

    Machines with gold bars are generally exclusive, but if a bank approaches us and wants to create such a network of machines, then we are ready to deliver such machines to Russia.

Seriously speaking, exotic goods for vending can be sold in vending machines, but these should not be independent networks, but some additional divisions of large companies. We have also been contacted by companies selling mobile phones, socks and tights, lenses, books, etc. . Some projects (books, red caviar, umbrellas) were launched with our participation, but there is no serious growth in such sales yet. The most interesting and promising direction now is the sale of fresh milk in bottles through vending machines. Our company was the first in Russia to begin supplying such machines and three large projects are already operating successfully. The service technology here is much more complex, the equipment is much more expensive than traditional vending machines, but there is also greater interest, and the product is of high quality and is in daily demand.

- What can you save on and what should you not save on?

You can't skimp on equipment! Downtime and customer dissatisfaction leads to a sharp drop in revenue. To save money, at the first stage you can service the machines yourself, using a regular passenger car, and hire people later, when the network expands. The norm for one employee-operator is 20-30 machines.

- How long did it take you to recoup your initial investment?

They paid for themselves in about 2 years.

- What can you say about the profitability of this business? What is the average revenue from one machine?

The average revenue from coffee machines is about 20,000 rubles. per month. (30% will be the cost of ingredients). Snack machines give on average 30,000-35,000 rubles. per month (50% - goods). Water dispensers - 25,000-30,000 (50% - goods) It should be noted that these are just average numbers! There are leaders, and there are outsiders among the automata. We rearrange the outsiders.

- Is there seasonality in your business?

Yes. It all depends on where the machines are installed, for example, there are summer holidays at a university and there is simply no one to buy sandwiches. But at the airport, on the contrary, summer is peak. We work around the city, so we use the summer lull for vacations.

- The selection of which specialists should be given special attention. How did you select key employees?

Particular attention should be paid to the selection of operators. They not only work with the machines and goods, but also withdraw money from the machines and bring them to the cash register. Therefore, we must be honest. They are the face of your company in front of customers, so they must be careful and polite. Operators were selected by trial and error. Search via the Internet, trial period – 1 month. If we are noticed to be addicted to alcohol, then we immediately leave; if, based on the results of the inventory (monthly comparison of statistics on machines with the revenue brought in and the goods received), a shortage is discovered, then we also immediately fire you. So we are looking. The work scheme is simple - each operator is assigned a territory with machines, which he services - loads goods, withdraws revenue, cleans and washes. Maintenance of each machine at least once every three days. If the point is good, then every day. The proceeds are deposited at the company's cash desk, and from there the bank's collection service deposits it into the account. All data on loaded goods and ingredients is also transmitted to the office, to the manager who is responsible for the operation of the network. Documents for receiving goods from the warehouse are also prepared there. The operator at the warehouse receives the goods and takes them to the machines. The operator's salary consists of the base rate and a percentage of the revenue from the machines assigned to him. In addition to the operators themselves, the staffing table of the operator company includes a cashier, a network management manager (the functions include accounting and monitoring the work of operators, purchasing goods for the warehouse, monitoring balances, resolving issues regarding the installation of machines), a network development manager (functions include searching for points for installation of automatic machines), accountant, storekeeper. Our service engineers are allocated to a separate company, but often the engineer is part of the staff of the operator company.

Obviously, during your work you have tried various methods of advertising. Which advertising media have proven to be effective, and which ones did you ultimately abandon?

If we talk about the vending network, then the machines themselves work ideally, like advertising. If we talk about selling equipment, then the entire block of online advertising works great; for selling coffee, both the Internet and advertising on the sides of our cars work great.

- What can you say about competition in your business?

There is competition for places to install machines, but it is still not strong. If you work accurately and with high-quality equipment, if the coffee is fresh and made from beans, if the sandwiches do not age on the shelf, and the water is always cold, then there will be no competitors.

- Has the economic crisis affected the vending business?

Yes. It has become much more difficult to sell equipment, because... The ruble price of machines has increased and it has become more difficult for our customers to attract financing. As for the vending machine network, sales decreased somewhat when the income of our customers fell, but still the vending machine network helped us a lot - real money is always at hand. Overall, the vending machine chain's revenue fell by about 10%. Interestingly, revenue from the Coffee project even increased by about 30%.

- What other pitfalls does this business have?

- “Pitfalls” are mainly related to the risks of administrative regulation, which is traditional for any business in the Russian Federation. Revenue from the machines may still fall if our customers' incomes fall. Attention must also be paid to the sanitary condition of the machines - we sell food after all.

How do you see the prospects for the further development of your business? Are you planning to expand or open related areas?

