Business idea vending machines. How to develop a competent vending business plan? Varieties of food vending machines

Vending business involves the sale of goods through vending machines. Mostly these machines sell drinks, chocolates, bars and snacks. Vendin business is very popular today, experienced entrepreneurs confirm that it pays off in just a couple of years.

Vending techniques can be different - some sell coffee, some only finished products. In the USA and Europe, such machines appeared at the beginning of the 20th century, but they came to our country relatively recently, about 10 years ago. Since then, the popularity of slot machines has grown tremendously.

The first vending machine appeared in London at the end of the 19th century; it sold postcards for coins. Vending soon appeared in the United States, which sold gum. The first talking machine appeared in the USA; when receiving money, he thanked the user. But not only in the West there was vending, in the USSR it also existed - everyone knows about vending machines selling soda water, as well as subway tokens or matches.

Currently, the vending business is actively developing. In Russia, it is still going through the initial stage, mainly simple models function here. In the West, such devices are more modern - they can issue change, accept cashless payments, have a wide range of goods, and control of such devices is carried out via the Internet. In Japan, already more than half of all sales are carried out automatically.

Vending business - advantages and disadvantages of such activities

Recently, the popularity of this type of business has begun to grow, the reason for this is a quick payback and small investments.

Typically, vending involves the sale of small items - cigars, chocolates, snacks and drinks. But in the West, the choice is even wider, they even sell clothes and shoes in vending machines. Some machines allow online payment transactions.

The advantages of vending are obvious:

Its disadvantages include the ability to "burn out" if you use low-quality equipment, as well as the presence of a limit of possibilities. A significant drawback of such activities is the inability to get serious development. You cannot create a powerful company based on vending machines for food or drinks, so only middle-level entrepreneurs need to open such a business.

Is it worth starting a vending business?

This is one of the simplest and most promising forms of business. A great option for aspiring entrepreneurs. The gradual development of vending allows you to open a whole network of machines of different specifics, but you can test your strength at several points.

As in any business, there is a risk of burnout. The reason may be improper business management, the choice of low-quality equipment for work, savings for products and equipment. An incorrectly chosen place can also lead to the loss of money, since low traffic of people will not bring income.

Creating a vending business is not worth saving, it is better to pay more, but also to get more profit. Business will be profitable if you study the specifics of the market and competition in advance. The best places to install the vending machines are:

Shopping centers with many entertainment areas and shops. It would be appropriate to put here a vending machine with coffee and snacks, as well as toys - such points are often visited with children.
Transport stops at densely populated intersections and areas. But putting equipment outside can be dangerous - it can easily be damaged by passers-by.
A great place is the hall of a hospital or clinic. It is ideal to sell coffee and toys for children here.
The territory of walking and resort areas - vending machines with food and photo booths are appropriate.
Large business centers.
Railway and bus stations, airport.
Grocery stores - an online payment machine would be appropriate here.
The best places for such points of sale are universities and technical schools. There is little competition and there are always a lot of students who want to eat in between couples.

If you purchase 1-3 units of equipment, the risk of losing money and waiting for a long payback period is very high. In order to get income from the business as soon as possible, it is best to buy 7-10 machines and install them in different places, after studying the market.

Types of vending business

Vending machines selling coffee and food are mostly common in our country, but it is not necessary to choose this direction. If you choose an uncharacteristic course of action, the risk of facing competition is significantly reduced.

The most promising areas are considered to be:

Choosing a direction of activity, you need to take into account the peculiarity of the area and the needs of the target audience, only in this way the machine will generate income. For this, statistical data are studied and marketing research is carried out.

Business on vending machines - the algorithm of doing business

Registration of individual entrepreneurs

If you decide to open a vending business, the first thing you need to do is register as a private entrepreneur or open your own individual entrepreneur with a certain income limit. The procedure for obtaining this status changes from time to time, so you need to clarify all the difficult points in advance.

If the number of machines is small, for example 5, it is easier to register as an individual entrepreneur. If their number approaches 10, it is better to register as a legal entity.

Buying vending machines

The second, important stage is the purchase of equipment. It is better to invest more money, but buy 7-10 units of equipment at once in order to make a profit as soon as possible. Up to 10 machines can be serviced independently and there is no need to hire workers.

When choosing vending machines, you need to consider their type. Mechanically controlled equipment that allows you to buy snacks or chewing gum have a simple mechanism without an electronic unit, their cost will be $ 100-1000. Coffee machines and electronic payment machines are more expensive, their price will be 3,000 - 10,000 dollars, since a computer is installed inside. Equipment, if necessary, can be bought used or rented. The most expensive models are produced by Italy and Spain, but the quality of such equipment is also the highest. Domestic and Chinese models are cheaper, but less reliable.

