Skin care vending machine route

Gym members, hotel guests, travelers, spa and salon visitors and shoppers who need a product right away. Venue owners get a small commission or a free amenity for their customers.

You earn the difference between what you pay wholesale for products and the machine price, minus any commission to the venue. More machines in busy spots means more sales per restocking visit.

• Negotiating with venue owners
• Inventory and restocking routines
• Basic bookkeeping
• Light mechanical troubleshooting

• Check whether your state requires a sales tax permit and whether your city or county needs a vending license
• Get general liability insurance, and product liability coverage for items applied to skin
• Check product labeling, expiration dates and storage temperatures, as sunscreen and cosmetics are regulated by the FDA
• Venues may want a written placement agreement, so check commission terms and who is responsible for theft or damage
• Slow-selling locations can tie up cash in machines and stock, so test a spot before committing more machines

Startup costs are typically around $2,500 to $10,000, depending on how many machines you buy or lease and your starting stock. Monthly revenue is typically around $300 to $1,500, depending on your locations. These are estimates, not guarantees.

Check whether your state requires a sales tax permit and whether your city or county needs a vending license. Also check insurance, FDA rules on labeling, expiration dates and storage for sunscreen and cosmetics, and what venue agreements say about commission, theft and damage.

Estimates start at around 5 hours a week. Helpful skills include negotiating with venue owners, inventory routines, basic bookkeeping and light mechanical troubleshooting. Test a location before committing more machines, since slow-selling spots can tie up cash.