How to Accurately Measure Foot Traffic at Your Property
A complete guide for Bergen County business owners to determine if their location is perfect for profitable vending machine placement.
Table of Contents
Why Measuring Foot Traffic Matters
If you're a property owner or manager in Bergen County, NJ, you've probably wondered: "Could my location support a vending machine?" The answer lies in understanding your property's foot traffic patterns.
Foot traffic—the number of people passing through your space daily—is the single most important factor in determining vending machine profitability. A machine in a location with 500 daily visitors will dramatically outperform one with only 50.
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Use our free calculator to estimate how much passive income your location could generate.
Calculate Your RevenueKey Factors That Impact Vending Machine Success
Before diving into measurement methods, understand that not all foot traffic is created equal. Here are the key factors to consider:
Volume
The total number of people is your baseline metric. Generally, locations with 100+ daily visitors are strong candidates for vending machines.
Dwell Time
How long do people stay? A gym (60+ minute visits) offers more opportunities than a quick-stop convenience store.
Accessibility
Can people easily reach the machine? High foot traffic in an area where people are rushing won't convert to sales.
Time Patterns
Peak hours matter. A location with 200 visitors spread across 12 hours differs from one with 200 visitors in 2 hours.
4 Proven Methods to Measure Foot Traffic
Choose the method that best fits your property type and resources. Most accurate? Combine multiple approaches.
Manual Counting (Free)
Method1 Intro
Method1 Step1 Title
Method1 Step1 Description
Method1 Step2 Title
Method1 Step2 Description
Method1 Step3 Title
Method1 Step3 Description
Method1 Step4 Title
Method1 Step4 Description
Best for: Small businesses, gyms, offices—anywhere you can discreetly observe
Point-of-Sale Data (Most Accurate)
Method2 Intro
Daily transaction counts
Average transactions per hour
Peak and slow periods
Transaction counts are typically lower than actual foot traffic. Multiply by 1.5-2x for accurate total visitor estimate.
People Counting Technology
For larger properties or more precise data, consider:
Thermal Sensors
Mounted at entrances, count bodies without privacy concerns
Starting at $200-500
Wi-Fi Tracking
Detects unique devices (undercounts—not everyone has Wi-Fi enabled)
Moderate cost
Video Analytics
AI-powered cameras count people with high accuracy
Premium option: $1000+
Industry Benchmarks & Historical Data
Use industry standards for your property type to estimate traffic:
Office Buildings
~2-3 visitors per employee daily
Gyms & Fitness Centers
200-500+ daily members
Apartment Buildings
30-40% of residents daily
Retail Stores
Varies widely by location
🎯 Pro Tip from Njord Vending
We've found that locations in Bergen County with 150+ daily visitors and 30+ minute average dwell times generate the highest returns. Shopping centers, office buildings, and large gyms consistently outperform expectations.
How to Calculate Daily Foot Traffic Average
Once you've gathered data, calculate your daily average with this simple 4-step process:
Total Your Counts
Add up all visitor counts from your sample days
Account for Operating Hours
If you only counted for 4 hours but you're open 12, project proportionally
Calculate Daily Average
Divide by the number of sample days
Apply Seasonal Adjustment
If counting during an unusually busy/slow period, adjust by 10-20%
Real Example Calculation
What Makes a Location "Vending Machine Ready"?
Based on our experience placing vending machines across Bergen County, here are the ideal characteristics:
Minimum Requirements
Daily foot traffic:
100+ visitors
Consistent schedule:
Open 5+ days per week
Target demographic:
People with purchasing power and snack interest
Physical space:
6ft² of accessible floor space with electrical outlet
Ideal Characteristics
Daily foot traffic:
200-500+ visitors
Dwell time:
30+ minutes
Captive audience:
Limited nearby food options
Demographics:
Working professionals, students, gym-goers
Ready to Get a FREE Vending Machine?
If your location meets the criteria above, you might qualify for a free vending machine placement from Njord Vending. No installation costs, no maintenance fees—just passive income.
Common Foot Traffic Measurement Mistakes to Avoid
Don't let these common pitfalls skew your data and lead to bad decisions:
Counting Only During Peak Hours
Measuring only during your busiest period inflates projections. Sample across multiple time blocks for accuracy.
Ignoring Day-of-Week Variation
A location busy on Friday might be dead on Monday. Count at least 3 different weekdays (and weekend days if relevant).
Counting Staff/Repeat Visitors Multiple Times
Track unique individuals. If the same person passes by 5 times, that's still one potential customer.
Forgetting Seasonal Factors
Traffic in December (holidays) differs from July (summer vacation). If possible, track multiple seasons or apply conservative adjustments.
Next Steps: From Data to Profit
Now that you know your foot traffic, here's your action plan:
1. Use Our Revenue Calculator
Input your numbers to see projected earnings based on your actual foot traffic data.
Calculate My Revenue2. Evaluate Your Space
Ensure you have proper electrical access and 6ft² of accessible floor space for the vending machine.
3. Request a Free Placement
Submit your location for evaluation and potentially qualify for a free vending machine.
Get My Free Vending MachineBergen County Experts
At Njord Vending, we specialize in Bergen County placements and have deep expertise in Fort Lee, Palisades Park, Edgewater, Leonia, and Ridgefield. We handle everything—installation, stocking, maintenance—while you collect your share of the revenue.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the minimum foot traffic needed for a vending machine?
Generally, 100+ daily visitors is the minimum for viability. However, 200+ visitors is ideal for consistent profitability.
How accurate do my foot traffic counts need to be?
Within 20% is fine. Vending machine success depends on multiple factors, not just precise traffic numbers. A good estimate combined with other positive factors (dwell time, demographics) is sufficient.
Can Njord Vending help measure my foot traffic?
Question3 A
What if my foot traffic is seasonal?
That's okay! Many locations experience seasonal variation. We'll work with you to understand annual patterns and determine if placement makes sense. Seasonal businesses can still be highly profitable if peak seasons are strong enough.
Ready to Start Earning Passive Income?
Join 50+ Bergen County locations already generating monthly revenue with Njord Vending.