Make money online: YES

Being a vending machine owner can be a remote-friendly side hustle, as you can manage your machines from anywhere as long as you have access to the internet. However, there may be occasional in-person requirements such as restocking and maintenance. Online discussions on Reddit and other forums suggest that the business generally lives up to its hype as a passive income opportunity. Success can depend on your location for foot traffic, access to clients for machine placement, time zones for monitoring operations, and the equipment quality for reliability. Setup costs range from $2,000 to $10,000, and profitability can be achieved within 6 months to 2 years, depending on factors like machine placement and product demand. Potential red flags include the need for frequent restocking and the potential for vandalism or theft.