Best Things To Buy To Make Money: 13 Great Income Generating Ideas

Have you been thinking about starting a money-making side hustle? Curious about what the best things to buy to make money are?

The reality is that there are tons of machines and items you can buy to make extra cash on the side.

While some equipment will require manual operation and a bit of your time, other items can be set up to make more money on autopilot or rented out to make passive income.

Read on to learn about the best machines to buy to start a business on the side.

What Equipment Can I Buy To Make Money?

Take a look at this list of equipment and tools you can purchase easily to earn extra cash.

1. A Drone

Drones are cool pieces of equipment that have many different functions.

They’re used by government agencies for natural disaster search operations and monitoring climate change.

Plus, they’re used by everyday people to film holiday videos, take aerial high quality photos, and film events.

If you wanted to earn money from a drone, you’d need a commercial drone license, and then you could start offering niche drone services. But you can always learn how to use a drone with online courses.

A few potential customerons can be found at events and weddings, selling drone footage to stock sites, offering aerial surveying, and providing inspection footage for electrical, gas, or water lines.

Drones cost between $600 to $3,000 or more for a professional-level model.

However, the good money potential makes the initial investment worth it in the long run.

Check out our list of drone business name ideas for inspiration on branding for your new airborne venture.

2. Vending Machine

If you’re still wondering "what equipment can I buy to make quick cash", a vending machine is another worthwhile option.

Vending machines offer snacks and drinks and are usually situated on commercial premises such as a gym, doctor's surgery, shop, railway station, or office.

Basically, anywhere you have an active footfall or steady stream of people waiting to do or see something or someone.

You can buy a second-hand vending machine on sites such as eBay or other online marketplaces for a few hundred dollars or you could invest in a vending franchise like what Tubz Vending offers.

You can place your vending machines on a property you own or negotiate a monthly rent and a profit share to have your machines on someone else's commercial site.

Once your vending machine business is set up, all you have to do is keep it stocked each month.

Check out our article on vending machine business name ideas for naming inspiration for your new venture.

3. Pool Table

Investing wisely in a coin-operated pool table is another simple way to make quick cash on the side.

These are one of the best things to buy to make money - and are even easier to manage than vending machines because you don’t have to fill them up with stock.

You’ve probably seen pool tables in bars, sports clubs, and community centers. And you might have also noticed that it can be hard to get on the table some nights!

This is where you could come in and provide your own tables. If you don’t have your own commercial premises, try negotiating a deal with a leisure site where you provide and maintain the table in return for having your table there free.

Second-hand pool tables cost around $1500, and you’d need to pay for a van to deliver it to a venue.

After that, all you need to do is replace balls or cues if they go missing and enjoy a relatively passive income stream.

4. Sticker Printer

Another piece of equipment worth buying to make money is a sticker printer.

Stickers are hugely popular items to sell to make money and are a great way to make extra money online on sites such as Ebay, Redbubble, and Etsy.

Students and kids love to put stickers on their pencil cases, desks, laptops, books, and more.

While you can use a print-on-demand site such as Printful to print and deliver your stickers, getting your own sticker printer gives you increased quality control and a higher profit margin.

Check out this guide on how to start a sticker business for more information and our article on sticker business name ideas for naming suggestions for your online business.

5. DJ Equipment

If you have a passion for music and a knack for creating your own tunes, why not get your own DJ equipment and make extra money?

You could set up your own successful YouTube channel and earn money from adverts and sponsorships when you get enough subscribers.

Another idea is to sell your own merchandise, such as t-shirts, hoodies, and hats under videos with your DJ name on them.

Plus, if you have the time, you can market your DJ services for hire at weddings, events, and clubs.

When you’re not using your DJ equipment, you could rent it out on a site like Fat Llama and generate income by letting someone else use it for an agreed period of time.

6. Ice Cream Machine

Everybody loves ice cream in the summer!

You could buy an ice cream machine and rent it out to a business or set up your own ice cream business.

The first option of renting it out will bring in a nice chunk of passive income after you’ve found an interested party and negotiated terms.

Rental income is the best idea if you want a hands-off approach to earning on the side.

If you have extra time, you could start selling ice creams from a rented property or from an ice cream van you rent or buy.

In busy times, this will make more cash, but you’ll need to give up time to run the business.

If you're struggling to come up with names for your ice cream-related projects, take a look at our post on ice cream shop name ideas.

7. Sports Equipment

Sports equipment can also be rented or sold to make extra cash.

If you have sporting equipment already, you could create your own online store on a platform like Shopify and rent out your items.

It’s important to do your research, though, and find out what sports equipment is sought after in your area by the public or leisure venues.

Or, if you don’t want to spend time building a site, sporting equipment can be rented out on Fat Llama.

