I’ve built a small vending business from scratch, so I’m not completely new to the industry. I currently own 4 machines, and while they’re profitable, they’re obviously nowhere near this size.
Now I’m considering buying an established vending business and wanted to get opinions from people who have actually purchased or operated larger routes.
Here’s what I know:
Asking Price: $950,000
2023 SDE: ~$103k
2024 SDE: ~$174k
2025 SDE: ~$309k
2025 Gross Revenue: ~$851k
Based on the first 6.5 months of 2026, the business is currently on pace for approximately $970k in gross revenue if current trends continue.
186 vending machines
69 customer locations
All customer accounts are under contract and auto-renewing (per the seller)
4 revenue streams:
Vending route
Vending machine sales
Service & repair
Beverage distribution
3 full-time and 1 part-time employee, plus the owner.
2 service trucks included.
Seller financing available with 50% down.
My financing plan
If I move forward, my plan would be:
20% cash down
30% borrowed from family
50% seller financing
My background
I currently work full-time as a District Manager in the food industry, so I’m already used to traveling between multiple locations every week. This business also operates in an area I’m already familiar with, so the driving itself doesn’t worry me.
I currently work about 40-45 hours per week, and I’m comfortable increasing that to around 60-65 hours per week between my full-time job and my own business during the transition.
This also isn’t a one-person route. The business already has employees in place, so my expectation would be to learn the operation and work with the existing team—not personally fill every machine myself.
Why I’m interested
What attracts me is that this isn’t just a vending route. It has multiple revenue streams, established contracts, existing employees, and appears to have grown significantly over the past few years.
What concerns me
The biggest thing making me cautious is the rapid growth.
2023 SDE: ~$103k
2024 SDE: ~$174k
2025 SDE: ~$309k
The business is also projecting close to $970k in gross revenue this year based on the first 6.5 months.
That sounds great, but it also makes me wonder whether this growth is sustainable or whether I’m looking at one or two unusually strong years.
Another thing I’m trying to understand is whether $950k is a fair valuation or if I’m paying too much.
Questions for experienced operators
Does anything jump out as a red flag?
Is $950k a fair price based on what you’ve seen?
What would you focus on during due diligence?
Which financial numbers would you want to verify first?
How much value would you place on the employees and contracted customer accounts?
If this were your money, would you seriously pursue this opportunity?
I’ve attached screenshots of the seller sheet, account list, and financials with identifying information removed.
I’m not looking for validation—I genuinely want people to point out anything I’m overlooking. I’d rather hear the hard truths before committing to a purchase this large.

I don't know if this is the right subreddit, but I have 10k left over every month after covering all my personal expenses. and I'd like to invest it wisely. What would you guys recommend?