Why This 60-Year-Old Real Estate Agent Started a Vending Business

Background

John had been a real estate agent for 14 years and owns a couple of rental properties on the side. Real estate had been slow the two years before he found Vendingpreneurs, and he wanted something to supplement his income. His wife is a school teacher, seven years younger than him. He'd been intrigued by vending for two or three years before seeing Mike Hoffman's videos on social media.

"Real estate was kind of slow the two previous years. I really want to give this a shot just to supplement my income."

The Challenge

At 60, John's biggest hesitation was his age. He actually booked an intro call, talked himself out of it, and canceled before calling back a month later.

The Turning Point

John told his wife that if he didn't try it, he'd regret it. He also drew on his own experience starting out in real estate with no track record and building it into a success, and the cashless, AI-driven machines removed a specific distaste he had for handling coins and bills.

"I told my wife, 'If I don't try this, I'm going to kick myself.' I just have to try it, and she's real good about letting me get into it."

Where They Are Now

John joined in May 2024 and installed his first machine, a Stockwell, on October 15. That location — a 150-unit apartment building where the property manager told him "we do, but it's always empty" — was his very first pop-in, and now runs $9,500 to $10,000 a month on its own after he upgraded it to a Pico widebody. A sister building (130 units) brings in about $6,500 a month. He's now at five locations, grossed $21,000 last month, has all his machines paid off, and is leasing a 500-square-foot commercial space.

"To see the revenue that's coming in on a monthly basis is truly life-changing."