Yes, we plan to develop a network of vending machines for the sale of fresh milk in Moscow, we plan to expand sales of coffee beans and install roasting equipment. Several years ago, we developed a franchising scheme for developing a network of machines in the regions and are ready to offer it to partners. In addition, we are looking for companies and entrepreneurs in the regions who would take on the functions of selling machines and their maintenance.

- Based on your experience, what advice would you give to those who are just planning to start this business?

Carefully analyze the market and see where the machines can be installed. Once the target group and scope of work have been determined, you can begin to select the equipment itself and its suppliers. The main thing is not to rush to rent space and not to grab what is in the warehouse of sellers from vending machines. You can always configure exactly the equipment that is ideal for your tasks. You shouldn’t buy machines like your neighbor’s, the main thing is it’s faster. It's better to wait and get your option. It is also important to listen carefully to the advice of those who have been in the market for a long time, and be sure to keep in touch with the supplier and his engineering service. You should not buy machine guns in Europe and transport them yourself. There will be more costs.

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* The calculations use average data for Russia

444,000 ₽

Starting investments

112,000 ₽

20,000 ₽

Net profit (from 2 machines)

14 months

Payback period

Coffee vending is one of the most popular types of vending business. In this business plan, we provided calculations of profitability using the example of two coffee machines with a standard assortment.

1. PROJECT SUMMARY

This project examines the organization of a vending business in Bataysk. The goal of the project is to satisfy the demand of the local population for hot drinks and make a profit. To implement the project, two retail outlets with high pedestrian traffic and the presence of a potential audience (shopping center and train station) are rented, where vending machines are installed.

The main advantages of business in the coffee vending trade:

    does not require large investments;

    ease of maintenance;

    no need for personnel, the ability to service the business directly by an individual entrepreneur;

    high level of profitability;

    low price in comparison with other providers of similar services, which is ensured by low costs;

    possibility of a 24-hour work schedule.

The initial investment is 444,000 rubles. Investment costs are aimed at purchasing equipment, ingredients, an advertising campaign, business registration and the formation of working capital, which will cover losses in the initial periods. The bulk of the required investment is in equipment and amounts to 90%. Own funds will be used to implement the project.

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Financial calculations cover a five-year period of operation of the project. Forecasts for revenue and net profit are made based on a sales plan of 2,500 units and an average receipt of 45 rubles. According to calculations, the initial investment will pay off within 14 months of operation. The return on sales in the first year of operation will be 28%. Integral performance indicators are shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Key project performance indicators

2. INDUSTRY DESCRIPTION

In recent years, a new type of trade has been actively developing in Russia - vending. This is a business based on the use of specialized retail vending machines for FMCG products. This category includes consumer goods with a quick turnaround time: hot and cold drinks by the glass, food products, etc.

Today, the domestic vending market is estimated at 3-4 billion rubles and is growing annually by an average of 20%. According to the National Association of Automated Commerce, there are about 60 thousand vending machines in Russia, of which 15 thousand are located in Moscow. However, statistics on vending machine sales in 2016 indicate the development of vending trade not only in the capital, but also in the regions. More than 75% of Russian vending is concentrated in cities with a population of over a million, and regional markets still remain almost free.

The share of vending in Russian trade is 1%, while in Europe the average is 5%. The coverage density of vending machines in Russia is 625 people per machine, which, in comparison with other countries, indicates the great potential of vending trade. For example, in Japan there is one machine gun for every 23 people, in the USA - for 35, and in Western European countries - for 110 people. It follows from this that in the coming years we can expect a fivefold increase in the vending market in Russia. According to experts, the domestic vending market is only 10% full.

Despite the positive forecasts for vending, this industry is currently going through a period of crisis. In 2015, the vending market decreased by 23.5% in monetary terms, and in 2016, market growth slowed down significantly. These trends are associated with changes in the Federal Law on the Application of Cash Register No. 54 of May 22, 2003, which obligated vendors to equip all devices with a new cash register system. This entailed an increase in costs and even the departure of entrepreneurs from the market. Owners of used machines that do not provide for the implementation of cash register systems also suffered. The second reason for the negative trends was the rise in the dollar exchange rate, which led to a significant increase in the cost of imported equipment. However, this has contributed to import substitution in the vending machine market: domestic manufacturers offer equipment that, while maintaining quality, is 30% cheaper than foreign analogues. Therefore, experts have a positive assessment of the prospects for the vending market in Russia and predict high growth rates, despite the rather difficult market conditions.


