The template builds a 12-month projection from one machine’s monthly numbers and how many machines you place. The downloaded plan carries the projection, the start-up costs, and headings for the parts only you can write: your locations, suppliers, and restock routine.
How the projection works
Each month multiplies the number of machines by one machine’s operating profit: sales minus product, card fees, commission, and other monthly costs, the same math as the profit calculator. Machine purchases land in the month a machine is added, and the start-up costs in month 1. The cumulative column is your cash position; its lowest point is how much you need up front.
The defaults
The starting figures are one of our smart coolers at a gym: $4,000, about $500 a month in sales, product at 25%, and card fees of 4% plus $8 a month. The 15% commission is what one of our locations takes. The $828.50 in start-up costs is our San Diego total from how to start less the machine: a $250 locator fee, $38 city registration, $98.50 county health permit, and $442 for a year of liability insurance.
Monthly sales do not ramp up in the projection. A new location often takes time to build, and we have no published figure for how long, so month 1 uses the full number. Lower the sales figure if you expect a slow start.
Filling in the rest
For prices on your own machines, use the cost estimator. Financing covers loans and leases, and the business license guide covers registration and the LLC question.
