New member in Minneapolis

[wltiii]

Hi All,

I just joined this group. It looks like a wonderful place to learn about the vending business. While I have two machines, a washer and a dryer in a 4-plex I own, I do not consider myself in the business. It is something I have long thought about, but have been afraid to pursue it due to the large number of scams. I am also wary of the claims of "easily finding top locations". Initially I expect to be more of lurker than a participant in the forums. I hope to know enough from what I find here and in books I plan to read to decide whether or not I should take the plunge.

Thanks!

Bill

[G-man422]

Bill,  you have good reason to be wary because there are a lot of biz-ops out there that make undeliverable promises.  The best thing you can do is buy some used machines off of craigslist or Ebay from a private party.  This way you can get better prices and not be given false hopes.

[chrisdunn77]

You will love this forum, everyone here is very helpful. just ask and all your questions are answered very quickly! i can't even begin to tell you how much this forum has helped me! good luck on your vending business it a lot of fun.

[wltiii]

Thanks for the wise advice re: ebay and craigslist. I need to understand just what is a reasonable price to pay for various used machines, of course. So, I will monitor those two for awhile. I am also trying to figure out what type of machines I should start with. Maybe it really doesn't matter too much. It seems cold foods/microwavable foods would require more attention and would probably be more difficult for a newbie than snacks, soft drink and bulk. I also need to figure out a variety of other things, such as how long it will take to reach $2k/month net before taxes, how many hours will I have to spend on the business of that size, is it reasonable as a part-time business (thus the 2k figure). And, would it be something I would go from part time to full time. I work as an independent software consultant. I am trying to research various options for creating additional income. This is so that I can have enough income to cover expenses when I am not on a project and when I am, be able to put more away for retirement. I think, too, this could be a good retirement business.

I rambled... 

[wltiii]

You will love this forum, everyone here is very helpful. just ask and all your questions are answered very quickly! i can't even begin to tell you how much this forum has helped me! good luck on your vending business it a lot of fun.

This forum does seem legitimate. I do know there are many scams in this industry, unfortunately, so it is great to find a reliable resource. As I move forward, I suppose I should try to meet up with local operators. I would think what works here in Minneapolis would be different than what works in other areas. How do I meet other local operators? Are there lists somewhere?