The prospects for the vending market are assessed not only from the point of view of its actual and potential volume, but also from the point of view of its structure. At the moment, the vending trade in Russia is not diverse: 60-65% of the market is occupied by coffee machines, 20-25% by snack machines, and the remaining 10% is made up of vending machines for cold drinks, hot food, etc. Thus, the greatest competition is observed in the coffee segment. This popularity of coffee machines is determined by three parameters: firstly, coffee is a suitable product for sale in machines, since it is consumed on the go; secondly, coffee from a machine is cheaper than drinks offered in catering establishments; thirdly, coffee machines, due to their compactness, can be placed where a cafe cannot. The main advantages of coffee machines that influence consumer choice are speed, availability, and low price.

For entrepreneurs, the key advantages of vending as a business are:

    low entry threshold;

    installation area less than 1 m2;

    high profitability;

    markup on goods is about 300%;

    ease of maintenance;

    the vending business can be combined with other business options, since servicing the machines requires several hours a week;

However, when planning a business, you should also take into account its disadvantages. A significant problem when organizing vending trade is choosing a suitable place to install the machine. It is the favorable location that ensures the level of sales. To find such a place, an entrepreneur is forced to carefully analyze each potential point for installing a machine, or be prepared to pay a significant amount for rent. Most of the advantageous points in large cities are already occupied - train stations, shopping centers, airports, etc. In this case, you need to rely not only on the location of the machine, but also on the quality characteristics of the product: the use of unusual varieties of coffee, an original preparation recipe, a variety of assortments.

3. DESCRIPTION OF GOODS AND SERVICES

At the first stage of work, it is planned to purchase and install two coffee machines at different points. The assortment is determined based on the characteristics and technical capabilities of the device. Since the competition in the coffee vending segment is quite high, it is necessary to select machines that will provide a competitive advantage. In this case, preference should be given to the model that involves brewing coffee from ground beans in order to take into account market trends.

For this purpose, vending machines from the manufacturer Jofemar, model Coffeemar G250, costing 202,500 rubles will be purchased. Main characteristics of the device:

    a screw dispenser eliminates errors when adding ingredients;

    the built-in program is designed for 15 different drinks;

    The front part of the device is illuminated by LEDs, which saves energy consumption;

    The self-cleaning function makes the device easier to maintain;

    payment options: bills, banknotes, bank cards;

    volumetric containers for ingredients;

    “own mug” function;

    the ability to monitor and control the device via a mobile network.

Competitive advantages of the company: bean coffee, wide range, low price.

Table 2 presents the product range, cost calculation and approximate cost of the drink.

Table 2. Assortment of coffee machines and cost calculation

Type of drink

Glass with spoon, rub.

Drink, rub.

Milk, rub.

Sugar, rub.

Yield, ml (g)

Total s/s

Price, rub

Espresso

Americano

Cappuccino

Mochaccino

Hot chocolate

Coffee glissé

Milkshake

Vanilla syrup

Hazelnut syrup

Strawberry syrup

4. SALES AND MARKETING

The target audience of coffee vending machines is city residents who need to drink coffee for a small fee, while reducing the time it takes to prepare the drink: students, office employees, tourists, passers-by. Depending on the location of the vending machines, the target audience also differs:

    Universities – students, young people aged 18-25 years;

    Stations - men and women with average income;

    Shopping centers - middle-income families;

    Cinemas – young people, students, people aged 16-50 years;

    Business centers - office employees.

The main tool for advertising vending machines is their location. The most successful points are considered to be: train stations, markets, educational institutions, shopping centers, car washes, stadiums, public transport stops. It is recommended to select retail outlets based on the results of geomarketing research, taking into account pedestrian traffic of at least 1.5 thousand people per hour during daylight hours.

Ready ideas for your business

Marketing in the vending market is quite specific, like the form of trade itself, so each advertising tool must be adapted. For example, the use of outdoor advertising for vending is expensive and ineffective, and “event marketing”, which involves various promotions, is quite difficult to implement in this segment. To attract consumers, you can use the following promotion: label several drink cups and place information about the promotion on the machine. The client who gets the marked cup receives a guaranteed prize. For convenience, this can be a top-up on your phone. To receive your prize, the client just needs to call the contact number, and the organizer of the promotion needs to top up his account with a symbolic amount (100 rubles). In practice, this promotion, which is carried out throughout the week, allows you to increase sales of the coffee machine by 20 glasses a day, or by 140 glasses a week. Additional revenue will average 5,600 rubles with advertising costs of about 500 rubles.

The most effective advertising for vending machines is outdoor advertising, aimed at visually highlighting the outlet. To do this, you should use: pillars, banners, signs, scent marketing. You can focus attention on the coffee machine and increase customer loyalty by arranging an area next to the machine. If the terms of the contract with the landlord and the space allow, you can make a space for relaxation next to the coffee machine - put a table, bench or sofa.