Business plan creation

The creation of a business plan implies the choice of the specifics of the technology, as well as the choice of the target audience and the place where the equipment will be installed. The payback period of the business is also calculated here, usually it is 1.5-2 years.

Rent of space

To start a business, you need to rent an area for it; a lease agreement is concluded with the selected location of the machines. There are two options - either the entrepreneur pays a fixed amount for rent, or gives a percentage of sales.

Purchase of goods

Now you can buy a product and load it into your vending machines after checking the equipment is working properly.
Do not forget to timely replenish equipment with new products, as well as carry out technical inspection and collection. Keep track of the serviceability of equipment and the availability of the range.

In contact with

When they talk about a business without problems and not requiring significant investments, then vending is the best option. Vending business: what it is and where to start is the main question of a novice entrepreneur.

Features of automated trading

Translated from English, vending means the sale of goods or the provision of services without the participation of the seller. If in foreign countries the sale of goods and services using vending machines occupies more than two-thirds of the total retail trade, in our country this figure is no more than 30%.

Nevertheless, the vending business in Russia is currently developing rapidly. Its main advantages include:

Round-the-clock trade.
Small requirements for the size of the installation site.
Short term to achieve return on investment.
There is no need for a search for storage facilities for storing goods.
Simplicity of accounting, no need to comply with cash discipline.

The negative properties include the possibility of breakdown caused by various reasons, including as a result of criminal acts, the need to choose the right place for installation.

Directions of entrepreneurship using machines

There are a huge number of ideas for running a vending business, starting with the simplest, in the form of coffee machines, and ending with completely unusual types. For example, in China, eggs are sold through a vending machine, and in Japan, machines are installed that offer services for washing car windows.

The most popular food products are vending machines that sell drinks, abroad - for the sale of chips, confectionery, snacks. On the Russian market - for carbonated water, coffee, snacks. As well as payment terminals, photo machines, autocopy machines ...

How to start your own business?

It is necessary first to assess the prospects awaiting its owner in the future. To this end, the following steps are taken:

The level of demand for a particular product is analyzed.
The infrastructure of nearby retail outlets is being studied.
The number of possible competitors is established.
Information on the costs and profits of vending outlets already operating in the area is being worked out.

The next step is to choose a business idea, that is, in which direction you are going to move in order to ensure the profitability of entrepreneurship. Then the specific organizational questions begin. For novice businessmen, the easiest way is to register an individual entrepreneur (individual entrepreneurship).

Then the taxation system is selected. At the next stage, equipment is purchased. It can be one or several machines that can be borrowed or leased. The equipment is purchased from the manufacturer or may be used.

If the sale of food products is planned, then the purchase of new equipment is justified. Determining the cost of a service or product is important for attracting customers. Constantly tracking prices from competitors and experimenting with your prices will ensure high demand.

How to open a business without high costs?

There are several ways to start a business with minimal investment:

To become a partner of a vending company that will provide equipment and materials, however, it should be noted that then the entrepreneur loses independence and simply receives a percentage of the profit specified in the contract.
Purchase a machine on the terms of the form of credit or lease. This method is acceptable if it is impossible to determine whether it is profitable to do this type of business.
Purchase a machine that was previously in operation.

Selling goods and services without human intervention

Given the pace of development of the vending industry, the number of types of goods that are sold through vending machines is constantly growing. The vending business, along with the offers of goods and services, also includes the production of devices for their sale.

When purchasing them, special attention should be paid to the build quality and the availability of anti-vandal protection. Even setting up in a crowded shopping mall does not guarantee their safety.

Vending machines differ not only in their size and different technical equipment, but also in their appearance. Among the latest developments, the most promising for the domestic market are devices that are designed for the sale of fruits, men's and women's perfumes, condoms, and so on. When choosing a supplier, you should give preference to a company that also offers consumables and guaranteed maintenance at the same time.

Each vending machine must have information about the entrepreneur indicating the contact phone number. For the convenience of calculations, it is necessary to provide for the possibility of payment in different systems:

receiver for paper notes;
acceptance of coins;
payment by a plastic card.

The presence of the device in working order around the clock affects the level of demand, therefore, it is necessary to constantly monitor the technical condition of the machine, as well as maintain its appearance in a neat, beautiful form. Each equipment should have instructions with a step-by-step list of use. Clear, printed in large letters, it should be memorable and simple.

A marketing move such as holding promotions, using an exclusive type of coffee in a coffee machine, setting discounts when buying at certain hours, or other chips that distinguish a business from a similar business is not bad for increasing profits.

