Is Vape Vending Profitable? Ultimate FAQ Guide | VapeTM

Age Verification & Compliance

How do VapeTMs prevent underage access?

Vape vending machines prevent underage access through age verification. VapeTM sells an ID scanner, and customers are required to scan the barcode on the back of their driver’s license or government-issued ID before making payment. Once the age is confirmed, the customer can continue with their purchase. This is the least-friction method for verifying age. To purchase our ID Scanner, click here.

How do you know the person making the purchase is the person that matches the ID?

We can’t provide that level of certainty with our ID Scanners, but we offer third-party authentication and biometric facial recognition if you wish to beef up your age recognition security. To learn more about VapeTM’s methods of age verification, click here.

Why can’t we install a camera at the machine to provide a facial match?

The reason we can’t do this is because the ID scanner is not looking at the picture—it is simply looking at the information stored in the barcode and sending that data to our software to confirm if their age is sufficient to proceed with the product they wish to purchase.

Can you adjust the age requirement for different jurisdictions?

Yes, age requirements can be adjusted per machine and even per aisle. This feature is fully customizable by day and time for each machine, ensuring compliance with local regulations and operational flexibility. Hence, you can set the age limit in our vending management software per product or aisle.

Products & Inventory Management

What if I sell age-restricted products like vapes and Zyn but also sell other items like snacks and chargers that don’t require customers to be 21?

You can disable age verification for non-age restricted products by changing the age limit to zero under aisle configuration on your machine.

Can I sell Zyn or other nicotine pouches in my machine?

Yes, VapeTM sells 35mm coils to fit tins and also designs a “lifter” or nicotine pouch adapter to make them the right height to vend seamlessly. You can purchase 35mm coils and tin lifters here.

Can I sell other products in my machine?

Yes, customers can sell whatever product they want and they can source it from wherever they like. VapeTM offers a wide range of coils and can also adjust trays to accommodate a wide range of products in various sizes. Our customers are not limited to vapes or nicotine pouches, and we have seen nightlife essentials, energy and caffeine, snacks, baseball cards, breath mints, mystery items, and electronics like mobile chargers and power banks.

Financials, Banking & Payments

How does the credit card reader work?

VapeTM machines are equipped with a Nayax VPOS Touch card reader. VapeTM will facilitate the onboarding so that you can link your bank account to your machine(s). The fees are $7.95 per month for cellular connectivity plus 20 cents and 3 percent per transaction. Fees are netted out of your deposits, which are weekly and deposited on Friday. VapeTM provides Tier I and Tier II technical support and is an OEM for Nayax.

Can Nayax split deposits into other bank accounts?

No, the owner of the machine becomes the sole Merchant of Record, and you cannot split deposits and send partial monies to other accounts. While this may seem desirable, it creates accounting and compliance issues, and we recommend having one Merchant of Record. If you wish to use another bank account for different devices or machines, you are welcome to set up a new LLC and bank account, but still, 100% of deposits from each machine have to go to one bank account.

How do I pay the bar or my customer that I place the vape vending machine at?

Any payout that you need to make to your customers is not facilitated on our software. VapeTM software features financial reports and makes available detailed transaction reports that you can export into Excel and use to calculate payouts to your customers.

Profitability & Locations

What factors should I consider when looking for a vape vending location?

Age demographic, traffic, and open hours are the three biggest factors that affect vape vending profitability. Other factors that influence profitability are product selection and pricing. While high-traffic areas and venues are important, the age demographic (21–35 years old) is the most crucial factor, coupled with optimized product and pricing selection. If you are selling nicotine-based products, stick with premium vapes and pouches like Geek Bar Pulse, Raz, ZYN, and ALP. Sell them at prices similar to or $1–$2 more than the local smoke or vape shops and place the machine in a high-visibility area (not in the bathroom hallway).

How do I know how much money I will make?

In short, you don’t, but VapeTM has data from thousands of machines placed nationwide and can help provide an estimate or a range of expected revenue.

What are the best vape vending locations and how much do they make?

A good vape vending machine should generate over $1,000 in profit to the owner/operator per month. These locations are typically college bars and nightclubs that are open late-night hours and cater to a younger demographic.

Is vape vending really profitable?

Vape vending is one of the most profitable vending sectors due to high margins—typically $12–$14 profit per vape—and strong consumer demand. A well-placed machine can generate $1,000 or more in monthly profit. Operators who select premium products and secure strategic placements (e.g., bars, clubs, entertainment venues) enjoy the highest returns. To learn more about Vape Vending profitability, see the profitability calculator table.

Operations, Features & Troubleshooting

What if a product gets jammed or doesn’t work (i.e., the vape is defective)?

If the product doesn’t drop, the transaction is cancelled. VapeTM machines are equipped with an electronic infrared sensor, so in the event a payment is approved and a product is not detected, no need to worry. If the product is simply defective, this would need to be addressed by you. You can issue refunds on the Nayax portal or you can subscribe to MyVendSite.com for additional refund-related services that are consumer-facing. VapeTM also offers a monthly subscription for refund management.

Can I sell advertising on my vape vending machine?

Yes, VapeTM offers advertising capabilities through its web portal and allows customers to display videos and images on welcome screens and top advertising banners.

Can vape machines be customized by VapeTM?

Yes, you can change the colors of the screens and buttons through our theme management on VapeTM’s web portal. You can also upload pictures and videos to display welcome screens and advertisement banners.

What if someone punches the screen?

Unfortunately, physical vandalism is not protected under our standard warranty, but the monitors are very dependable and less than 3/1,000 have been broken. While this concern may seem commonplace, it rarely happens from our experience, and our machines are tested to withstand soft-tip dart boards!

Can customers get product or vape discounts?

Yes, we have coupon coding and discount options available to our customers. Be aware of state laws when it comes to large discounts or free vapor products.

Can the machines send alerts for errors, out of stocks, or low inventory?

Yes, VapeTM machines can send customizable alerts for various needs, such as low inventory, dispense failures, or refund triggers. These alerts can be configured per machine or even per aisle and sent via email or text to you and any employees in your network. This level of proactive monitoring helps minimize downtime and keeps operations running smoothly.