One of the most attractive features of the vending machine business is its high-profit margins. The initial cost of purchasing these businesses can be recouped relatively quickly, thanks to the significant markup on vended products.
Operating a vending machine business comes with minimal overhead costs. Unlike traditional retail stores that require staffing and utilities, vending machines operate independently, reducing the need for constant human oversight. Maintenance and restocking are the primary ongoing expenses, which can often be managed with a part-time role.
If you are looking to buy or sell a vending machine business, you will need to understand how these businesses are expected to perform financially, and how they are valued in the business for sale market. To provide some context, we have aggregated and analyzed vending machine business for sale listing data to uncover average financials, and valuation metrics.
Market Overview
Number of Businesses Analyzed
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305
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Median Asking Price
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$147,900
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Median Reported Revenue
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$188,781
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Median Reported Earnings
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$112,473
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Financials based on businesses that listed an asking price, annual revenue, and seller's discretionary earnings.
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Vending Machine Business Valuation Multiples
Range
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Revenue
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Earnings (SDE)
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Lower Quartile
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0.58
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1.03
|
Median
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0.77
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1.45
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Upper Quartile
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1.03
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2.21
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Revenue and earnings multiples based on reported revenue, seller's discretionary earnings, and asking price.
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Read the Report:
Vending Machine Business Valuation Multiples and Financial Benchmarks
FAQs
How much does it cost to buy a vending machine business?
Prices vary depending on the number of locations and profitability, but the median asking price for a vending machine business in the U.S. is approximately $$147,900.
How much do vending machine owners earn?
Vending machine businesses vary in size, but owners report median annual sales of $188,781 and annual owner earnings of $112,473. These figures are based on businesses that have listed their annual revenue and seller's discretionary earnings.
How do I value a vending machine business?
Valuing a vending machine business involves considering several factors, including number of machines, their locations, annual sales, profit, and growth (or decline) trends. Brokers, business owners, and business buyers will typically rely on valuation multiples to gauge business value relative to similar businesses in the market. Revenue multiples among vending machine businesses range from 0.58 to 1.03, with the median at 0.77. Earnings multiples range from 1.03 to 2.21, with the median at 1.45. These values suggest the average vending machine business in the U.S. may sell for around 0.77 times its annual revenue, and 1.45 times its annual owner’s earnings.
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