Ready ideas for your business

Another way to attract attention is to brand your machine. An additional advantage of this tool is that it increases the recognition of the coffee machine. Branding can be done by ordering a sticker film from a printing house or by painting the surface with original, bright graffiti. Developing a layout and printing a vinyl sticker will cost about 1,500 rubles.

For advertising food products, aroma marketing is very relevant - attracting customers with smell. The aroma is directly related to the product and can cause quick, clear associations. This is especially true for vending, since the product located in the machine cannot be seen or tasted. The most suitable scents for a coffee machine are coffee or chocolate. In addition, these smells have been proven to stimulate appetite. Practice shows that 80% of buyers unconsciously focus on smell. Thanks to air aromatization, you can increase sales by 15%. Aromatization is especially relevant in places of impulse demand. The aroma is felt within a radius of 1-5 meters and can attract people who will not pay attention to the vending machine itself. To aromatize the coffee machine, an aroma device is installed on the outside - it is preferable to place it near the bill acceptor. In this case, the most uniform distribution of aroma is achieved, and the products themselves do not come into contact with the device. Aromatization technology based on gel cartridges will cost approximately 1,500 rubles per month, with the equipment costing 3,000 rubles.

The marketing strategy of this project includes: holding a promotion with labeled glasses, branding a vending machine using a vinyl sticker, and aromatizing the street space. Thus, the cost of starting advertising will be 7,000 rubles.

The planned sales volume is 1250 cups per month from each vending machine. The planned revenue is 112,500 rubles per month. Additional income is planned to be received from advertising on the sides and front panel of the machine. The cost of advertising on the side is 4,000 rubles/month, on the front panel – 750 rubles/month. During the year it is planned to conclude annual advertising contracts. Thus, the amount of additional income will be 9,500 rubles per month.

5. PRODUCTION PLAN

To implement the project, it is planned to rent two retail outlets with an area of ​​1 m2 each. One of the machines is planned to be installed in the station building, and the second in the shopping center. The cost of renting two points will be on average 7,000 rubles, since both points are characterized by high pedestrian traffic.

It is recommended to specify in the lease agreement all the terms of cooperation: the amount of rent, guarantees, obligations of the parties, the degree of responsibility of the lessor, payment of other expenses. It is also worth considering the option of including energy costs in your rent. The cost of electricity consumed by coffee machines averages 1000 rubles per month. In this project, electricity costs are not included in the rent and are taken into account separately in the amount of 2,000 rubles per month.

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Having decided on the location, you need to install coffee machines. The installation process takes a little time and is carried out by the company that sells this equipment. The presence of an outlet is the only technical condition for installing a coffee machine.

Servicing the machine often comes down to changing ingredients and utensils, as well as taking out money (if the machine is completely full, the machine will simply stop accepting money). It is recommended to check the machine once every 2-3 days to ensure the safety and serviceability of the equipment and the availability of ingredients. When operating 2-5 machines with ongoing maintenance, a business owner can easily cope on his own. When expanding your vending machine network, you should hire an employee who will service the equipment.

An important stage in organizing vending trade is the purchase of ingredients, disposable tableware and bottled water. Today there are a variety of suppliers of products for coffee machines on the market. You should make a choice in favor of one manufacturer or another when tasting the product yourself. The main criterion is the maximum naturalness of the product. The water used in coffee machines must be bottled and from the same brand, since the machine may malfunction if the water hardness level changes. All products must have appropriate quality certificates. Monthly expenses for ingredients will be 33,000 rubles based on the planned sales volume of 1,250 cups per month from each machine.

6. ORGANIZATIONAL PLAN

The initial stage of vending trade is registering a business with government agencies. To implement the project, an individual entrepreneur is registered with a simplified UTII taxation system (the tax is calculated based on the number of vending machines and the k2 coefficient for the city of Bataysk). The choice of taxation system depends on the location of the vending machines: a flat rate is preferable if the machines are located in places of high demand (shopping malls, train stations). If a retail outlet has a pronounced seasonality of demand or an average level of pedestrian traffic, then it is more correct to choose a taxation method that depends on profit. Type of activity according to OKVED-2: 47.99.2 Activities for trading through vending machines.

Opening hours of coffee machines: station – 24 hours a day; Shopping center – from 10:00 to 22:00. This project does not provide for staff, since the operation of coffee machines will be provided directly by an individual entrepreneur, who will also keep accounting records. If the project requires the services of an accountant, it is recommended to use outsourcing.

7. FINANCIAL PLAN

The financial plan takes into account all income and expenses of the project. To start a project, it is necessary to calculate the amount of initial investment. To do this, you need to decide on the costs of purchasing equipment, ingredients, an advertising campaign, business registration and the formation of working capital, which will cover the losses of the initial periods. The bulk of the required investment is in equipment and amounts to 90%.

Table 3. Investment costs

Name

Amount, rub.

