Around the world, vending machine owners sell just about anything that will fit in their machines. As such, there is a wide range of vending machines for sale. The universe of vending machines does not begin and end with gumball vends. The people who design and sell vending machines have been quite creative over the years. Soda and gumballs are seen everyday in vending machines, but elsewhere there are pizza machines, and even egg machines! For me, the key has always been picking a product I really and truly wanted to sell before looking for matching vending machines. To succeed, you have to love what you're doing. I have to believe that the products I vend better people's lives in some way.

If you know what you want to sell, it's time to get the machines to sell it!

The styles of machines you might buy do vary. Take gumball and toy vends. There are a good many styles and configurations available. In the malls local to me, somebody has placed kiosks of gumball, candy, and toy vending machines. These kiosks are like a slice of heaven to a kid, and the configuration of the kiosks can vary based upon the given space and the rules put in place by each individual mall. To meet the needs of we vending entrepreneurs (that's you and me), you will find available stand-alone machines, double-vends and two-head vends, triples, four-column sticker machines, vending stands -- on which you can stack several machine units -- and so on. In the snack world, you will also find many choices. There are even custom options available. As you might expect, custom costs more, and your budget will of course play a big part in the style of machine(s) you choose to buy.

If you are just getting into the highly rewarding world of vending machines, I imagine you have a strong desire to be your own boss, but your pockets may not be that deep. You have options. It is possible to get into the vending business on a budget. Since soda and snack machines cost more, ask yourself if you would like to sell smaller items -- the things that make little ones tug on a parent's pant leg and ask that they drop a couple quarters into your machine. If you would be happy selling gumballs, bouncy balls, toys inside a plastic capsule, or stickers (decals), then you can get into vending on a budget for sure. You can even start out small scale and get in for under $1,000.

Yes, there are gumball and capsule vending machines for sale for $100-to-$200 per machine. You can even find this type of vend for under $100. There are a lot of options for under $200, which makes getting a start in this industry and being your own boss totally attainable, as long as you have the drive and the will to actually be in charge of yourself.

Suppose you wanted to find the cheapest way to enter the vending business, here it is. You can purchase a Proline single vending machine on a stand for about $100, add in the cost of the gumballs (usually less than $50, and as low as $38), and you can get your toe wet in this industry for under $150 (plus shipping). It is a small start, but a start to be sure!

So you know you have a range options -- something to meet almost any budget. but where do you look? In most areas, a look under Vending Machines in the yellow pages is a good start. Online, you might find yourself happy with Amazon or eBay. I prefer to go with companies that specialize in the vending machine industry. To me, the richest offering is found at VendingMachinesUnlimited.com. The name says it all. Vending Machines Unlimited offers quite an array of vending machines for sale -- every type of machine that can help form a successful vending business in North America. They also sell gumballs, candy, bouncy balls, and capsule toys. If you decide you want to sell those types of items, then Vending Machines Unlimited is your one stop shop -- and your entry into the world of vending machine ownership.

A truly grand entry I hope it is for you!