Designing entrepreneurship using machines

Any type of business must start with the development of a competent, thought out to the smallest detail business plan. It contains the following information:

What kind of vending are you planning to do?
Business form (legal entity or individual).
Form of taxation and how tax accounting will be conducted.
Data on the area where the devices are located and the number of potential customers.
Estimated number of devices to be installed.
The amount provided for incidental expenses.

Mandatory sections of the project for the implementation of a business idea are:

Sales planning with the definition of the target audience, risk analysis.
Production plan with a phased implementation schedule.
Economic calculations, and the planned profitability ratio.
Determination of ways to overcome possible losses, taking into account the timing of reaching breakeven.

An approximate list of expenses for starting your own business:

Approximate list of monthly expenses:

The final part of the business plan indicates the ultimate goals, a description of the location of the machines, the costs of the project, sources of funding.

You can download it for use in your own projects.

Action plan for the implementation of automated trading

The first thing to do to legalize the business is to register with the local tax office. Taxation of the vending business can be carried out in the following mode:

The unified tax on imputed income, which is paid by the owners of vending machines with piece goods, except for vending machines with drinks.
Simplified taxation and accounting system.

To register an individual entrepreneur, you must submit an application indicating the form of taxation, copies of the necessary documents and a receipt for payment of state duty. There is no separate code for a vendor, so the entrepreneur, depending on the type of machine, indicates the corresponding values. Confirmation of the quality of products and equipment is provided by the sanitary-epidemiological service on the basis of an analysis of all components.

Wrong definition of OKVED codes can become a pitfall. When registering, it is recommended to select a code that is closest to the type of vending you are engaged in.

For example, if you are installing vending machines that sell food, beverages, or piece goods, a retail registration code without a point of sale will work. The machines that accept payments are registered using the code provided for the sale of goods through social networks and online stores.

Choosing a location

The success of a business largely depends on the correct installation location of the device. In this case, the following points should be taken into account:

Crowded place.
What people are doing (bored while waiting or on the move, pursuing certain goals).
Consider the prevalence of age categories. For example, in children's centers, near schools, machines with sweets or toys are more appropriate, and at train stations, slipboxes will be in demand, where you can relax or sleep at any convenient time.
Vending machines for coffee or snacks are appropriate in offices, clinics, educational institutions of the middle and higher level.

The demand for goods and services that are purchased by means of devices is largely determined by the place where they are installed. Successful entrepreneurs recommend choosing places of the greatest congestion, and where the flow of people is not too intense.

It can be:

Large shopping centers, buildings with many offices.
Buildings of educational institutions, student dormitories.
Sport complexes.
Bus stations, train stations, health care institutions.
Enterprises with a large number of employees.
Service stations.

Installation is carried out after signing the contract and connecting the device to the electrical network, and, if necessary, to the water supply.

Taxation of businessmen

Initially, the taxation systems are analyzed, choosing the most effective form. In this case, the calculation takes into account regional taxes at the place of registration of entrepreneurship and its organizational and legal form.

What taxes you have to pay on the vending business depends on the taxation system. For LLC, experts propose a unified tax on external income, regulated by the norms of the current Tax Code. Individual entrepreneurs without forming a legal entity are registered according to the patent form of taxation.

The cost of a patent, as the product of the tax rate and the amount of income, is calculated per machine. The deadlines for paying the tax payment depend on the term of validity of the issued patent and are set different for an annual patent or with a validity period of six months or less. For an annual patent, the tax period is the calendar year, and for a patent of lesser ownership, it is the entire duration of the patent.

The patent taxation system can be used by an entrepreneur whose total revenue does not exceed 60 million rubles. To avoid violations, you will need a calculator to keep track of your income and timely switch to another system if the set amount is exceeded.

Confirmation of the proceeds received when selling through the devices, when choosing a simplified taxation system, are acts of collection and orders for posting the proceeds. Simplified entrepreneurs, regardless of the regions in which their equipment is located, pay taxes exclusively at their place of residence.

Video: vending business from A to Z.

“I got the idea to start vending from the positive feedback. The beginning was laid by the purchase of several snack machines at once, equipped with everything necessary for working in an autonomous mode. For accounting and maintenance, they had to hire workers. The business became break-even three years later, it brings in 200 thousand rubles a month. income "- Nikolay.

“I have installed vending machines for toys in places where children congregate, and I have a good income. The only problem for me is the high rent ”- Fedor.

“I recommend that beginners and entrepreneurs who do not have a large start-up capital buy one machine installed in a shopping center or amusement park. A year later, when it starts to pay for itself, you can start gradually expanding your business ”- Andrey.

“You shouldn't chase after the cheapness of Chinese devices, as maintenance will cost a pretty penny” - Artem.

“Well-conducted preliminary research of the demand for goods and services will help to avoid mistakes and disappointment” - Sergey.

