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- 🍫 How I Made $21,770 in One Week with Vending Machines
🍫 How I Made $21,770 in One Week with Vending Machines
3 simple steps here
Hey there, Vendpreneur!
Welcome to Becoming a Vendpreneur—where every week I help you navigate the challenges of running a vending machine business, whether you’re just starting out or looking to expand your operation.
This week, I'm answering the question I get most: "Can vending machines actually replace my income?” The answer is yes. Here's how in three steps:
📍 Step 1: Find busy locations where people spend money
💸 Step 2: Buy machines that make you the most profit
🚀 Step 3: Stock products people actually buy
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In just 7 days, I made $21,770 with vending machines.
This wasn't luck.
It was a proven system that works every time.
Here's exactly how I did it - and how you can copy it:
PS. Prefer watching over reading? I just released a video breaking down this entire strategy. Don't forget to Subscribe. 👇
Step 1: Find busy locations where people spend money📍
Location is everything in vending business.
I put my machines in high-traffic bars and nightclubs where people stay 4+ hours and need products at 2 AM.
My best spot has 300+ people every weekend. These customers pay $13 for ZYN without thinking because walking to a gas station sounds terrible when you're drunk.
I target 21-35 year olds who already spent $60 on drinks. They don't care about saving $7 on convenience.
How the Psychology of Impulse Buying Makes Me $60,000 Per Month 💸
Impulse buying is one of the biggest drivers of sales, especially in nightlife vending.
Here’s how I use it to pull in $60k/month:
— Ethan Kohan 🍫 (@ethan_kohan)
1:09 PM • Jul 11, 2025
Other spots that crush it:
🕺 Hookah lounges (3+ hour stays)
💃 Dance venues (packed weekends)
🎤 Live music clubs (4+ hour events)
🍷 Upscale cocktail bars ($15+ drinks)
The formula: drunk customers + long stays + no nearby stores = easy money.
When people can't leave the venue, they'll pay premium for basic products.
Step 2: Buy machines that make you the most profit 💸
Not all vending machines work for nightlife products like ZYN, vapes, and hangover kits.
Here's what I look for:
✅ Custom layouts for premium products
✅ Solid build quality (drunk people aren't gentle)
✅ Built-in ID verification for age-restricted items
✅ Cashless payments only (no cash handling)
✅ Remote inventory tracking (know what's selling)
✅ 24/7 support when machines break at 2 AM
New machines cost $8k-15k each. That adds up fast when you're starting.
If you're on a budget, buy refurbished machines online or find a franchise with machine rental programs.
Step 3: Stock products people actually buy 🚀
Stock what drunk 25-year-olds need at 2 AM.
Listen to what people ask bartenders for. What are customers constantly losing or needing last-minute?
That's your product list.
Mystery bags ($15-20)
ZYN ($13 per can)
Disposable vapes ($25)
Advil packets ($5)
Portable chargers ($30)
Pro tip: Put a QR code on your machine saying "Don't see what you need? Text us." Customers will tell you exactly what to stock next.
❓ How do you do your market research? |
"Ethan, you just gave me 3 steps to get started! How did you go from 1 machine to 80+ and start pulling $21K weeks?"
It started with getting the basics right: location, products, and machines.
But here's what most people don't want to hear:
Instead of taking early profits and buying cars or going on vacations... I reinvested everything.
Every dollar from vending went back into:
More machines
✅ Better software
✅ Testing new venues
✅ Inventory to scale faster
✅ Building relationships with venue owners
I wasn't chasing passive income. I was building infrastructure.
If you're still at machine #1, don't overthink scaling yet.
Lock in the right location, make it profitable, then double down.
If you want to skip steps one through three... 💰
And use a proven system with location and supplier support, here's what you need:
💵 $15K in available capital 💼 Sales experience (or willingness to learn) 🔥 Drive to build something real 💪 Commitment to make it work
Sound like you? Let's talk.
If you're ready to fast-track this process and build a profitable vending business quickly...
And That’s a Wrap!
Thanks for reading this week’s newsletter.
Hit reply and let me know what you found most helpful this week—I read every single reply and I’d love to hear from you!
See you next Saturday!
-Ethan
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