📱 Best Platforms
Twice the Ice, Ice House America, Kooler Ice
📖 The Hustle
Ice and water vending machines sit outside gas stations, near boat ramps, or in residential neighborhoods and sell bulk ice ($2-$3 per 20 lb bag) and filtered water ($0.25-$0.50 per gallon) 24/7 with zero staffing. The machine produces ice on demand — you just need a water line, electricity, and a concrete pad. A well-placed ice machine near a lake or in a warm state can gross $1,500-$3,000 per month during summer. Product costs are nearly zero — water and electricity to freeze it. Maintenance is mostly cleaning and filter changes.
🚀 First Step
Research Twice the Ice and Ice House America franchise models, identify 3 potential locations near marinas or residential areas without nearby ice retailers, and request a quote.
🔑 Keys to Success
- Location near boat ramps, campgrounds, or in warm-climate suburbs far from grocery stores drives triple the sales of a random convenience store placement
- Ice machines peak hard in summer (June-August generates 60%+ of annual revenue) — budget conservatively based on 12-month averages, not summer numbers
- Regular cleaning and sanitizing is not optional — a dirty ice machine gets shut down by health inspectors fast and ruins your reputation
🛠 Tools & Resources: Twice the Ice, Ice House America, Kooler Ice, local water utility, concrete contractors