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Around six months ago, an aspiring entrepreneur decided to jump into the vending machine business after seeing it discussed frequently online.<\/p>\n
They shared on Reddit\u2019s r\/passive_income recently how they spent $3,200 on two refurbished machines and another $400 to stock them with drinks and snacks.<\/p>\n
They placed one machine in an office building with around 50 employees, and another at an auto repair shop. The office building location performs steadily, pulling in $280 to $350 per month. The auto repair shop, however, brings in only $120 to $180 and is described as \u201chit or miss.\u201d<\/p>\n
Don’t Miss:<\/strong><\/p>\n After factoring in gas, inventory, and occasional maintenance, the side hustle is generating about $130 to $150 in monthly profit. \u201cNot life changing, but it covers my car payment so I\u2019m not complaining,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n But they quickly realized the work wasn\u2019t as hands-off as expected. \u201cIt\u2019s not as passive as people make it sound,\u201d they admitted, noting they have to drive out every two weeks to restock and deal with unexpected issues, like a jammed bill acceptor or attempted break-in.<\/p>\n Other Redditors jumped in to agree. \u201cMost of what I see on here is the opposite of passive,\u201d one person commented. \u201cIt would only be that if you had something like 30+ machines and hired a guy to stock\/fix them for you.\u201d<\/p>\n Several commenters shared their own experiences. One said their auto body shop location was among their top performers, but it had more than 30 employees on-site. Another mentioned making $30,000 last year across six machines and emphasized that success came down to finding high-traffic spots like warehouses and schools.<\/p>\n Trending: From Moxy Hotels to $12B in Real Estate \u2014 The Firm Behind NYC’s Trendiest Properties Is Letting Individual Investors In.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n And that was a recurring theme: location matters more than anything. \u201cIf I only had the repair shop one, I\u2019d probably be breaking even or losing money,\u201d the original poster said. \u201cI\u2019m learning location really is the whole game here.\u201d<\/p>\n There were creative suggestions, too. Some recommended putting machines in bars with novelty products like makeup, glow sticks or mini phone chargers. Others suggested targeting apartment complexes, hotels, or homeowners\u2019 associations with community centers and pools.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n But getting machines into those spots can be challenging. Some said they\u2019d called hundreds of businesses and landed zero locations. One user even claimed they once rolled a machine into a building while wearing a high-visibility vest, and no one asked questions. \u201cNow the office people even call the maintenance number on the machine when it needs to be restocked,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n See Also: Americans With a Financial Plan Can 4X Their Wealth \u2014 Get Your Personalized Plan from a CFP Pro<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n As for expansion, the original poster is thinking carefully. \u201cThinking about getting a third machine but I\u2019m being picky about where it goes,\u201d they said. \u201cNot trying to end up with another mediocre spot.\u201d<\/p>\n For those considering alternative ways to build wealth with less hustle, investing in index funds or venture capital might offer better long-term returns. For example, Fundrise is one platform that gives everyday investors access to pre-IPO opportunities in areas like artificial intelligence and tech, without needing to be a millionaire.<\/p>\n With minimums starting at just $10 and a growing portfolio, it\u2019s an option worth exploring if you want exposure to high-growth sectors without having to restock soda cans every two weeks.<\/p>\n Read Next: Professional traders demand transparency \u2014 see why Kraken Pro has become one of crypto’s most trusted advanced trading platforms.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n Image: Shutterstock<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily<\/strong>, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets.<\/p>\n Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga:<\/p>\n This article They Spent $3,200 On Two Vending Machines To Start A Side Hustle. Six Months Later, They Say, 'It's Not As Passive As People Make It Sound' originally appeared on Benzinga.com<\/p>\n \u00a9 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n