JVending Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 Hello everyone, I'm completely new and haven't purchased a vending machine yet, but I am eager to get started. I'm looking to get my feet wet by purchasing 3 snack machines and placing them in the DC Metropolitan area. I've come up with a name, and even wrote out a business plan, but at this point, I'm hoping for some insight on the best way to acquire routes and/or locations. I've considered all the typical locations like schools, community centers, and gyms, but I'm afraid that all the good areas are likely to be taken. Where do you all suggest I get started? And what's the best way to get my foot in the door? Also, my other issue is the regulations and licensing. I've read up on something about new rules dealing with being handicap compliant and such, and wanted to know more. As with licensing, I was wondering what type of license is needed to operate this type of business. I know food is involved, so I figured something along those lines would be required. Any help is appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sherlock Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 Welcom JVending... You've come to the right place. Some full-line vendors will chime in soon to answer your questions, I'm sure. For now, I recommend reading all through this site for helpful info on locating Full-Line equipment, like those snack machines you have questions on. Again, welcome...best of luck on your new venture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indiana Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 Hello and welcome! Most vending operators don't start with a business plan, I bet you'll be glad you made this extra effort later on. As you can read of others' experiences in starting their businesses on this forum, there are a number of ways to start a vending route. When I was first starting, I found this forum and a variety of ebooks that are out there on starting a vending business most helpful (but read many of them, you don't want to base business decisions for your company solely on the experiences of one other company). From my experience, it seems there are two common ways to start. The first, and probably the most popular option you'll be advised to try on this forum, is to purchase used machines (most likely from Craigslist or eBay), become as familiar with them as possible, and call around to local businesses yourself to locate them. Rinse and repeat. This option is straightforward and is probably the most economical choice, albeit somewhat slow going. The other option, the way I decided was best for me, is to purchase an existing route after watching the market (also probably on Craigslist) until you're familiar with "going" rates and prices, and jumping in when you find a good deal. You can verify with forum members here if the route you're considering is a good deal or not, too. This way can also take some time, and will definitely require some capital investment, but in my opinion this option is a nice way to start a solid foundation of a business that you can gradually grow on in the future. Good luck with your business! Post in the forum with any questions, the members here like helping people like you and me (newbies) with problems and questions--I know I had (and continue to have) a few! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Priusjames Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 From my experience, it seems there are two common ways to start. The first, and probably the most popular option you'll be advised to try on this forum, is to purchase used machines (most likely from Craigslist or eBay), become as familiar with them as possible, and call around to local businesses yourself to locate them. Rinse and repeat. This option is straightforward and is probably the most economical choice, albeit somewhat slow going. The other option, the way I decided was best for me, is to purchase an existing route after watching the market (also probably on Craigslist) until you're familiar with "going" rates and prices, and jumping in when you find a good deal. You can verify with forum members here if the route you're considering is a good deal or not, too. This way can also take some time, and will definitely require some capital investment, but in my opinion this option is a nice way to start a solid foundation of a business that you can gradually grow on in the future. Welcome, JVending- I am also pretty new. I've spent about a year reading everyting I can get my hands on (including auditing this forum as a guest), and I took the plunge with my first machine location a couple of months ago...a gigantic Vendo 600 series Pepsi machine. I was smart enough to hire movers to get and place it, thank goodness, or I probably would have been crushed to death. I'm taking a two-pronged approach. I've been buying one of about any vending machine I can find, taking them apart and putting them back together. I've been taking almost everyting I could get my hands on apart since I was about 5, and I've gotten much better about being able to put things back together since then. heh. I'm also on the prowl for accounts being sold in my areas of interest, have bought one already and am working on another in the opposite direction. I plan to go outward, in concentric circles, form each area and find more and more locations over time. When you ask a question, you'll get replies. Often there will be conflicinting ideas, because everybody has learned what works for *them*...you'll have to figure out which of the replies is coming from somebody who thinks like you (so, tell us what you're thinking!) Again, good luck and welcome James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pops Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 Hey man, I'm new too. I jumped straight in with a vague notion of a business plan in my head. nothing written down. I have three machines. Two are combo and one is snacks only. After three months, I can tell you that servicing snacks is kind of a pain. I struggle a bit to keep the inventory all straight.... the more selections that you have, the more things to keep track of. If you haven't already done so, I recommend taking some kind of class on accounting AND On book keeping. They seem to be two separate topics. I picked up an accounting book called The Accounting Game, which is pretty useful. It's funny I have a friend that is working on an MBA and I asked him some accounting/book keeping questions looking for help on how to deal with my inventory and he was fairly clueless. I'm not sure what they teach in MBA school but it doesn't seem to cover the basics/nuts-an-bolts of running a business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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