If you have a little more time, you could scour yard sales, thrift stores, and other second-hand stores for old sporting equipment.

These places often have cheap old sporting goods for sale where you can save money and find goodies, which you could flip and sell online for a profit.

And on a related note - if you think you'd like to sell shoes - don't miss our full guide to reselling shoes here!

8. Arcade Machine

Another great answer to "what equipment can I buy to make money" is investing in an arcade machine.

These take up less space than a pool table and can still turn a profit if placed in the right area.

Again, arcade machines do best in areas with people waiting around, such as an airport or a bus station. They could also do well in an establishment where people go to have fun, like a bar or shopping center.

Have a look on eBay, Facebook marketplace, or even thrift stores for used arcade machines that cost anywhere between a few hundred dollars to a few thousand.

And you could even start a YouTube channel centered around arcade machines.

Negotiate a deal with the owner of an establishment you want your machine put into.

Once it's going, all you have to do is keep it running and collect the profits, which could be between $20 - $50 a day in a busy venue.

9. Cryptomining Machine

Cryptocurrency miners make billions of dollars worldwide.

And the good news is that anyone can start mining cryptocurrency from home in their spare time.

Do your research to learn about cryptocurrency, and when you feel ready, invest in a cryptocurrency mining machine, which can cost between $1,000 - $4,000 or more.

One thing to remember here is that start-up costs are relatively high, and like the stock market, there are no guaranteed returns.

A high-spec cryptocurrency mining machine will eat up electricity, so you need to minus electricity costs when working out projected revenue to see if it will be worth it for you.

10. 3D Printer

A 3D printer is another great piece of equipment to buy to make money.

It’s possible to learn how to use a 3D printer online for free, and then you can open your own Etsy store to start selling your designs.

A few ideas for items to make with your 3D printer include:

• Coasters
• Bottle openers
• Cup holders
• Cookie cutters
• Egg cups
• Fruit baskets
• Unique cutlery

While 3D printing can take a while to master, a small to medium sizes printer only costs around $300, which is affordable.

Take a look at these 3D-printed desk plaques on Etsy for inspiration.

11. Lawn Mower or Leaf Blower

Using a lawn mower or leaf blower to make money requires effort, but it’s simple work.

A second-hand lawn mower should cost no more than $100 at thrift stores or other places, and you could make that back in a week, charging $20 - $30 per lawn mowed.

You could do this type of work in your spare time or, eventually, make it into a full-time business.

Start picking up clients by talking to your neighbors and handing out flyers around town.

You could even set up a social media account, showing off your gardening achievements.

After getting a few good reviews, word will spread, and new customers will start approaching you.

12. Electric Bike

Working as a delivery driver is a top part-time job to help grow your income on the side.

On any night, you can bet there are hundreds of hungry bellies making food orders on some of the major food delivery sites such as DoorDash and Deliveroo.

By investing in an electric bike, you can join the gig economy and make money fast delivering food.

This type of work is flexible, as you can choose to work in the mornings, at lunchtime, or at nighttime.

Plus, you can work as many or as few hours as you like to fit this side hustle in around your main job.

Electric bikes cost a minimum of $600. However, you can start off with a pedal bike which is more affordable.

This type of work has minimal overheads, and you can earn $100 - $200 a day at busy times.

13. A Van

One type of heavy equipment to buy to make money is a van.

Investing in a good-sized van simply gives you so many opportunities to make more money.

A few van-specific ideas to earn cash include:

• Helping people move
• Work as a courier or delivery driver
• Earn by advertising on your van
• Rent out your van to businesses
• Turn it into a food or drink truck
• Flip old vans for profit

A decent second-hand van could be found for around $4,000+.

But remember that fuel, insurance, and running costs must factor into this side hustle.

If you’re renting out your van, you could easily earn $20 - $30 an hour or charge a monthly fee.

You can double this charge if you include manpower to help people move.

Final Thoughts - What Equipment Can I Buy to Make Money?

Now you know the best equipment worth buying to make money. The tough part is deciding which machine is right for you to invest in - just like it is to invest in the stock market.

This listicle has given you a broad range of options, with something for everyone.

If you prefer a more hands-off side hustle, opt for one of the automated machines that just need setting up, such as a vending machine or a pool table.

These will always make money as everyone likes to snack, and we all want entertainment when waiting around.

If you’re happy to get more active, consider investing in a lawn mower, DJ equipment, or a van.

The 3D printer and cryptomining machine will take a little longer to get the hang of, but it can turn a good profit over time.

Consider your skills, passions, and budget, and in no time, you’ll decide which equipment you want to buy to earn cash on the side and maybe even reach financial freedom.

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