The concept of vending coffee, its advantages and disadvantages for the buyer

Hypermarkets, shopping and entertainment centers, airports, institutes and office buildings are visited by thousands of people every day. These places are ideal for business, as you can install a coffee machine there, which will bring constant profit. Vending machines give budding entrepreneurs the opportunity to open their own business with little investment and without special skills.

Alexey Blagikh blagih.ru - expert of the portal Financial Manager. “The coffee machine business is very attractive, but it is the same business as all the others and without a business plan the probability of falling in line with unsuccessful projects is more than 90%.”

A ready-made, professional, well-calculated business plan for coffee machines, with current analytical and financial indicators, can be downloaded here and adjusted to suit you.

Principle of operation

To start a business project with coffee machines, you need to understand the operating principle of the device itself.

Each machine, regardless of the model, has a basic package, which includes:

• screen;
• electronic circuit with a given program;
• apparatus for accepting paper money, coins;
• a device that starts the process of preparing coffee drinks. It regulates the equipment for mixing, dosing, and also for delivering the finished product;
• dispensing system with included cup holder and servomotor.

If a particular model is configured to make iced coffee, tea or lemonade, then a cooling unit is included in the basic package. There is a separate compartment inside the machine for each component of the drinks offered. In turn, the compartment itself is equipped with a mixer. With the help of its work and high pressure, water and ingredients are mixed.

Unlike previous ones, modern models of coffee machines can prepare coffee from whole grains. The introduction of a coffee mill improved the taste of the product, which had a positive effect on the popularity of the machines among customers. The entire process has the same steps, except for the preliminary grinding of the coffee beans.

Selling drinks from coffee machines is a highly profitable business, ideal for beginning entrepreneurs. On average, each vending point brings in about 15,000 rubles of net profit monthly.

Drink vending machines cannot operate without water.

For this purpose, there are two types of submission:

1. From the built-in reservoir inside the machine.
2. Directly from the connected water supply.

Both options have pros and cons. The device with a built-in water compartment has to be constantly replenished, but it is portable. The positive side of the second option is that it does not require daily refilling. However, this method requires the installation of a filter. Purified water will extend the service life of the machine, and most importantly, it will not distort the taste of coffee.

How to care for equipment

Don't forget about maintaining your device. The profitability of a coffee machine very much depends on how attractive it looks and how smoothly it works.

If equipment for preparing hot drinks is not washed from time to time (every 3 days approximately), it will emit a rather unpleasant odor. It, of course, only pushes customers away. In addition, you need to constantly ensure that the device does not run out of ingredients. Otherwise, it will cease to be in demand.

Be sure to check all systems for technical failures, errors and breakdowns. Ideally, you should hang a sign next to the machine indicating a contact telephone number for complaints and complaints and asking you to call with any questions that arise. This will help you have good control over your own business and troubleshoot any problems in a timely manner.

Where to buy the device

This type of business, like others, requires financial investments. The purchase of several coffee machines itself will cost the entrepreneur a significant amount. Experienced businessmen do not advise buying cheap equipment from China. In practice, analogues quickly fail without having time to pay off.

If the invested amount is not enough, you can rent machines and later purchase your own machines using the profit received.

To avoid such a problem in advance, it is recommended to buy machines made in Europe or Korea. The price of such equipment corresponds to the quality. To begin with, many businessmen choose Korean models, as they are more affordable. The cost of one device will cost 100,000 – 160,000 rubles. At the same time, European equipment will be 30,000 - 50,000 rubles more expensive.

What to look for when purchasing

When choosing equipment, you should focus on several important factors:

• availability of a repair service center in the city;
• ease of maintenance - the simpler it is, the less money the entrepreneur will spend during operation. The ideal option is to be able to refuel and fix minor faults yourself. At the start, saving on service personnel will allow you to invest the funds received in business development;
• warranty service time;
• availability of spare parts for the selected model;
• how many servings the machine can prepare in 24 hours without replenishing ingredients;
• reviews about the model on thematic forums.