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The rhythm of modern life is increasing every day. If earlier we could afford long gatherings in the middle of the working day, long smoke breaks and snacks, now everything is changing dramatically. Time is money, and businessmen are especially well aware of this. Every wasted minute is a wasted opportunity to earn another hundred dollars. People began to reduce as much as possible the time for eating, drinking coffee, teas, and paying for goods and services. And in this they are helped by various machines. In a minute, you can buy yourself a grain coffee, eat a bar or a sandwich, pay for the Internet, make a bank transfer, etc. Comfortable? The answer is obvious. If there is demand, then supply will grow. This type of business is called. Winding is a certain type of trade, where goods are sold through special machines.

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In this article, we will tell you what a vending business is, why it is becoming more and more popular, what are the prospects for vending in Russia, and whether it is worth investing a good amount now, expecting a quick return on investment.

How to start a vending business

Any business starts with an idea. The vending business is no exception. Only at first glance it seems that everything is clear and simple here - put the machine on, charged it, and wait until the money drips. But these are the thoughts of an amateur who has never been in business, and even if he does, he will not stay for long. Vending will sell an automatic machine instead of you. And then the question arises - which machine and what should it sell? At the moment in the world there are many directions of sales using self-service machines. Among them are the following:

Vending machines selling various snacks (bars, chocolates, chips, etc.)
Vending machines offering toys
Coffee and tea machines that can prepare many different types of coffee and other beverages.
Vending machines with small piece goods (chewing gum, sweets, shoe covers, headphones)
Soda water vending machines
Jukeboxes
Various massage chairs

The vending business has a very wide scope, and it is not limited only to sweets and drinks, as many people think.

Having decided on the type of vending, you must draw up a business plan, study the competition, analyze the market situation, paying special attention to demand, find out what taxes are imposed on the vending business in your country, and start to act a little. Selling through various vending machines is a profitable business that has established itself for a very long time. It is only important to take into account certain features and specifics of this type of activity.

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So where to start a vending business? First, you need to understand who will be the target audience of your slot machine. The first coffee machines were designed for young people who live in dynamics, always in motion, and do not have a free minute to go to a coffee shop and have a cup of hot coffee. It was much easier for them to take a glass of coffee from the machine in a few seconds and go on about their business. So, do you know who you will be targeting?

Next, you need to decide where to put the machine. The second point follows directly from the first. Based on the target audience, you need to choose a placement. Do not forget that the lion's share of the profit depends on the well-chosen location. The most popular are places with a large crowd of people - train stations, airports, institutes, schools.

The products displayed in your vending machine are also of great importance. No need to bet on unknown machines. It is better to start with tea and coffee, and place snacks and snacks next to it. Thus, you will kill two birds with one stone.

Taxation in the vending business

Special attention should be paid to the issue of taxation. Each country has its own laws, and we cannot give any specific recommendations. I just want to say that to run a vending business, you will be enough to register yourself as a private entrepreneur (sole proprietor in Ukraine, individual entrepreneur in Russia). There is no need for other more complex forms such as LLC or CJSC. This will create unnecessary problems for you with tax reporting, and instead of developing your business and expanding the network, you will delve into the essence of LLC activities.

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At the initial stages, when turnover and profits are not large, you can choose a simplified taxation system. Over time, if you do not invest in the statutory revenue framework for the year, you will change to another, more suitable system.

Recruiting personnel for the vending business

Many newbies who decided to open a vending business make one big mistake - they service their machines on their own. On the one hand, it seems logical, because this way you can save on staff salaries, but here a number of objective problems emerge. First, you need to have certain skills and knowledge so as not to damage or break anything in the process. Secondly, the network of machines will begin to expand, and it will not be easy for one to handle it. Also, machines from time to time will break down and junk, and if you do not have a special technical education, then you will not be able to fix them quickly on the spot. Therefore, it is better not to save up to the last, but to hire a knowledgeable and experienced person who will be able to service the machines, and in which case he will quickly solve technical problems.

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Do not forget that the machines must work around the clock, because your profit depends on it. Employees must have a clear detour schedule and constantly make sure that the necessary products are presented in the machines.

Vending business expenses and income

Everything here is individual, and largely depends on which machine you choose, how much its maintenance will cost, how much you pay for renting a seat, etc. If we talk about average numbers, then they are:

A coffee machine will cost between $ 1,500 and $ 5,000
Staff salaries are $ 300-500 per person. If the network is large and the employee works full time, then the salary will increase.
Coffee will cost about $ 150 per month.
Cups and supplies - at least $ 150 more per month.
Renting a good shopping place - from $ 100.
The profit, when selling 100 glasses of coffee per day, will be $ 1000 per month.

