Stephen Ferritto bought his first vending machine when he was just 16. At the time, he was in culinary school and wanted to start his own money-making venture. Now, he owns and operates 25 machines in different locations across ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ that pull in a combined $6,000 monthly (that’s $72,000 a year). “It gave me a passion that culinary didn’t,†Ferritto says. “It gave me the ability to choose what I do.â€
Ferritto is one of many Canadians running a “boring†business. These jobs (think junk removal, car washes, laundromats) are known to offer stability and consistent demand for services with attractive long-term returns. They’re not flashy startups, “but that’s exactly what makes them attractive,†says Sean Wise, professor of entrepreneurship at ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Metropolitan University. “They solve everyday problems, have recurring customers, and aren’t subject to the hype cycles that tank trendier ventures.â€
A lot of businesses require formal training or knowledge, but part of the appeal of most boring businesses is that anybody can become an owner, says Jason Heath, certified financial planner and managing director of Objective Financial Partners. “There’s some merit in some of these business opportunities for sure,†he says. “The key is that you need to invest money in them in order to make money from them.â€
Here’s how you can determine if a boring business is right for you.
Run the numbers
While startups are grown through venture capital, Wise says boring businesses “often grow through cash flow, bank loans, or small business-style financing.†One benefit is that owners know their business model from day one, which means it’s all about consistent execution. Startups, on the other hand, search for a repeatable, scalable, profitable business model before they run out of time and money. “Startups are like hunting — chasing big game, with a lot of near misses along the way,†Wise says. “Boring businesses are like farming: plant, harvest, repeat.â€
Liz Schieck, a certified financial planner with ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½â€™s New School of Finance, suggests consulting with a financial professional who specializes in small-business planning to help you determine ongoing costs. “A business plan can help you figure out when you can expect the business to become profitable and how long it will be before you can pay yourself back.†She also recommends including a contingency plan; how long can you keep up the business if things aren’t going well?
You haveÌýto ask yourself some other important questions, too, Schieck says. Are you funding the business with cash? Are you selling off investments to do it? Are you doing it with debt? What’s your risk tolerance? “The promise of the extra income can lead people to taking risks that they wouldn’t otherwise take,†Schieck says.
KeepÌýlegal and accounting fees in mind, too. “When you own a corporation, the accounting cost can be fairly significant,†Heath says.
In addition to crunching numbers, take some time to reflect on the time commitment involved. “How many hours would you spend and what does that equate to in terms of an hourly rate?†Heath says.
Remember, slow and steady wins with boring businesses; they’re not a shortcut to getting rich quick. Heath says to be prepared for a medium to long-term commitment. “The worst thing you could do is spend a bunch of money to get started and not see it through to the point where it’s profitable,†Heath says.
If your main goal is to build wealth, buying stocks and paying down debt can help build your net worth, Heath says. “Although you can make money from one of these businesses, is it more money than you could make doing something else with your time and money? It’s a matter of trying to determine which of those options is going to make you better off financially.â€
Consider the culture, and the learning curve
Wise advises potential business owners look beyond the spreadsheets. If you’re considering buying an existing operation, he says, “look for small businesses with loyal customers and room to modernize.†Speak to employees and customers, and observe day-to-day operations. Speak to other entrepreneurs who have done it. Schieck suggests checking out social websites like Reddit to findÌýowners of similar businesses.

Stephen Ferritto takes pride in having his vending machines perfectly set up. “My girlfriend laughs at me when we’re at a location. She’ll say, ‘Do you have to stare at it for 20 minutes before we leave?’ â€
Nick Lachance ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ StarBe prepared to deal with repairs and maintenance, especially with laundromats and vending machines, Schieck says. Consider whether you can do those tasks yourself or if you’ll be outsourcing.
FerrittoÌýdid have some initial struggles with his first four machines. “I had no idea what I was doing. I had to buy parts, call manufacturers,†he says. “It was a process to learn for sure.â€
As a business grows, Ferritto points out, so do the problems, and that means your knowledge needs to expand. For example, Ferritto buys used machines for $2,000 to $3,000 each instead of buying new, which can cost up to $10,000.
Take one step at a time
Ferritto started out slow with about $2,000 of his own money while continuing to work at his culinary job. Instead of paying to rent a warehouse and purchasing months’ worth of stock, he stored chips, candy barsÌýandÌýcans of pop in a fridge in his garage and purchased more vending machines with each paycheque. Eventually, Ferritto quit his culinaryÌýjob to focus on vending.
Experts would say that Ferritto’s approach was the right one. “When it comes to scaling their venture, all founders have to be mindful to crawl, then walk, then run,†he says. In other words, “don’t rent office space for an additional 1,000 workers on day one.â€
Just before the pandemic in 2020, Ferritto sold the vending company he’d built and focused on his career as a real estate agent. In late 2024, his dog needed expensive medical treatment and he decided to go back into the vending machine biz with his company, Vendor’s Choice. Over the pastÌýeight months, he spent around $40,000 setting up the new vending route;ÌýwithinÌý15 months, his costs will be recouped.
Work hard, but have fun
Schieck worries about influencers who make running a boring business look easy. “Often, people get a spark of excitement when they see people talking about these businesses on social media because they think, ‘I could have some extra income in my life without having to work so hard.’ †In reality, owning a business requires a lot of time and hard work. “People don’t always understand is that it’s often quite a grind.â€
That’s why it’s also important to make sure you’ll find enjoyment through your boring business, “especially if you could be in a position where you’re working a lot more hours than a typical person might work in order to make it successful early on,†Heath says. “Pick something you like and stay committed.â€
These days, FerrittoÌýworks as a real estate agent during the day andÌýon theÌýevenings he has no meetings or showings booked,ÌýheÌýdrives to vending machines that need to be refilled.ÌýAll of his machines are equipped with tracking technology that lets him know when something needs to be topped up. He especially likes visiting the vending machines he owns in factories. “People appreciate the service,†he says. “You could do hotels and hospitals, but they’re a one-time purchase. I find that my business and my success has been with long-term customers.†He takes pride in having his machines perfectly set up. “My girlfriend laughs at me when we’re at a location. She’ll say, ‘Do you have to stare at it for 20 minutes before we leave?’ â€
Wise says boring businesses can find success by focusing on impact over ego. “You’ll be building something real, supporting local jobs, and improving people’s daily lives,†he says. “Steady wins aren’t sexy, but they’re sustainable — and deeply rewarding.â€
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