The Idea:
Buy vending machines, set them in strategic locations and stock them with drinks, treats or toys, making profits whenever people buy your wares.
How it Works:
Vending machines can be an add-on to an existing business or can be a profitable small business in itself.
You buy the vending machine and the stock that will go into it at wholesale prices. Then, when people use the machine, the profits are yours.
As with many things, the biggest consideration in this business is location. You'll often have to split the profits or pay a fee to place your machine in an existing business, such as an apartment or office building, but a good location can bring in thousands of dollars in profits as people impulse-buy your items.
Depending on how busy your machines are, you'll have to restock on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. But if you set up multiple machines, you can design a route for restocking them so that you can limit your actual workday to once a week or less.
How Much Can You Make:
Some machines make under $50 a week, while others bring in thousands. If you develop a route of many vending machines scattered around your city, you can potentially make full-time profits for only a few hours of work each week.
More Information:
For more information, try some of these books on running a vending machine business.