Vending Route Investment on the Costa Blanca

Vending formats and economics

How locations are won

• ✦Cold outreach to offices, gyms, co-working spaces, residential communities, industrial estates — 4–8% conversion rate from a structured campaign.
• ✦Revenue share with location owner: typical 5–12% of gross revenue (electricity included).
• ✦Exclusivity contracts: 12–36 months standard — moat-builder, secures route value on exit.
• ✦Tourist zones: hotels and apart-hotels offer combo demand year-round; revenue share often 15–20% but volume justifies it.
• ✦Public sector (universities, hospitals, government buildings) — competitive tender process, multi-year contracts, very stable cashflow but slow to win.

Operations and route logistics

Route optimisation is the operational lever — visits per machine should match consumption (high-turnover locations 2–3×/week, low-turnover 1×/2 weeks). Over-stocking ties up working capital; under-stocking destroys revenue.

Modern machines with telemetry (Nayax, Vendon, Cantaloupe) auto-report inventory and cashflow — eliminating wasted visits. Worth the €15–€25/month subscription on any machine generating >€100/month.

Cash collection is fading: 70–85% of 2026 vending revenue is cashless (card, contactless, mobile). Removes the 'cash management overhead' criticism the model used to attract.

Scaling and exit

• ✦0–15 machines: solo operator / side income, autónomo registration sufficient.
• ✦15–60 machines: small SL with 1–2 employees handling routes, real operational business.
• ✦60+ machines: regional operator, often acquired by national chains (Selecta, Autobar, IVS) at 4–6× EBITDA.
• ✦Route exit: established routes with contracts trade at 8–14× monthly net income — a €600/month route = €5,000–€8,000 standalone value.
• ✦Geography matters: tight routes (one town, one zone) command premium multiples; scattered single-machine portfolios trade at discount.