What will we have

Let's look at some very real numbers. The minimum cost of renting a machine is approximately 1000-1200 rubles per month. The price of one cup of plain black coffee for you will be approximately 4-6 rubles. per month. With the addition of cream, milk, sugar, chocolate and other additives, the cost can double. The final price of the drink for the buyer increases to 30-35 rubles.

If the coffee machines, for which we are currently considering a business plan, dispense 40-50 servings per day, the profit becomes obvious. However, the cost of ingredients can vary greatly. You can independently regulate the level of your own income.

Very promising results can be drawn. Even if you rent a coffee machine, the monthly profit will more than recoup all your financial investments. Unless, of course, no one breaks the equipment to the point of complete disposal. Always consider force majeure factors in your business plan.

Where is the best place to install coffee machines?

The right location will ensure the success of your business. The most important factors for installing equipment are considered to be high levels of traffic and attendance at a particular location.

Shopping and entertainment complex

A large number of people spend time in shopping centers every day, which has a good effect on sales. However, it is worth considering that the machine should be located in a place where the visitor is forced to make a stop or it will simply be convenient for him to spend some time there. For example, the recommended area includes the area near children's playgrounds and clothing repair departments.

It is not advisable to place equipment at the entrance to the shopping center itself. Usually people don’t pay attention to it because they are in a hurry to go shopping or attend a planned event. And on the way back, potential clients will also not notice the device, as they are in a hurry to go home.

Business center, educational institution

When choosing office buildings, you should keep in mind that revenue depends on the number of rented spaces. In addition, the main influx occurs in the morning and lunch hours. In the late afternoon, little coffee is purchased, as employees want to leave their workplaces quickly.

In universities, due to the larger flow of full-time and part-time students, good revenue is ensured during breaks between classes. However, in such places it is undesirable to set average prices more than 50 rubles, otherwise they will not buy drinks.

Beauty salon, clinic, gas station

Such organizations create a particularly favorable environment for the coffee business. In such places, queues form daily of gathered customers who are not averse to drinking a glass of aromatic coffee while waiting.

Airport, train station

Such places are considered the most profitable for installing coffee machines. A large flow of people waiting and meeting are happy to use this type of service. However, there is still a disadvantage of such places - it is almost impossible to place your equipment there. This is due to the fact that profitable places are often already occupied by competitors.

Why drinks?

In fact, there are quite a lot of similar devices. But experts recognized those that sell coffee as the most profitable. Why is this so? It's all about the product itself. People don’t buy newspapers so often, and they are accustomed to buying them at ordinary kiosks.

And on machines that dispense food or various snacks (chips, crackers, nuts), you cannot make a 100% markup on the product. Coffee machines as a business are very profitable. After all, preparing one cup of a hot, invigorating drink is a maximum of half of its selling price to the buyer. And in some cases, cunning entrepreneurs manage to make much more money.

Is staff needed?

The coffee machine business is still in demand because in the first stages it is possible to do it on your own. If the number of equipment does not exceed 10 pieces, then it is possible to refuel and collect revenue yourself. Do minor repairs yourself, and for more serious damage, contact the warranty service center.

If the business includes 30 or more machines, then for smooth operation you will need to hire two people. Accounting can be done either independently or by hiring a professional, using the services of an organization specializing in this. The second option is affordable, especially at first, when the turnover is small.

A ready-made, professional, well-calculated business plan for coffee machines, with current analytical and financial indicators, can be downloaded here and adjusted to suit you.

Situation today

A coffee machine appeared in Russia relatively recently. In the 20th century, you could mostly find machines on the streets dispensing sparkling water with or without syrup. But today you won’t find them during the day, but machines selling hot drinks are common.

Meanwhile, judging by the statistics, this market segment has not yet been completely filled. Competition, of course, is present, but not as intense as in other, more complex types of business. Therefore, each coffee vending machine pays for itself perfectly and brings its owner a good income.

