Profit Guide to Nightlife Vending Essentials
AFTER HOURS Vending – Profitability Guide
Assumes sales tax is passed to the customer at checkout, wholesale cost per item is typically $1–$7, and retail markups are typically 300–400%.Why AFTER HOURS Works
- High Markups: Typical retail pricing is 3–4× wholesale (e.g., $2 cost → $6–$8 price; $5 cost → $15–$20 price).
- Impulse Demand: Nightlife essentials sell at the moment of need (chargers, mints, energy shots, relief aids, etc.).
- Simple Placement: Non–age-restricted products; common 10–20% venue commission model.
- Low Overhead: Cashless, compact machines; minimal restocking.
Key Assumptions (Base Case)
| Item | Assumption |
|---|---|
| Machine Cost | $3,400 (Slim Wall) or $3,800 (Mega Wall) |
| Wholesale Cost (avg.) | $3.50 per item (typical range $1–$7) |
| Retail Price (typical) | $12.00 (3–4× markup) |
| Card Processing Fee | 3% of retail |
| Venue Revenue Share | 15% of retail (typical range 10–20%) |
| Sales Tax | Passed to customer; operator remits monthly |
Per-Item Profit (Example)
Using Retail = $12.00, Wholesale = $3.50, Fees = 3%, Venue = 15%
| Retail Price | $12.00 |
| – Wholesale Cost | − $3.50 |
| – Card Fees (3%) | − $0.36 |
| – Venue Share (15%) | − $1.80 |
| Net Profit per Item | $6.34 |
|---|
Formula: net = retail − wholesale − (fee% × retail) − (venue% × retail)
Monthly Net Profit (3–5 Sales/Day)
Assumes $6.34 net per item (base case above) and 30 days/month.
| Sales/Day | Monthly Units | Net/Item | Net Monthly Profit | Payoff – Slim Wall ($3,400) |
Payoff – Mega Wall ($3,800) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 90 | $6.34 | $570.60 | ~6.0 months | ~6.7 months |
| 4 | 120 | $6.34 | $760.80 | ~4.5 months | ~5.0 months |
| 5 | 150 | $6.34 | $951.00 | ~3.6 months | ~4.0 months |
Payoff months ≈ machine_cost ÷ net_monthly_profit.
Sensitivity: Profit per Item vs. Retail Price
Holding Wholesale = $3.50, Fees = 3%, Venue = 15%.
| Retail Price |
Wholesale | Fees (3%) |
Venue (15%) |
Net Profit per Item |
Monthly Net @ 3/day |
Monthly Net @ 4/day |
Monthly Net @ 5/day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10.00 | $3.50 | $0.30 | $1.50 | $4.70 | $423.00 | $564.00 | $705.00 |
| $12.00 | $3.50 | $0.36 | $1.80 | $6.34 | $570.60 | $760.80 | $951.00 |
| $15.00 | $3.50 | $0.45 | $2.25 | $8.80 | $792.00 | $1,056.00 | $1,320.00 |
Use this to match pricing to venue type (e.g., college bar vs. upscale lounge) while preserving margins.
Sensitivity: Venue Commission Range (10–20%)
Holding Retail = $12.00, Wholesale = $3.50, Fees = 3%.
| Venue Commission |
Commission $ | Net Profit per Item |
Monthly Net @ 3/day |
Monthly Net @ 4/day |
Monthly Net @ 5/day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $1.20 | $6.94 | $624.60 | $832.80 | $1,041.00 |
| 15% (base) | $1.80 | $6.34 | $570.60 | $760.80 | $951.00 |
| 20% | $2.40 | $5.74 | $516.60 | $688.80 | $861.00 |
Commission $ = commission% × retail. Negotiating commissions materially impacts ROI.
What to Adjust First
- Product Mix: Stock fast movers tied to nightlife pain points (chargers, breath mints, energy shots, relief aids).
- Pricing: Start near 3.5× cost; test +$1 increments. Use the sensitivity tables to gauge impact.
- Placement: Put machines where impulse is highest (near exits, bathrooms, queue lines, VIP corridors).
- Commission: Target 10–15% when possible; show venues projected monthly payouts.
AFTER HOURS Nightlife Vending Margin Analysis
| Category | $8.00 | $14.00 | $23.00 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machine Cost | $4,100 | $4,100 | $4,100 | Mega Wall 2.0 |
| Product Expenses | ||||
| Product Cost | $2.00 | $4.00 | $7.00 | |
| Credit Card Fees | $0.38 | $0.69 | $1.01 | 2.9% + 15¢/trx |
| Commission | $1.20 | $2.10 | $3.45 | 15% of gross |
| Total Expenses | $3.58 | $6.79 | $11.46 | |
| Profit Margin | $4.42 | $7.21 | $11.55 | |
| Monthly Profit (3/day) |
$397.62 | $648.90 | $1,039.05 | $695.19 → ~6 months |
| Annual Profit (5/day) |
$662.70 | $1,081.50 | $1,731.75 | $1,158.65 → ~4 months |
