Skin care vending machine in a gym or salon

Gym members, spa and salon visitors and hotel guests who want a product right now. The venue usually gets a commission or a small rent.

You buy products wholesale and sell them at retail price through the machine, with the margin paid per item. You then share an agreed cut with the venue owner.

• Choosing products people want to buy on impulse
• Basic stock and expiry tracking
• Friendly, professional approach to venue owners

• Check Health Canada rules for cosmetics, including ingredient and bilingual labelling, and buy only from suppliers whose products are compliant
• Check whether your municipality or province requires a business or vending licence
• Commercial general liability insurance, plus cover for the machine against theft and vandalism
• Card payment fees and any GST/HST or provincial sales tax that applies to your sales
• Winter storage and delivery: products in cold entrances or cars can freeze or spoil, and check expiry dates often

Startup costs are typically around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on the machine and the stock you buy. These are estimates for a side hustle with one or two machines, so confirm prices with suppliers before you commit.

Monthly revenue is typically around $300 to $1,500, depending on the venue, products and foot traffic. That is an estimate of revenue before costs, not profit. It assumes at least 4 hours a week for restocking and collecting sales.

Check Health Canada rules for cosmetics, including ingredient and bilingual labelling, and buy only from suppliers with compliant products. Also check whether your municipality or province requires a business or vending licence, and consider liability and theft insurance.