The location of your vending machines can make or break your earnings.

Choose the wrong spot, and your machine collects dust. Pick the right one, and you’ve got a 24/7 money-maker. So, how do you ensure success?

In this post, we’ll explore four proven, profitable locations for vending machines. These aren’t random picks—they’re field-tested spots guaranteed to deliver steady foot traffic and impulse buys.

Let’s dive in. 👇

1. Bars 🍸

Bars are one of the best environments for vending machines.

Why? Because the demand is built right in. Customers come to unwind and spend money, often forgetting essentials like vapes, chargers, or gum. When that craving hits—especially if you’re halfway through a round of shots—nobody wants to walk to a store.

In 2019, Ethan Kohan, founder of Pod Plug, landed seven bar locations in a single month, bringing in $14,000 in revenue. That’s from just seven machines. A few months later, Ethan got introduced to a bar owner in Dallas who added four more venues into the mix.

There are over 68,000 bars and nightclubs in the U.S., and most don’t offer anything like this. Place your machine near the bar, patio, or bathroom, and you’re right in the path of foot traffic. You’re solving a real need without making people leave the venue.

If you’re starting with just one or two machines, a bar is your best bet.

2. Nightclubs 🪩

Nightclubs are pure gold for vending machines—especially after midnight.

With pulsing bass and flashing lights creating the perfect atmosphere, nobody wants to leave the venue. Whether someone needs a quick battery recharge or a fresh vape, convenience is essential. A strategically placed machine near the dance floor or lounge area perfectly meets this need.

There’s compelling data to back this up: 15.6% of young adults at NYC EDM parties vaped in the past month. This represents a highly engaged, ready-to-buy audience.

The scenario is perfect—people are dancing, drinking, and in a spontaneous mindset. By offering the right product at the right moment, you’re guaranteed success. Plus, since nightclubs operate well beyond regular store hours, your machine becomes an essential late-night solution.

If you’re not in nightclubs yet, you’re missing out on a high-volume, high-margin opportunity.

3. Strip Clubs 💸

Strip clubs are high-spending environments, making them prime real estate for vending machines.

The average customer spends between $200–$300 per night. They’re paying not just for drinks but for the entire experience. Here’s the key issue: when customers leave to buy a vape or ZYN, they might not return. These quick trips disrupt the atmosphere and cost the club significant revenue.

Installing a vending machine inside the venue solves this problem. By providing instant access to vapes, chargers, condoms, and even nicotine pouches like ZYN or fun and exciting products like Mystery Bags, you keep customers in the venue and ready to spend.

If you’re targeting locations with high average ticket values, strip clubs deserve serious consideration.

4. Festivals 🎉

Festivals are heaven for vending machines—if you can get in.

Picture this: tens of thousands of attendees, long days, and limited access to shops. Nobody wants to abandon their favorite band mid-set just to hunt for a vape or charger. Take Coachella, which drew over 200,000 attendees in 2024—that’s a massive captive audience.

The best part? Festival-goers arrive ready to spend. Your job is simple: make it convenient. A single well-placed vending machine at a festival can generate more revenue than a month of regular bar traffic. The key is to partner with festival organizers early and secure prime real estate—think entrances, main stage areas, or food and drink zones.

For sheer volume, festivals are hard to beat.

Final Takeaway

Your vending machine’s success depends entirely on its location.

For a reliable income stream, target high-traffic venues where people naturally gather—bars, clubs, strip clubs, and festivals. In these spots, time is precious, cravings are immediate, and impulse purchases dominate.

And here’s the kicker: these venues don’t just welcome vending—they need it.

Ready to place your first machine or expand your fleet? Need advice on what products actually sell? Partner with us and let’s revolutionize nightlife, together.

Click the link here to get started: franchisepodplug.com