Equipment

Equipment




Intangible assets

Business registration

Working capital

Purchase of raw materials

Working capital


Total:


Variable costs consist of the cost of ingredients used to prepare drinks and the energy consumed in the process. To simplify financial calculations, variable costs are calculated based on the average cost of a drink and a fixed trade markup of 330%.

Fixed expenses consist of rent, utility bills, advertising costs, taxes and depreciation. The amount of depreciation charges is determined by the linear method, based on the useful life of fixed assets of 5 years.

Table 4. Fixed costs


Thus, fixed monthly expenses were determined in the amount of 59,074 rubles. The planned revenue is 122,000 rubles per month with sales of 1,250 glasses from each machine and income from advertising on the surface of the machines. In the income structure, 74% comes from sales income and 26% from advertising income.

8. EVALUATION OF EFFECTIVENESS

The payback period for the project with an initial investment of 444,000 rubles is 13-14 months. The net present value is positive and equal to 118,101 rubles, the internal rate of return (IRR) is higher than the discount rate. Reaching the planned sales volume is planned for the fourth month of work. In this case, the net monthly profit of the project will be 37,900 rubles. The return on sales in the first year of operation will be 28%. These indicators indicate the investment attractiveness of the project.

9. POSSIBLE RISKS

To assess the risk component of the project, it is necessary to analyze external and internal factors. For the vending business, the following types of risk are distinguished:

    high level of competition in the market. A well-thought-out marketing strategy, branding of machines, high quality ingredients and proper location of machines will help reduce the risk effect;

    loss of location due to lease termination. This risk can be reduced by concluding a long-term lease agreement and choosing wisely landlords;

    seasonality, drop in demand in hot weather. This risk can be reduced by including cold drinks in the product range (for example, iced tea or milkshake) and an active marketing policy during periods of falling demand;

    vandalism. This risk can be reduced by installing machines in secured premises, equipping the machines with strong locks and modern security equipment, and concluding an agreement with the landlord on liability and property protection;

    technical breakdowns, equipment downtime. This risk is the most likely and can lead to serious losses. It is possible to minimize the risk with constant monitoring of equipment, regular maintenance of machines, purchasing equipment from high-quality, trusted manufacturers;

    failure to reach the planned sales volume. The degree of probability is high. Due to the fact that the profitability of vending machines depends on their location, it is recommended to start a vending business from several points, which allows you to redistribute risks. You can also reduce the likelihood of risk if you think through your pricing policy and provide for additional income from advertising on the surface of the machines.

Evgeniya Yurkina

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Practical experience: a vending business pays off in two years

The rapid pace of development of vending is one of the most noticeable trends in recent years. Vendorus Group CEO Svetlana Timoshenko explains how to enter a fast-growing and promising business.

The question of how to start a vending business has been relevant for many years now. The reasons for this are the low barrier to entry into business and the lack of an advertising campaign.

Capital investments: from 163,000 rubles
Payback of the vending business: 6 – 18 months

What do you think shopping centers, cinemas, hospitals, and offices have in common?

All of these areas are considered excellent locations for vending machines.

Automated sellers are suitable not only for selling small low-cost goods, they also act as mini-manufacturers (for example, coffee machines).

They quickly entered our lives and confidently took their place.

Because the question is how to open a vending business, has been relevant for several years now and this is not at all surprising.

The vending business especially attracts beginners.

There are many reasons for this: from the low threshold for entering the business to the lack of an advertising campaign (the advantages will be discussed in more detail below).

The vending business really has many advantages, and the prospects for development are quite bright.

What development trends and prospects does the vending business have?

The history of the emergence of the vending business has “gaming” roots.

Back in the distant 20s, the so-called one-armed bandits were popular - slot machines, which soon fell out of favor with the state.

The reason was simple - all cash turnover from the devices was not taxed.

Therefore, they were hastily converted for other needs - the sale of chewing gum.

However, it is not the United States that currently leads in the number of “cars” per capita.

In America, there are 40 people per machine, but in Japan, the main (60%) trading operations are carried out on machines.

And there is one vending machine for only 20 people.

In Russia, the level of popularity is much lower, so the domestic vending business has room to strive.

The slot machine business, which flourished in the USSR since the 50s, was based on coins.

The machines for the famous sparkling water were especially popular.

But with iron money falling out of use, its popularity gradually faded away.

Current machines “use” mainly paper bills.

In the late 90s, used vending machines began to be supplied from abroad, and of a wide variety: for sparkling water, chewing gum, and newspapers.

But time has shown that the most popular vending machines are for selling coffee.

What are the pros and cons of the vending business?

The vending business has some features that can be called disadvantages:

    Vending machines often deteriorate or even break down.

