I had a friend whos father ran a vending route. His dad messed up his back and tried to give the route to my buddy. My buddy had no interest in it but I was there the day he declined. Having robbed many vending machines I knew how much money they could turn over so I offered to take over the route until he found a buyer or until I raised enough money to pay what he wanted for it. We wrote up a lease agreement in which he got a flat monthly fee of $350. I stuck everything I made beyond that from the machines in a savings account and bought him out at the 18 month mark. I ended up doubling my investment when I sold the route in the third year and made a decent amount of coin in the months between.
Id have kept it but other opportunities drew me from the area. Its definitely a side gig Id consider revisiting someday....especially having recently gotten to play with a LectroTruck stair climbing dolly. Moving coke machines up and down stairs was really the only part of the business I HATED.