When you have your own business, there are various factors to consider when it comes to employee satisfaction. One major concern business owners have is the availability of food and beverages. In this case, a new vending machine is the ideal solution in most circumstances. Let us take a look at a few major reasons to get a new one for your business.

• Easily manageable
  You just need to install a vending machine and let it do its work. There is a need for minimum maintenance, especially if you opt for a managed vending service. When you check out a new vending machine on sale, consider choosing a service that offers contactless payment choices and regular stock refills. A professional team will be at your disposal to take care of the machine and stock it when required.
• Increased convenience
  With the numerous options in snacks and beverages that a vending machine offers, your employees will not find the need to go out and eat. This means an increase in productivity. Installing one at the worksite also shows your employees that you care about them, especially if your business is far away from eateries and restaurants, saving them time and money.
• Profitable
  Although installing a vending machine and stocking it can be expensive, the lower maintenance and overhead charges will even out the initial investment pretty easily. As the costs are comparatively lesser, employees would want to make more purchases. You also get to save the money you otherwise would have spent on building a canteen or providing the food and beverages yourself.
• Reduced overhead charges
  A vending machine is self-operated and does not create the need to employ staff to take care of it. They also run 24/7 on less electricity, do not require any specific infrastructure, or intensive cleaning every day.
• Greater efficiency
  While canteens offer various options for food and drinks, they usually operate during specific hours. So, the staff has to manage their breaks and work schedule accordingly. However, vending machines have no such time constraints and employees do not need to worry about food. Stocking up on several options, such as chocolates, chips, and vegan items, will make sure that all your employees’ needs are met.

Vending machines are a common sight all over the country. So, it is not surprising if you decide to base your business around it. However, it is not as easy as it looks. Apart from investing a hefty initial capital and deciding the location for your machine, you need to choose the type wisely. While checking out a new vending machine for sale, here are the types you can consider.

• Beverages
  Reportedly, almost a third of the sales in the U.S. via vending machines are of beverages. If you are just starting, you can either opt for a food and beverage vending machine or one that serves only drinks. The sales will continue throughout the year, and you can earn especially well during the summer. Among beverages, soda tends to be the most preferred option, and its range is smaller compared to snacks or any other items.
• Cold foods
  Food items like salads, sandwiches, or breakfast items, can be made available through a vending machine. You can stock both fresh and frozen products. This way, the need to stock frequently can be avoided, as the frozen food will remain when fresh food is sold. There are several new types of vending machines on sale that feature a turret-style for cold foods. Your customers will enjoy a more personalized experience, as they see and choose what they want to eat.
• Specialty vending
  Snacks and drinks might be the most common items, but vending machines are now being used to sell items like tech accessories, laundry products, and retail items among others. In universities and offices, installing a vending machine that specializes in hot beverages can be a successful venture. Airports and malls offer the opportunity to sell accessories and other retail products like neck pillows or luxury skincare products. Dormitories and laundromats are excellent choices for a vending machine that dispenses laundry detergents and fabric softeners.
• Snacks
  One of the oldest and highly popular vending machine choices is to stock it up with snacks like popcorn, candies and chocolates, chips, cookies, and so on. Conduct thorough market research before choosing which snacks need to be put on sale in the new vending machine. To make things simpler, choose a glass front machine with a coil system as you can change the selection of your products easily.

Vending machines are a good investment when one is planning to start a new business and does not have a particular product or service on sale. Everyone feels hunger pangs at any given point, and these installations come in handy always. The basic factors to ensure are that the vending machines are stocked with popular products and placed at locations where maximum people can have access to it. However, there are several drawbacks involved in starting such a business. Some of these include:

• High costs while getting started
  The process of running the business might sound feasible, but it requires a hefty capital. The cost of a high-quality new vending machine on sale is approximately $3,000. The price goes further up if you want a cooling unit attached to stock chilled beverages. The location you select is significant to your business. So, if you want a highly populated location, you may have to pay a percentage of your earnings or a particular amount to the owner of that place.
• Lack of security
  Just like stores and other businesses, vending machines are at the risk of getting robbed; but, they are even more vulnerable since they are meant to be accessible. Installing cameras near the machine will not be enough. Certain owners lock the glass doors, with customers only getting access to the payment and product dispersal slot.
• Cost of transportation and service
  Operating several vending machines at the same time can be tiresome, and you will need to plan how to keep them stocked up every day. The transportation of the items you place in each machine will cut into the costs and it is not possible to overcharge for the products either. You might even face a maintenance issue with one or more of them, which needs to be fixed before they can run again.
• Stocked products
  More often than not, certain products may not get sold for days or even weeks. This depends on which area your machine is in, and the preferences of the people frequenting it. Proper market research needs to be done before you stock up the vending machine, otherwise you might suffer a loss.