Vending

Scotsman's vending side hustle rakes in $58K

Photo: Adobe Stock

May 11, 2026

Summarize with

A Scottish man says a vending machine side business he launched during the cost-of-living crisis is on track to generate more than $58,000 in annual revenue, according to a People.com report. Shabaz Khan, 31, began researching the vending industry in 2023 after looking for additional income opportunities as everyday expenses increased. After eight months of research, he purchased a refurbished vending machine for about $3,250 and spent another $540 on inventory to launch his business, SnackZone Vending.

Khan placed his first machine in a care home and reported generating $1,150 in sales during the first month, using the proceeds to expand the business. Within a year, he had grown the operation to six vending machine locations and said his first machine alone produced more than $13,500 in annual revenue. He expects the six-machine network to generate roughly $27,500 in profit, though he said he plans to reinvest the earnings back into the business rather than draw income from it.

Despite the growth, Khan said he has no plans to leave his full-time job working for a charity. He described the business as semi-passive, requiring about four to five hours of work per week for restocking and maintenance. Khan said he recovered his original investment within 10 months and is continuing to look for additional machine locations as the business expands.

Vending