The figures are approximate, and may differ significantly in your case, both in plus and minus. You need to calculate based on the real situation in the region where you plan to develop your vending business.

Pros and cons of vending business

There are a lot of myths, wrong opinions, and inaccurate calculations around the vending business. Someone thinks that vending is a gold mine, and the machine will pay off in just a few weeks. Others, on the contrary, are sure that it is not worth investing in vending, because it has no prospects. You can argue for a long time, but you need to focus only on real facts and reviews of those who started and developed such a business. We will present the real pros and cons of the vending business.

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The pluses include:

There are a lot of free niches. In Russia, and in other CIS countries, the vending business is a new direction of activity. Yes, there are many machines where, but if you look at the statistics, it says that there is still room to grow. In Japan there is one submachine gun per 23 inhabitants, in Russia there are 2,500 people per 1 submachine gun. Would you say that the purchasing potential is different? Perhaps, but in our country, many would like to use automatic machines, only they can not always be found.

The ability to easily resell the business. If suddenly your business does not go well, or you realize that vending is not yours, then you can sell the machines without any problems, and indeed resell the entire business. This is a definite plus of this type of activity.

Just expand. There are no complicated schemes - find a good point, analyze the flow of people, negotiate a lease, put your machine on. That's it, your business is already growing. It's simple.

Legal simplicity. There is no certification. No need to obtain special licenses and permits. It is enough to register your activity, pay taxes on time and submit reports.

The ability to quickly learn. You do not need to complete special courses, receive diplomas, or go through a long study. Vending business can be learned very quickly and easily. Many companies that offer vending machines for sale conduct a "Young Fighter Course" - a series of trainings in which they will tell you the basics, tell you how to operate the vending machines and get the most out of them.

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Fast adaptation to demand. The good thing about the vending business is that you can quickly adapt to customer demand. Yesterday everyone was buying chocolate bars, but are buns with cream in fashion today? No problem. A couple of simple manipulations in the service center, and your machine sells what customers want to see.

Cons of vending business:

The minimum threshold for entry. On the Internet, you can find tips that a vending business can be started from one machine. This is true, but it will pay off for a long time, and it is not a fact that such a business is worth doing. It's like trading only one watermelon a day in the market. Buying used machines is also not worth it, because there is a high probability that all the profit will be consumed by their repair and maintenance. Experienced businessmen who ate a dog on a vending machine advise taking at least 10 machines at once. Then there will be some sense in working. You will be able to hire a normal technician without fear that your profit will go to his salary. But you yourself understand that 10 machines is at least $ 30,000.

Often many people want to start their own business, but they are looking for such a start option so that the costs and efforts are relatively small, and the income is high. One of these is the vending business. There is still little competition in this area. This is just a plus.

For example, in Japan, the country that holds the record for the vending business, there is one machine for every twenty people. The United States of America lags a little behind - there is one apparatus for every forty people. In the CIS countries, the situation is still quite different. The number of vending devices is about one in eight to nine thousand people! If you start this business now, you will be able to operate in this market with little or no competition.

Type of product or service

The first step to start organizing your vending business is deciding what product or service you will sell through vending machines. Both food and non-food products can be sold as commodities. Among the food products sold through vending, the most common are drinks - coffee, tea, juices, soda, and sweets - chocolate, bars, sweets, ice cream, and chewing gum. It is also easy to sell chips, snacks, nuts, and in general any packaged products with relatively long storage through the machines. You can also sell a lot of non-food products - cigarettes, magazines / newspapers, pocket books, batteries, stationery, flowers, cosmetics, household chemicals, children's toys.

If the goal is not only to sell, but also to attract attention, then it makes sense to think about what unusual product can be placed in vending. For example, in China, even live crabs and whipping china are sold through vending. Here you can find out about other unusual vending devices.

Vending machines through which a certain service can be obtained are also common abroad. Residents of the CIS countries are so far familiar only with payment machines, but vending offers the opportunity to sell other services as well: hardware massage, instant photography, copier, charging phones and other gadgets, shoe shine. Information devices can be created. They will be especially good in tourist cities.

Business registration

To install vending machines, you need to register your company. You can choose both LLC and IE. Choosing an individual entrepreneur will make it a little easier to start a business. It is worth immediately determining the type of taxation. It depends on what kind of product and how the device will sell. After all, he can not only sell, but also “produce” a product (for example, pizza vending machines prepare it from ingredients and heat it up before giving it to the buyer). We determine the type of activity (retail trade, manufacturing), and then we look at what taxation system can be used in this case. Usually, owners of vending machines choose a simplified taxation system.