    Therefore, the entrepreneur must budget a considerable amount for the vending machines to be repaired.

    We must not forget that this is also a downtime, during which you will profit inexpensively.

    To minimize this risk, you should choose places where there is security surveillance: shopping and office centers, etc.

    The machines require a 24-hour connection to the electrical network.

    Any vending machines - gaming machines, for sparkling water or shoe covers - require systematic maintenance.

    You need to refill new consumables, wash them inside and out, and just check their functionality.

    This service can be provided by equipment suppliers upon agreement.

    It matters a lot where exactly your vending machines will be installed.

    Only in places with large crowds of people or their active movement will you receive sufficient demand.

    And some of them (such as shoe cover vending machines) can only be placed in specific places.

    Beginners in the field of entrepreneurship may be frightened by the gaps in the legislation of the Russian Federation regarding the vending business.

    However, difficulties with design can, if desired, be resolved if you understand the intricacies and structure of the equipment.

However, the number of advantages of the vending business is still greater, which explains its high popularity.

  • The vending business provides stable income, which is almost not subject to risks.
  • To enter the vending business, a low investment threshold is required.
  • An exceptional case - advertising is not needed at all for the vending business!
  • The machines can be quickly moved if the location no longer suits you or no longer brings the desired income.
  • The vending machine will sell at any time of the day or night (if it is located in an open area, of course).

    At the same time, you do not need to hire a salesperson for this - an additional savings item.

    For 7-10 installations, it is enough to involve only 1 person who will be responsible for refilling water, coffee, cups (depending on the type of device), cleaning and minor repairs.

  • Such a personal business as a vending business can be combined with other business options without any difficulties.
  • Vending machines are easy to install and register, despite gaps in the law.

    For example, you don't need a cash register.

How to open a vending business in a promising niche?


Indeed, vending machines have now been adapted for many types of activities.

For Russian people, familiar associations are machines for sparkling water, coffee, and snacks.

But there are also absolutely unique options for using automated sales.

And not only abroad, but also in Russia.

For example, in the Mosenergosbyt office, a vending machine was adapted to sell energy-saving light bulbs!

Subsequently, several more were installed throughout the city.

After all, we all know how important (and recently fashionable) it is to take care of the environment!

And in Spain they implemented an idea that would appeal to many Russians.

Local entrepreneurs have installed equipment in supermarkets that sell liquid soap and powders by the glass.

The absence of the need to hire a seller and make beautiful packaging made it possible to reduce the price of the goods.

And this created a great demand for the service.

To help you decide on the direction for your own vending business, follow these steps step by step:

  • analyze the market in your region to identify profitable niches to start;
  • Watch your competitors - do they fully satisfy the demand in the vending category?
  • study which places in the city are especially crowded - the success of a business almost 100% depends on the location;
  • consider the option of running several different machines at once (for example, install a duo of a soda water machine and a sandwich machine so that a person can have a full meal).

Where to start a vending business?

Once you have finished choosing the type of machine that you will be working on, you can finally proceed directly to the implementation of the idea.

If you boil everything down to a brief instruction, it will look like this:

    The future businessman must choose between an LLC and an individual entrepreneur, and then register to conduct legal activities.

    In addition, we have to decide on the taxation system.

    You can buy machines either in a single payment or take out a loan.

    In the first option, it is also worth considering purchasing used equipment, especially if this is your first business and the business model still needs to be tested.

    Like any other business, vending should be started with.

    An example for financial calculations is given in the article below.

    Analyze the prices and range of your competitors, as well as the cost of the raw materials you use.

    This will help you set prices for your items.

    For the machines you need to choose a place in accordance with the recommendations given below.

    Enter into an agreement with the owner of the territory, agreeing on a fixed monthly fee or a percentage of revenue.

How to open a vending business alone?



Typically, entrepreneurs immediately open a network of machines and hire a person to service it.

Beginners may want to perform its functions themselves to save money.

If you intend to do the same, you should familiarize yourself with the list of responsibilities.

As a rule, for a salary of 15-20,000 rubles, a hired person travels for inspection several times a week.

During his visits, he checks how the machines operate, cleans them inside and out, repairs them on site, or sends parts that need repairs for service.

These items vary depending on need.

But the list of these remains the same: fill with consumables and take money.

Theoretically, one person can easily do this job if he has a car.

But do not forget that even minor repairs require special knowledge.

At the same time, specialists are in a hurry to reassure you - if the equipment was purchased new and of high quality, you will not have to undergo frequent repairs.

It is enough to allocate $1000-1500 per year in a business plan to cover such needs.

But even a beginner can solve accounting issues on his own - you don’t need an outsourcing company, much less a full-time specialist.

How to choose a location for a vending business?