But before you organize your own business selling hot drinks, you need to calculate a few little things. In addition to a detailed consideration of all financial investments in coffee machines, a business plan will help you carefully consider ways to reduce production costs.

A little marketing

The beginning of any type of entrepreneurial activity must proceed according to a pre-written plan. If you do not have experience in compiling it, it is recommended to seek help from a specialist. Such a solution to the issue will prevent the occurrence of many problems that can lead to large losses.

What does competent business strategy planning provide:

1. Setting the payback period.
2. Study of perceived risks.
3. Proper budget planning.

When promoting your business, you need to take into account that the main platform for advertising is the machine itself. Therefore, its design must attract attention and it must be installed in a prominent place. The instructions should be simple so that everyone can enjoy the chosen drink without any obstacles.

To set yourself apart from competitors, some offer rare coffee varieties, unusual additives, and attractive prices at given hours. In addition, customers can accumulate bonuses upon purchase, which provide the opportunity to receive a cup of coffee as a gift in the future.

When renting equipment, in some cases it is considered more profitable to pay a percentage of the profit. This is especially true for the first months, when the entrepreneur does not know whether the point will make a profit.

This business generates more significant revenue during cold periods, since with the onset of warmer weather people prefer to enjoy drinks on the verandas of cafes. University students go on vacation, ordinary citizens go on vacation and to their dachas. From autumn to spring, revenue can increase 1.5 times compared to summer.

To make it convenient for the consumer to pay, take into account the presence of a receiver for both coins and bills. It is recommended to round prices for the convenience of the client. It is believed that the machines often stop due to a full coin acceptor, so it is better to install a terminal for cashless payment in advance. Moreover, paying by card has become the most convenient option for most people.

It’s good if an entrepreneur marks the locations of his coffee machines in the geolocation system Yandex Maps and 2GIS. It is also allowed to place third-party advertising on the side panels to generate additional income.

Easy maintenance

Simple maintenance of the machines includes reloading components. This moment is very important. If you run out of ingredients, you should add new ones. Otherwise, the equipment will bring less profit, or even stand idle.

Don't forget about water. Most coffee machines operate autonomously from a special canister filled with liquid. Some models have a water connection. However, in the latter case, you may encounter many problems. Firstly, supplying water to the machine is an additional cost. Secondly, if the pipes fail and burst, then the owner of the outlet can present his claims to you. As a result, there is a risk of losing not only your place, but also your money. Therefore, servicing units equipped with a water canister is much easier.

In addition, collection is carried out daily - loading and withdrawal of coins. You don't have to fill everything in. Lack of coins for change may adversely affect the operation of the machine. In addition, in some models the bill acceptor stops working.

In addition to the above, simple maintenance also includes washing equipment.

Coffee machine for business - profitability

It is almost impossible to find out exactly how quickly the investment will pay off without drawing up and analyzing a business plan. The profitability indicator depends on the number of coffee machines, installation location, the range of drinks presented and price. But to obtain information, you can use the amount of average expenses for 1 machine.

Calculation of profit received:

1. The cost of 1 serving is 12 rubles.
2. The average cost of a drink is 35 rubles.
3. 90 purchases occur per day.

Based on the numbers, calculations are made. It turns out that the profit earned from one cup of coffee sold is 23 rubles. In a day, when selling 90 cups, an amount of 2,070 rubles accumulates, and in a month, revenue from one machine will be 62,100 rubles. Of this amount, the third part will go to pay monthly expenses. Taking into account the calculations, we can conclude that the business will pay off in 3-4 months.

Maintenance

Maintenance must be carried out every 12 months. In principle, this is the usual decalcification of hydraulics and boiler. With constant heating of water, pieces of scale can accumulate in the container, which over time begin to clog the holes through which the liquid flows. In addition, the heating element will no longer receive the necessary cooling and will begin to get very hot. In the worst case, a short may occur, causing the control board to burn out. The cost of replacing it is from 30 to 35 thousand.

To detect scale in the boiler, you need to open the tank itself.

