How much does a Water & Ice Vending cost to buy?

A typical Water & Ice Vending sells for 2x to 3x annual revenue. With average revenue of $80K, expect to pay $160K to $240K.

How much does it cost to start a Water & Ice Vending?

Startup costs range from $30K to $80K depending on location, equipment, and scale.

Route

/100 score

Excellent

Water & Ice Vending

Q: What are the profit margins for a Water & Ice Vending?

The average profit margin for a Water & Ice Vending is around 57%. Electricity, water supply fees, filter replacements, location rent/commission, and occasional machine maintenance.

Sell water for quarters — margins that flow

Water and ice vending businesses operate self-service machines that purify and dispense drinking water and bag ice. Machines are placed outside grocery stores, gas stations, and laundromats. The model is extremely passive — machines run 24/7 with only periodic filter changes and maintenance visits.

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Avg Revenue

$80K

Profit Margin

57%

Acquisition Multiple

2x - 3x

Startup Cost

$30K - $80K

Difficulty

2/5

How It Works

Install water/ice vending machines at high-traffic retail locations. Machines connect to a water source, filter and purify the water, and dispense it into customer-provided containers or vend bagged ice. Revenue is coin and card operated, running 24/7. You visit periodically to change filters, perform maintenance, and collect cash.

Revenue Range

Low End

$30K

Typical

$80K

High End

$200K

Pros

+Very high margins — water is essentially free raw material
+Machines run 24/7 with minimal intervention
+Low COGS — filters and electricity are the main costs
+Growing health-conscious demand for purified water

Cons

-Machine purchase costs are significant ($15K-$40K each)
-Location quality is critical for sufficient foot traffic
-Health department regulations vary by jurisdiction

Best For

Passive income seekers who want a set-it-and-forget-it vending model

Operating Costs

Electricity, water supply fees, filter replacements, location rent/commission, and occasional machine maintenance.

SBA Financing Estimator

Adjust the deal — see if it cash flows after debt service

+$2K/mo

after debt service

Deal price — $200K

Range: $120K (2×) to $320K (3×+)

Down payment — 15% ($30K)

SBA minimum equity injection is 10% for change-of-ownership

Interest rate — 8.00%

Current prime-based SBA rates: 7.5–10.5%

Loan term — 10 years (120 mo)

Standard SBA 7(a): 10 years for business acquisition

Down payment

$30K

15% equity injection

Loan amount

$170K

85% SBA-financed

Monthly payment

$2K/mo

$78K total interest

Monthly profit

$4K/mo

at 57% margin

Monthly cash flow after debt service

+$2K/mo

Down payment paid back in ~18 months — strong return

Estimates only. Excludes owner compensation, capex, working capital draws, and taxes. Margin assumes average occupancy and volume. Actual SBA terms vary by lender and borrower profile.