How Much Does it Cost to Move a Vending Machine in 2023
Owning a vending machine is an excellent way to make a somewhat passive income.
However, to make sure that you’re making the most out of your vending machine, you have to choose a proper location for it.
The issue here is that vending machines can be remarkably heavy, especially if your machine has an advanced refrigeration system, which usually requires hiring professional movers to get the job done.
How much does it cost to move a vending machine?
On average, you should expect around $200 to $1500 to move a vending machine. The cost will usually depend on various factors, such as the size of the machine, the distance needed to cover it, and the company you’re dealing with.
| Company Name | Service Type | Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Moving Company | Local moves | $200-$400 |
| U-Pack Moving | Long-distance moves | $700-$1,200 |
| Next Moving Company | Local and long-distance moves | $300-$800 |
| Tom’s Marathon Movers | Local and long-distance moves | $250-$600 |
| Fastruck Moving Company | Local moves | $200-$400 |
| Citadel Moving | Local and long-distance moves | $300-$1,000 |
| Green Mountain Moving & Storage | Local and long-distance moves | $400-$1,000 |
| California Express | Local moves | $200-$400 |
| SOS Moving | Local and long-distance moves | $400-$1,500 |
| Prodigy Moving & Storage | Local and long-distance moves | $300-$800 |
Keep on reading for further information about the vending machine transportation costs and how to do it on your own!
READ: How Much Does a Soda Vending Machine Weigh?
Factors that Effect the Moving Cost of a Vending Machine
Of course, many factors come into play when it comes into play while deciding the cost of the moving process.
To give you a better perspective and help you make an estimate for your case, here’s a quick look at them:
- The Size and Weight of the Machine: Bigger and heavier machines like combo vending machines usually cost much more because they require large and expensive pallet jacks as well as several movers to get the job done.
- The Distance to the New Location: Transporting the vending machine within a couple of blocks comes at a minimal price while the costs may double or even triple if you’re moving the machine across cities or states.
- The Rates of the Moving Company You’re Dealing with: Depending on the area you’re in and the tools and personnel the company uses, the rates will be different. Glass front machines are usually treated as fragile items, which cost a lot more than all-metal stack vendors to move.
Make sure to check various mover offers and consider the ones with vending machine moving experience, as it requires extra care, especially glass front machines.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Move a Vending Machine
Now that you know how much a vending machine should weigh and how much it’ll cost you to hire professionals to move the machine, you might be wondering if you can move the vending machine on your own.
Well, if you have the tools and personnel needed, you’re good to go! In this section, we’ll walk you through a brief step-by-step guide that outlines the steps of the job. Let’s check them out:
1. Prepare the Machine for Moving
First, you need to start by unplugging the machine and emptying it completely to make it as light as possible.
After that, you need to measure the dimensions of the machine in order to figure out the ideal size of pallet jack needed for the job. It would also help greatly if you know the weight of the machine.
Once you have all this information, head out to get the necessary items for moving, including the pallet jack, ratchet straps, protective blankets, etc.
2. Load the Vending Machine on the Pallet Jack
Align the jack’s forks under the vending machine so that it’s exactly at the center and will be balanced when lifted.
Start pumping the handle of the pallet jack to lift the machine a few inches (1.5 to 2) off the ground and test out whether the machine is perfectly centered on the machine. Continue lifting the machine so that it’s completely left off the ground, including its legs.
3. Secure the Vending Machine
Once the vending machine is fully loaded on the pallet jack, use multiple ratchet straps or bungee cords to secure the load on the jack and prevent the machine from tipping off.
For further protection, cover the exterior of the vending machine with protective blankets to protect delicate parts and prevent bumps from leaving a mark on the machine.
When everything is in position, load your vending machine on your transporting vehicle or push the handle to move the vending machine around.
4. Reach Destination, Unload, and Restock
When you reach your new destination, slowly pull up the handle to lower the forks of the jack onto the ground.
Once the vending machine fully touches down and settles where it should be, remove the blanket and secure cords from the machine, and restock it. For refrigerated machines, allow them a few hours before plugging it back again to let the compressor oil settle.
Is Hiring Professional Movers for Vending Machines Worth It?
As you can see, the process of moving the vending machine on your own is only easy and cost-efficient if you already have a hold on all the tools needed for the job and you can have a few helping hands.
Despite that, we still recommend that you go with the professional movers option for various reasons.
For example, a reliable pallet jack that is capable of transporting a vending machine can cost you several hundred bucks, which can be easily more expensive than the cost the movers charge. After all, their costs cover all the tools that they use to get the job done.
Additionally, movers are professionals with proper physical build and experience handling large objects like vending machines with care. Mishandling the machine can break it and cost you a lot of money in repairs.
For these reasons, most experienced vending machine owners simply opt for movers to get the job done and write the costs off as operating expenses.
The Bottom Line
With that said, our guide about moving vending machines and how much it should cost you comes to an end.
As you can see, the actual cost of moving a vending machine can change depending on various factors, such as the size of your machine and the mover companies that you’re dealing with. Yet, you should expect the moving process to cost you around $120 to $200.
You can also move the vending machine on your own if you have the right tools and experience along with a few helping hands, but going with movers is usually the better option to ensure the safety of your investment.
READ: Top 10 Vending Machine Movers Companies Near Me