Ingredients for refilling a coffee machine

You should approach the purchasing of ingredients responsibly. The quality of raw materials affects the taste and aroma of the drink, so you should not save on this expense item. A bad product will not be in demand. You can save a little only on cups, stir sticks and napkins. Before purchasing raw materials, you need to personally test the product and only then make a decision about payment.

The most popular drink mixes are:

• ground or bean coffee;
• various varieties of black and green tea with flavors;
• hot chocolate, cocoa;
• powdered milk, cream.

Coffee machine for business - registration and necessary documents

A ready-made, professional, well-calculated business plan for coffee machines, with current analytical and financial indicators, can be downloaded here and adjusted to suit you.

Before starting a business, you will need to collect some papers to formalize your business.

To do this you will need:

1. Register with the Tax Service and open an individual entrepreneur.
2. When working with coffee machines, an entrepreneur can choose a simplified tax payment scheme (single tax on imputed income).
3. Certificates of conformity for products for sanitary inspection should be obtained from suppliers of ingredients and consumables.
4. You will need to conclude a lease agreement with the owner of the rented area (you will need only 1.5-2 m²).

There is no need to license vending devices, but a hygiene certificate for the machine itself must be present. The document is attached when purchasing or renting equipment.

Coffee machine for business - nuances

Each type of activity has its own characteristics.

When working with coffee machines, the following nuances should be taken into account:

• when purchasing machines, it is better to choose new equipment, since service under warranty and the absence of previous operation will reduce the risk of malfunctions;
• It is better to place equipment in safe, crowded areas, in view of CCTV cameras, this will reduce the risk of damage to equipment by vandals;
• if the machine does not bring profit, you should change the location as quickly as possible;
• the device should not block the passage of citizens and interfere with their rest;
• You need to use only purified water for the tank; when connecting the water supply, filters are installed directly;
• the quality of raw materials and adherence to dosage have a positive effect on the taste of coffee, and, accordingly, on profit;
• It is not recommended to inflate the cost of drinks, especially at the beginning;
• To quickly refill the vending machines with water, ingredients, and consumables, you will need a personal car;
• On machines you need to indicate contact information for customers in case of malfunctions (for example, the device may malfunction and not give out change for a large bill).

Saeco IperAutomatica std

An innovative and compact model of a device for selling an invigorating drink, which is economical in energy consumption and is equipped with a monochrome graphic display. The Saeco IperAutomatica device is intended for office premises, restaurant kitchens and cafes.

Peculiarities:

• 8 variations of drinks;
• 4 sections (grains, chocolate, tea, milk);
• autonomous water supply (pump);
• built-in coffee grinder.

Dimensions: width – 0.3 m, height – 0.5 m.

Weight: 31.5 kg.

Cost: 145 thousand ₽.

When choosing a coffee machine, it is important to pay attention not only to the cost and design of the model. A novice businessman should first answer the question: “Where will the coffee vending machine be used?” If in places with little traffic, then you can limit yourself to a budget option with a standard set of options. A model with extended functionality is appropriate in locations with heavy traffic.

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Coffee machine for business - pros and cons

The type of business in question has significantly more advantages than disadvantages, which include several factors:

1. There is no need to rent a large area - you only need 1.5-2 m².
2. If it is not possible to buy, then renting equipment is suitable for the first period.
3. Easy to register a business, which only requires opening an individual entrepreneur and concluding a lease agreement.
4. No specific knowledge, skills or education is required.
5. Business activity on coffee machines is recognized as one of the most profitable.

The disadvantages of this area include the high level of competition, since such machines are installed almost everywhere. In addition, coffee shops and various establishments where the drink is prepared by people and not by a device are taken into account.

Special subtleties

Remember that all products must have all relevant quality certificates. The same applies to the technology itself. Otherwise, you may offend the state and be punished with a fine.

Repeated violations entail a ban on conducting business activities. Tax, as a rule, for this type of business is levied on each square meter of occupied space. Buy high-quality products, follow all rules and laws, and then your business will be profitable throughout its existence.