Equipment selection

The necessary equipment can be purchased from supplier firms, of which there are many now. Slot machines of brands are widespread: Necta, Venson, Saeco, Jofemar, Unicum, Azkoyen, Bianchi and others. Make sure that you are provided with a warranty card for each machine. Equipment companies can also supply you with the product itself or the ingredients for it. If the machine breaks down, then also contact the manufacturer - he will help with the repair and provide the necessary spare parts.

Many entrepreneurs are tempted to buy used vending machines, as they are much cheaper. SES employees, checking the equipment, impose very strict requirements on it, and the risk that they will nevertheless find critical flaws greatly increases. Therefore, it is better for us to buy only new high-quality equipment from reliable suppliers.

To obtain a permit for vending activities, it is necessary to check the machines and the goods themselves for cleanliness and suitability for trade. Such an examination is paid and is carried out by sanitary and other services.

Since machines for the sale of drinks are widespread in our country, we will dwell on them in more detail. Devices preparing hot drinks must be connected to the water supply. You can use tap water to make tea and coffee. A water filtration and purification system must be installed - this is an invariable condition of sanitary and epidemiological stations. Moreover, the source of water supply must be constant. All beverage ingredients (tea, coffee, milk and other additives) are dry loaded into the machine. But the examiners also examine them for suitability for eating and draw up their own conclusion. You cannot do without a cash register in any kind of trade, but in the vending business it is not needed. The payment system installed in the vending machine will do a good job with this task.

Equipment installation

It is best to place vending machines in crowded places - in shopping and entertainment centers, office complexes, educational institutions, manufacturing plants, clinics, car washes and service stations. The owners of such companies usually give the go-ahead for the installation of vending machines on their territory, since this is also a plus for them - the loyalty of consumers to the institution increases. Devices with "children's" goods - sweets, sweet soda, toys - are best placed near schools and various children's sections and courses.

For renting a retail space for a device (about one square meter), you will have to pay about 10% of sales or a fixed amount in the range of 20-100 dollars. It is possible to install vending machines just outside, but this implies some potential dangers. The machine can become a victim of vandalism and hooliganism, and you will incur losses.

Payment systems

The payment system installed on the vending machine affects the level of sales revenue. The wider the possibilities of the payment system, the more clients and profits the vending machine will have. The device must be able not only to accept paper bills, coins and issue change, but also to work with credit cards.

Where to start a business?

And a couple more points in conclusion. There will be no problems with loading the goods into the device - you will need to allocate only a few hours a week. It is necessary to monitor the demand for the product and the level of sales. If the sales are not going the way you would like, you may have chosen the wrong location for the vending machine.

Replace broken parts in time and always keep the machines in good working order. The psychology of the consumer is such that if several times he stumbles upon the same non-working machine, then the next time he will hardly approach him, having lost confidence.

How many devices should you start with? Here the opinions of the players in this business differ. Some advise to start with several at once - the more of them, the higher the profit, and the business will pay off faster. Others believe that you need to start small - install a couple of pieces, follow the reaction of consumers, understand whether this is "your" business or not. And only then expand. If you have not come to a clear decision in this matter, we recommend that you start with ten machines located in different places. If you aim yourself at a serious business from the very beginning, then success will surely come to you!

The Russian vending market is just at the beginning of its journey, lagging ten times behind the European market, hundreds of times behind the markets of the USA and Japan. The current market turnover is about 3-4 billion rubles, in a five-year perspective - 30-40 billion rubles.

Market potential: Russian vending in numbers

The vending business is a business based on the use of automated retail machines through which a wide range of FMCG products are sold. As a rule, these are tea and coffee, water and drinks, freshly squeezed juices and snacks, chocolate bars, gum and hot food, as well as a number of non-food items.

Before entering a business, it is necessary to assess its prospects and answer a number of questions: how saturated is the vending market at this stage, and what is its capacity in the future? In which niches is the main development going on now, and which segments may open in the future? Finally, to what extent is the consumer himself interested in vending and what exactly attracts him to vending machines?

The vending market in Russia is now: 55-65 thousand machines and 3-4 billion rubles of annual turnover. From 100 thousand to 1 million rubles of start-up investments, with a 1.5-2.5 year payback period. Potential increase in capacity - 10 times in a 5-year perspective.

According to the National Association of Automated Trade, today there are 55-65 thousand vending machines in Russia, of which about 15 thousand are in Moscow. The annual turnover of operators in this market is estimated at 3-4 billion rubles throughout Russia. Is it a lot or a little?

For comparison, just under four million vending machines are currently operating in the EU countries. The penetration rate of vending can be estimated by the number of machines per number of inhabitants. The leaders here are Japan and the United States - one machine gun for 23 and 35 people, respectively (according to 2013 data). In Europe, this figure is 1/110 people, in Russia - 1/2500 people, i.e. almost 100 times less than in Japan or the United States.

