How to start a vending machine business
The steps in order, the permits California asks for, and what the first machine costs in San Francisco and San Diego.
· Guide
Before the first machine
What a first machine costs, the licenses and permits, and a 12-month plan.
Stage 1 of 4
Read these first
Before the first machine Before the first machine How much a vending machine costs in 2026
Published prices by type. A refurbished snack machine from $1,295, a new one from $2,800, smart coolers from $2,950, and the fees and permits on top.
Before the first machine Vending machine business licenses by state, and whether you need an LLC
In most states the license that matters is a sales tax registration, plus a food permit for refrigerated machines. Texas taxes amusement machines $60 each. A California LLC costs $890 in year one.
Before the first machine California vending machine permits and what they cost
A free seller's permit, a city registration at $38 to $59, and a health permit only if the machine holds refrigerated food. San Francisco's is $273 a machine; San Diego County's is $98.50 per ten.
Calculators for this stage
- Vending Machine Cost EstimatorA low and high launch cost from published prices, with every line item.
- Business Plan TemplateA 12-month projection and plan document, prefilled with one of our smart coolers.
- Business Name GeneratorTwenty name ideas from your city, style, and machine type, with a .com lookup.
More guides at this stage
Before the first machine Smart coolers are a third of deployed equipment: the 2026 industry numbers
Industry revenue passed $40 billion, 78% of vending sales were cashless, and the average card purchase was $2.45 against $1.57 in cash.