“Business is the art of extracting money from someone else’s pocket without resorting to violence.”
Max Amsterdam

Nothing determines the success of a vending business more than the location of the machines.

The main rule is that there should be an active flow of people in this place.

But at the same time, it is important that people do not rush past this place at maximum speed (as at the entrance to the subway, for example).

But educational institutions are excellent.

After all, although students move actively through the corridors, they are happy to stop to “grab” a candy bar or a glass of coffee.

One negative side of this arrangement is the difficulty in reaching an agreement with management.

An alternative to this option is office buildings.

Here the public is more solvent, and it is easier to conclude a lease agreement if competitors have not yet completely occupied the territory.

But the most popular location option has been and remains shopping centers.

The management is open to any agreements, because renting out space to entrepreneurs is their main goal.

And if the shopping center is popular, then the machine will accordingly have a large flow of customers.

Another significant advantage of such a place is the presence of security and video surveillance.

How to start a vending business: initial investments


As mentioned earlier, the threshold for entering the vending business is relatively affordable.

The list of expenses is unusually short:

What monthly investments are needed in a vending business?

Unlike capital investments, the list of regular expenses will be broader:

A few more words about the vending business,

its types, advantages and disadvantages,

you will hear in the video:

What is the payback period for a vending business?


If we talk about vending machines selling sparkling water or coffee (which are the most popular in the CIS countries), then the average revenue from one is about 17 thousand rubles per month.

At the same time, the markup on one glass of drink is about 300%.

In addition, you can earn income by placing advertisements from partners, both on the equipment itself and on glasses of water or other drinks.

With such indicators, the payback of the machine occurs in six months to a year.

The figure varies depending on the correct choice of location, the quality of the sparkling water or coffee itself, the frequency of breakdowns or work stoppages for other reasons.

Experienced people suggest that a vending business should be considered such only in the case when an entrepreneur purchases 5-10 machines at once.

Therefore, having recouped the first investment, it is worth directing the funds to scale the business.

No matter how simple and accessible it may be to enter vending business, yet it will also require constant participation from the entrepreneur.

You need to monitor the supply of sparkling water, bring cups and coffee, send broken parts for repair, look for new locations and compete with competitors.

But everything comes with experience.

So if you have a desire to open your own business and develop it, opening a vending business will be within the capabilities of even a beginner!

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Perhaps this article will help beginning vendors avoid some mistakes or even choose a different type of activity. I am a person, more than many, interested in market growth and business development in Russia, because our company has been selling vending machines for more than seven years. Today we are also beginning vendor-operators. I admit honestly that over the years of activity we have tried ourselves in many segments: a small network of payment terminals, coffee machines, snacks. But all this ended at such a minor level of development that many do not even know about these unsuccessful experiments. I was prompted to write this article by a constant question from our clients: “Where do used equipment come from, or as many say, “used machines”??? Behind this question lies a suspicion or doubt as to whether we, equipment sellers, are deceiving us that the vending business is really profitable and brings at least some profit. Of course, we answer: “Yes, yes, it is very profitable,” but we add, “If anything happens, we will always help you sell your machines.”

What happens? Are we really deceiving everyone, just to sell? How then can we explain such a successful development of this business in Western Europe, the USA, and Japan??? Do they have so much money, or do they invest it in vending and do not expect any return??? Is everyone working on their image???

In this article I will try to answer all these questions as simply as possible. And perhaps the doubts that plague many novice vendors will disappear or, on the contrary, will intensify.

First: Of course, automated trading is the business of the future; in just a few years, the number of machines in all vending segments will grow rapidly.

Second: Automated trading is a NETWORK business.

Let’s start with the second one, “Why haven’t many people been able to build a network?”

I will try to give examples using not only my own experience, but also the experience of entrepreneurs whose machines end up on the secondary market. Of course, I will only use examples that I am personally familiar with. First, I will briefly describe the areas that are most popular today. After reviewing the market segments, I will answer questions about why people leave the vending business. The answers are almost the same, regardless of direction.

I would like to note that I will refer to pessimistic and average data; I will not write about super-profitable places about which legends are made. Moreover, machines from such places rarely end up on the secondary market.

Coffee machines.

“This is the simplest and most profitable line of business,” this is what vending experts say and write. Despite this, the market for used coffee machines is growing rapidly, and not only because operators are replacing old models with new ones. After spending a little time on the Internet, you will find both old “prehistoric” models and practically new machines.

The profitability of the business is high, the markup on drinks reaches 500%, but... the average revenue from a machine is up to 15,000 rubles, the machines require careful care, and due to high competition it is quite difficult to find a location.

Snacks.

