662: From Zero to $50k/mo in Vending Revenue in 16 months
Mar 20, 2025
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Anthony Kolodziej, founder of H&H Vending, scaled his vending machine business to over $50k/month in just 16 months. He shares insights on landing prime locations and negotiating deals, revealing why he avoids saying 'vending' when pitching to property managers. Kolodziej discusses the modern transformation of the vending industry, leveraging data-driven strategies to maximize profitability. He emphasizes the importance of effective communication and building relationships for sustained success in this unique entrepreneurial landscape.
Strategic location selection and thorough property evaluation are crucial for maximizing revenue in the vending machine business.
Building strong relationships with property managers through effective communication can significantly enhance vending placement opportunities.
Involving family members in the business not only nurtures entrepreneurial skills but also strengthens family bonds through shared experiences.
Deep dives
The Value of Using Your Property as an Asset
Leaving a home vacant while traveling can feel like a missed opportunity for income, highlighting the benefits of leveraging property as an asset. Homeowners can utilize Airbnb’s co-host network to generate income from their properties without the burden of management. A local co-host can take care of everything from listing and managing reservations to styling the space, which allows homeowners to focus on other commitments. This approach offers a way to make your property work for you, converting a cost into a potential cash flow.
Scaling the Vending Machine Business
The vending machine business, while often viewed as passive income, requires strategic placement and management to achieve substantial revenue. The guest successfully scaled his operation to 30 locations within 16 months, generating over $50,000 in monthly revenue. Factors such as negotiating placements and selecting the right locations are crucial, as the density of foot traffic can significantly impact sales. By treating the initial stages of business development with patience and caution, success rates can improve markedly.
Importance of Location and Foot Traffic
Successful vending machine placements hinge on evaluating the location's potential foot traffic rather than merely its size or reputation. Thoroughly qualifying properties before placement ensures realistic expectations regarding revenue and helps to avoid potential pitfalls. The guest shared experiences of making assumptions about employee counts and business hours, which affected initial placements. Proper assessment and strategic decision-making help maximize profitability and minimize risks in vending machine operations.
Building Relationships and Follow-ups
Establishing relationships with property managers is vital for securing vending machine placements and expanding business reach. The guest emphasized the importance of prompt communication and building trust by providing quick proposals after meetings. Utilizing creative follow-up strategies can help keep conversations active and foster a positive rapport with potential clients. It’s essential to show value in follow-ups instead of merely asking about proposals, which can lead to increased engagement and successful partnerships.
Involving Family and Teaching Entrepreneurship
The guest's intention to involve his children in his vending machine business emphasizes the importance of teaching entrepreneurial skills and work ethic at a young age. By bringing his kids along to stock machines and discussing business concepts, he provides them with real-world experiences. This hands-on approach not only teaches valuable lessons but also nurtures a family bond through shared activities. The excitement expressed by his children over vending machines demonstrates the impact of practical learning on their understanding of business fundamentals.
Vending machines are a classic passive income source that continues to be profitable today.
We had Mr. Passive himself, Mike Hoffman, on the show before to talk about how to scale up his vending machine business.
And one of his mentees is here today.
Anthony Kolodziej from H&H Vending scaled his vending operation from zero to over $50k per month in just 16 months.
That’s 30+ locations, thousands of transactions, and a strategy that turns vending into something way beyond the old-school snack machine in the corner of a breakroom.
Tune in to Episode 662 of the Side Hustle Show to learn:
how to land prime locations
how to negotiate deals
why he never says the word "vending" when pitching a property manager