However, one should not rush to conclusions about more than 100 times the potential of the vending business in Russia. When assessing the potential, it is more correct to start from such an indicator as the share of vending trade in the retail structure. At the same time, it is more correct to focus not on the markets of Japan or the United States, but on the markets of European countries closer to Russia. So, at the moment in the Russian Federation the share of vending is no more than 1% of retail, while in Europe it is on average 5%. In this regard, it is appropriate to talk about a 5-short growth in the potential of the vending business, which, with an annual 1% change in the market structure, is realized in 5 years.

Taking into account that in a 5-year perspective the Russian retail market itself will at least double, by 2020 it is possible to predict a 10-fold increase in the capacity of the vending market, up to 30-40 billion rubles of turnover annually.

Current and prospective market niches

Objectively speaking, the Russian vending market is still in its infancy: more than of the market is concentrated in cities with a population of one million, and its product structure is not diverse. Today the market is 60-65% represented by coffee machines, another 20-25% - by machines for the sale of snacks. The remaining 10% of the vending business is accounted for by other vending machines, among which machines for the sale of hygiene items, newspapers, drinks, juices, soda water, and hot food stand out.

Undoubtedly, the highest activity, including the toughest competition, is now observed in the coffee segment of the market. On the one hand, this is due to the marketing features of the product - coffee is the best fit for selling through vending machines, since it is consumed on the go. And he has fewer direct competitors - not at every exit from the metro, supermarket, market, checkpoint, office, etc. there is a coffee shop. Plus, coffee from vending machines wins the price competition against substitute products - drinks from coffee establishments.

Now almost all the most promising points for installing coffee machines in large cities have already been covered - it will be extremely difficult to find a supermarket, hypermarket, shopping center, train station, airport, etc., where there are no coffee machines at all. However, to consider this niche already occupied, hastily. Even in those places where coffee machines are already presented (and far from being a single copy), there are opportunities for expanding and installing new machines: by betting on unusual coffee varieties and original recipes, by using coffee and drinks with various additives, etc. etc. Why you shouldn't be afraid of competition can be found in the review of one of the owners of the slot:

“So, the apparatus installed in the color gallery worked for 3 days. According to our business plan, acceptable sales are 50 glasses per day. If there was a competitor, the machine gave 110 / day. The fact is that one has only to taste our drink, and then the drink of competitors - all questions disappear by themselves ... "

Potentially interesting projects in the still poorly developed niches of the vending business include vending machines for preparing hot food (potentially attractive places - train stations, office centers, educational institutions, manufacturing companies) or vending machines for preparing fresh juices (almost all places of mass gathering of people are suitable ). As for innovative ideas on the global vending market, the TOP-5 of the most original machines around the world can be seen in the video:

Business start-up investment and expected profitability

There is an opinion that vending attracts entrepreneurs with low capital costs and quick payback: you can start in this market with practically no initial capital and special risks, and get profit in a month or two, and the profitability exceeds 100%.

In fact this is not true. For example, the average cost of a coffee machine is in the range of 2-3 thousand euros for a new machine, about 1-1.5 thousand euros for a used machine.

Note from the Moneymaker Factory: There are also cheaper machines on the market, in particular the Russian manufacturer VendShop offers coffee machines at a price of 30,000 rubles.

It is recommended to start a business from at least several points - this will not only increase the expected income, but also redistribute risks, because starting from one machine can be unprofitable - due to the wrong choice of the installation site, problems with the owners of the premises, the wrong assortment or miscalculations with prices.

However, in the absence of money to start a business, as well as unwillingness to take out a bank loan for this, the path to vending is not closed. Typically, vending machine companies offer commercial installments of up to two years, as well as leasing. This solves the problem of finding start-up capital, but increases costs by 10-20% compared to the usual purchase of machines.

To substantively talk about the profitability of the vending business, you need to operate with the following concepts:

the price of the main and additional equipment;
installation rental;
monthly turnover and sales margin;
maintenance costs;
business taxation.

So, if you enter a business with five machines at once, this will require at least 12 thousand euros, which at the current exchange rate is about 900 thousand rubles. Installation rent is highly variable. It can be from 1 to 5 thousand rubles per 1m2 per month, or 10-20% of the proceeds. If we focus on the average figure of 2.5 thousand rubles per month, then the monthly cost of renting 5 machines will amount to 12.5 thousand rubles. At least 12 thousand rubles will have to be spent on their maintenance and service - electricity, transport, overhead costs

The key point for a business is the volume of sales that one machine will provide. Naturally, everything is individual here: a coffee machine in a large mall will sell 200 or more cups per day without any problems. At the same time, a vending machine located in a bank branch for servicing corporate clients, with 2-3 employees and 5-10 clients per day, is unlikely to come out even by 20% of this figure.