“Today the profitability of snack machines exceeds coffee” - Hurray!!! Let's all install snack vending machines!!! There is a huge selection of vending machines for snack products from various manufacturers; there are centers for the sale of fillers, i.e. there is no need to go to Auchan, Metro or any other wholesale center. Everything will be delivered to you, just download...

But, despite all the delights of business, used machines appear, and many are disappointed. Again, placing a snack vending machine is not that easy.

Carbonated drinks.

“We remember them from childhood, they were and will be in great demand, the profitability of the business is very high!!!” - Yes, we remember them from childhood and they were in great demand, but there were too many alternative drinks on one hand, today you can get dizzy if you start choosing lemonade in a hypermarket.

Massive business is most relevant in the southern cities of Russia and during the season... There is also a market for used machines.

Hot food.

This is over, the topic mostly concerns our company, although there are already other market representatives developing this direction. /
“A new niche, you can become the first globalist and win a large market share, a super profitable business.” The niche is new and completely unfilled, but the market for used machines already exists.

First of all, in your calculations you need to start from the average revenue of 40,000 rubles, and not 100,000 rubles, as many mistakenly believe, and not forget about the cost of the equipment. There are many nuances in the approach to this business that clearly distinguish this area from traditional vending. I will write a separate article about them.

Other vending machines.

I will not touch upon vending machines for services, such as massage chairs, scales, etc., we will only focus on vending machines for goods/

I can say that on the secondary market there are vending machines selling DVDs (but essentially these are the same vending machines selling piece goods), popcorn, hot dogs and other innovative items in small quantities.

What do most entrepreneurs who left vending, thanks to whom we now have a secondary market for vending machines, summarize??? – And this despite the fact that the vending market in Russia is at the initial stage of development, or as some write: “There is no vending market in Russia yet.”

Not a coincidence of desires and one’s capabilities,

There is no coincidence of desires and business opportunities.

Let's look at the main illusions.

Illusion No. 1. “You can start a business without money”

To enter any business you need start-up capital, vending is no exception. If you go into business entirely with borrowed funds, and even with the calculation of the return of funds within a year, this is an immediate “crash”. Completely without investment, you can try yourself in various companies as an employee. And in order to become a borrower or lessee for vending machines, you must have a positive history of business activity, security, etc.

Illusion No. 2. “Invest money and make a profit.”

Of course, this is the most common misconception; at a minimum, you still need to find good locations for placing the machines. This is the salt of vending. You can try to invest money in some mutual funds, shares of state corporations, etc. But even the most famous company name in the world does not guarantee you will receive dividends. So why should vending, a new, developing business, give you a 100% guarantee????

In the case of vending machines, you can at least change the situation, rearrange the machines, change the fillers, reduce costs, etc. But at the same time, you must work or you must have a competent manager who will do this work, whom you can afford if you have a network of 50-100 machines. But even so, assistance in placing the machines is necessary. It's really difficult.

Illusion No. 3. “My partners and I will create a business”

The key word is partners, based on our practice, this is a fairly common illusion. A group of 2 to 5 people gathers, invests in the purchase of the first 20 or even 50 machines, then a company is created and personnel are hired. As a result, at best, the company breaks even. Next, the meeting of founders makes a decision that the business is not interesting.

Networks of up to 20 machines do not include hired personnel, office and other commercial and management expenses in their payback calculations. This is a business for one person and a maximum of a hired operator. Not to mention partners and dividends, even if they exist, they will be so insignificant that no one will be interested anyway.

A network of 20 machines, no matter which ones, can generate marginal income of at best 200 rubles. up to 500 tr, and if you subtract the salaries of hired employees, rent, taxes, and other expenses, and suppose the remainder is divided into 3-4 parts, then you will be left with 20 tr for each businessman. up to 60 tr. I don’t think that anyone starting a business dreams of such a “fabulous” income.

Illusion No. 4. “I’ll start a completely new direction, which doesn’t exist in Russia today, and I’ll get rich”

It’s good when people think creatively, but maybe this area of ​​vending doesn’t exist because no one needs it? This also happens sometimes. Starting with something that doesn’t exist, you start an experiment; if it’s successful, it can turn into a business. This is why some new trends in vending in Russia end before they even begin.

Maybe the article turned out to be pessimistic and someone reading it became reluctant to go into this business. But this could only happen if you had at least one of the above illusions...

Vending is truly the business of the future; soon there will be tens and hundreds of times more vending machines than there are today. Vending is profitable and profitable; there are absolutely empty niches.

First of all, vending is a business, and any business requires: investments of financial resources, effort and time, development of a development strategy, market monitoring and proper business planning.

When planning the development of a vending business, choose professionals from this market as partners and suppliers. They will not just sell you equipment, but will also provide full consulting support, teach you how to properly run a business, help you avoid typical beginner mistakes and build a profitable network.