β€’ Njord Vending Team β€’ 15 min read

Passive Income from Vending Machines: What Property Owners Actually Earn in 2025

Real revenue numbers, transparent business model, and actual case studies from property owners across New Jersey

$500-$3,000+
Monthly Revenue Range
0% Upfront Cost
Your Investment
10%
Your Revenue Share

Why Vending Machines for Passive Income?

Property owners are constantly looking for ways to maximize the value of their space without adding workload. Vending machines represent one of the few truly passive income opportunities where you do literally nothing after initial setup.

Unlike rental properties, side businesses, or even dividend stocks, vending machine placement requires zero ongoing time investment. No tenant management, no inventory decisions, no maintenance callsβ€”just monthly deposits into your account.

Zero Upfront Investment

No machine purchase, no product costs, no installation fees. We handle everything at our expense.

Zero Ongoing Effort

We stock, maintain, collect payments, and handle customer service. You do nothing.

Steady Monthly Income

Predictable revenue share deposited monthly. No seasonality, no payment collection issues.

The Real Numbers: Revenue by Location Type

Let's cut through the hype and show you actual revenue ranges based on our Bergen County placements. These numbers reflect typical performance across different property types:

High-Traffic Gyms

Monthly Visitors
3,000-6,000
Machine Revenue
$1,500-$3,000/mo
Your 10% Share
$150-$300/mo
Annual Income
$1,800-$3,600

Office Buildings (50+ employees)

Daily Traffic
50-150 people
Machine Revenue
$1,200-$2,400/mo
Your 10% Share
$120-$240/mo
Annual Income
$1,440-$2,880

Apartment Buildings (100+ units)

Residents
150-300 people
Machine Revenue
$800-$1,800/mo
Your 10% Share
$80-$180/mo
Annual Income
$960-$2,160

College Campuses

Student Traffic
500-2,000/day
Machine Revenue
$2,000-$4,000/mo
Your 10% Share
$200-$400/mo
Annual Income
$2,400-$4,800

Medical Facilities

Daily Visitors
100-300
Machine Revenue
$1,000-$2,500/mo
Your 10% Share
$100-$250/mo
Annual Income
$1,200-$3,000

Want to see your property's earning potential?

Our calculator uses your specific foot traffic and operating hours to estimate your monthly passive income.

Calculate My Property's Income

How the Revenue Share Model Works

The model is simple: we handle everything, you get 10% of gross revenue. Here's the complete breakdown:

What We Handle (90%)

  • Machine purchase ($3,000-$8,000 per unit)
  • Product inventory and restocking (weekly)
  • All maintenance, repairs, and technical support
  • Payment processing and transaction fees
  • Remote monitoring and inventory management systems

What You Get (10%)

  • 10% of all gross revenue, paid monthly
  • Transparent sales reports with transaction details
  • Property amenity that increases tenant satisfaction
  • Zero costs, zero effort, zero liability

Why 10%? Our costs include expensive specialized Asian products (higher wholesale prices), weekly restocking labor, machine financing, maintenance, insurance, and payment processing fees. The 90/10 split reflects the true cost structure of operating specialty vending machines.

Case Studies: What Property Owners Actually Earn

Here are three real examples from our Bergen County placements:

Elite Fitness - Fort Lee, NJ

24-hour gym β€’ 2,500 members β€’ Korean/Japanese snacks + healthy options

Monthly Revenue
$2,200
Owner's Monthly Income
$220
Annual Passive Income
$2,640
"It's literally free money. The machine pays for itself in electricity within a day. Our members love the Korean protein bars and Pocari Sweat."

Bergen Towers Apartments - Hackensack, NJ

150-unit apartment building β€’ Asian snacks + essentials

Monthly Revenue
$1,400
Owner's Monthly Income
$140
Annual Passive Income
$1,680
"Residents love the convenience, especially the late-night Korean snacks. I get a check every month and do absolutely nothing."

TechHub Coworking - Jersey City, NJ

Coworking space β€’ ~80 daily visitors β€’ Premium Korean/Japanese snacks

Monthly Revenue
$1,800
Owner's Monthly Income
$180
Annual Passive Income
$2,160
"It's become an amenity that helps us attract members. People specifically mention the unique Asian snacks during tours."

Hidden Costs? (Spoiler: There Are None)

Let's address the elephant in the room. With any 'free' offer, people expect hidden costs. Here's the transparent breakdown:

Costs You DON'T Pay

No machine purchase ($3,000-$8,000 saved)
No product inventory costs
No maintenance or repair fees
No restocking labor costs

Your Only 'Costs'

Electricity (~$10-20/month)

Vending machines use about as much power as a mini fridge. Easily covered by your revenue share.

Floor Space (~2 square feet)

That's all the space our machines need. High-visibility locations like lobbies work best.

The Math (Example Gym Location)

Electricity Cost -$15
Your 10% Income +$150
Net Monthly Profit $135/month

Is This Too Good to Be True?

We get this question constantly. Here's why the model works:

We profit from economies of scale. By operating 50+ machines across Bergen County, we negotiate bulk pricing on products, optimize delivery routes, and spread fixed costs across many locations. You benefit from our efficiency without bearing any of the operational burden.

Our Advantage

  • β€’ Bulk product purchasing (30-40% wholesale discounts)
  • β€’ Route efficiency (we restock 10+ locations per day)
  • β€’ Specialized product access (direct Korean/Japanese imports)
  • β€’ Remote monitoring reduces wasted trips

Your Benefit

  • β€’ You get the revenue without the hassle
  • β€’ No inventory risk (we absorb losses from expired products)
  • β€’ Professional service without hiring staff
  • β€’ Predictable income with zero volatility

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the contract?

Our standard agreement is 3 years, but either party can terminate with 30 days notice. We keep it flexible because we want you to be happy with the arrangement.

What if the machine breaks?

We handle all repairs at no cost to you. Our machines have remote monitoring, so we're usually fixing issues before you even notice them.

Who cleans the machine?

We do! Cleaning is part of our weekly restocking routine. We wipe down the exterior, clean the payment system, and ensure everything looks professional.

Can I choose what products go in the machine?

Absolutely. We welcome suggestions and will stock items that make sense for your location's demographics. Customer feedback drives our product selection.

How do I know the revenue numbers are accurate?

You receive detailed monthly reports showing every transaction: timestamp, product sold, and amount. Our payment systems (Nayax) provide transparent, auditable data.

What if I want to cancel?

You can cancel with 30 days written notice, no penalties. We'll remove the machine and you keep all revenue earned up to that point.

Do I pay taxes on this income?

Yes, this is taxable income. We'll provide a 1099 form if your annual earnings exceed $600. Consult your accountant about deducting the small electricity cost.

How many machines can I have?

As many as your property can support! Some large apartment buildings have 2-3 machines in different locations. We'll assess what makes sense during our site visit.

What if sales are lower than projected?

Revenue projections are estimates, not guarantees. If a location underperforms consistently, we'll work with you to optimize product mix, placement, or potentially relocate the machine. Our goal is mutual profitability.

Why don't you just sell me the machine instead?

We could, but then you'd handle restocking, maintenance, payment collection, and product sourcing. Most property owners prefer the passive revenue model where we handle all operations. Plus, our bulk purchasing power means better margins than you'd get operating solo.

Ready to Start Earning Passive Income?

Join Bergen County property owners already generating monthly revenue with zero effort.