Market participants themselves cite different figures about the average turnover of one machine in Russian cities with a population of over one million: sellers of vending machines talk about a figure of at least 25 thousand rubles a month, business representatives are more modest in their estimates - on average about 20 thousand rubles a month. Focusing on the figure of 20 thousand, for five points, you can predict a turnover of 100 thousand rubles per month. Of these, working under the simplified taxation system, 6% or 6 thousand rubles must be given to the budget.

In addition to the turnover, the profitability of the vending business is influenced by the sales margin. In this case, marginality is understood as the percentage of revenue, minus the cost, which forms the entrepreneur's net income. This percentage depends both on the goods themselves, sold through the machine, and on the state of demand and competition.

For products requiring preparation (tea, coffee, fresh juice, hot food), the margin will be 65-75%. For products that do not require processing (snacks, drinks, manufactured goods) and for which there is competition from the nearest outlets, the margin is much lower: 25-35%.

With an average business margin of 60%, the net income from five machines will be about 60 thousand rubles per month. Based on the market average figures, we can calculate that the net profit from the operation of five units, minus taxes, costs of purchasing products, rent and maintenance, will be about 30 thousand rubles a month. Such a profit will objectively make it possible to reach the payback period of the project within 30 months, i.e. the average payback period for investments in the vending business is about 2.5 years.

You need to understand that these are just average numbers, a kind of "average temperature in the ward." In each individual case, they will be very different: depending on the specialization of the device, the location, the presence of competitors nearby, the quality of the products sold, the timeliness of loading and servicing the device.

Costs of exiting the vending business

But what if the business did not go - will it be possible to return the funds invested in the equipment? In general, this can be done, but with a significant discount. According to companies that sell vending machines, the price of used machines is approximately 50% of the cost of new equipment. However, 50% is the selling price of the companies, i.e. the amount for which they themselves sell the product on the market. The redemption price, i.e. the price at which they are ready to purchase a used device from you will be no more than 20-30% of its original cost.

In this case, there is a reason to attend to the sale of vending machines yourself, and not by selling them as separate units, but by selling the entire vending business. A plus will be the presence of a vending network, standing in one place for at least 3-6 months, with a developed customer base, preferably with concluded lease agreements and normal relations with the landlord.

So when you go out of business, a lot will depend on why you failed. It is much worse if the very concept of the vending machine or the market niche in which the business was conducted turned out to be a failure and unpromising. It is another matter if tactical marketing miscalculations, administrative problems, inability to establish timely refueling and servicing of vending machines led to failures.

Key success factors in the vending business

The vending business, although quite promising, is not always stable. For example, a study of the stability of the location of vending machines (Infovend.ru, more than 100 owners were interviewed) showed that only 25% of them never removed the installed machines. At the same time, 18.4% of vending entrepreneurs have 1 removed for every 3 delivered; another 14.6% of owners put one of them, while the other is removed.

Almost without exception, vending - players cite the right choice of installation site as the key to a successful business. By and large, this is true: a machine installed in places with large flows of people is able to generate decent income. On the other hand, an entrepreneur who is just planning to develop a business in this area must clearly realize that there are much more people who want to place their machines profitably than there are really good points.

It is even intuitively clear that it is best to put it in a large office, university, supermarket, shopping and entertainment center, in the subway, at a train station, etc. However, the owners of the respective areas also understand this, building relationships with the owners with this in mind. For example, they set a high rent (from 10 thousand rubles per month per 1 m2), or they talk about a percentage of the machine's proceeds (up to 20% of the sale). Large chain retail outlets mostly try not to deal with private traders, preferring to sign contracts with companies that own and manage dozens or even hundreds of machines.

Considering the fact that it is almost impossible for a private trader to place his machine at the most advantageous points, interest in points from the so-called “second level list” is activated. In particular, the analysis of the activity of the participants of the independent forum on vending in the section "Places of installation of vending machines" showed that the greatest interest is now riveted to such places for the placement of machines as universities, schools and technical schools; car services and car washes, medical institutions, gas stations and railway stations. Installations such as sports facilities (swimming pools, fitness centers), government agencies, banks, factories and factories are of less interest.

Another important component of a successful vending business is a smart bill acceptor that accepts as many bills as possible and dispenses change. A study of users of vending machines shows that the reason for refusing their services in at least 1-2 out of 10 cases may be the lack of small bills at the buyer, if it is impossible to change them nearby. Therefore, having thought over this seemingly insignificant detail, the owner of the machine can actually increase the turnover by 10-15%.

Addition

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