Hey Vending Hustlers!

Welcome to this week’s edition of The Vending Vault! Every Saturday, we bring you actionable tips to help you launch and grow your vending machine business.

This week, we want to guide you through a game plan that’s not just about buying a vending route—it’s about transforming it into a high-value asset.

Over the years, we've seen firsthand how the right approach can turn a modest vending business into a thriving operation.

Here’s what we’re covering:

🎯 Vending Machine LaunchPad Community Updates

Here’s what’s buzzing in the VMLP community:

1. 🚀 Acquisition Success: Our member Alex shared his latest milestone of buying 6 vending machines that are expected to increase his portfolio of 12 machines to $70,000 in annual revenue with a 50%+ profit margin.

2. 📍 Top Location Tip: The group discussed profitable location strategies, highlighting apartments with at least 150 units and businesses with 50+ employees are key benchmarks for long-term profitability.

3. 💡Diversification Opportunities: Expanding into coffee and water services was a hot topic, with members exploring how combining these offerings with vending machines can attract larger accounts and increase revenue.

By the way, if you want to start a vending business and want personalized coaching by us (Jaime & Ethan), apply to join our private Community (and get access to us 24/7 + weekly live calls, and a lot more!)

🎃 Halloween Giveaway Update!

Remember the exciting Halloween Vending Machine Giveaway we announced? 🧙‍♀️ On November 21, we revealed the lucky winner on Ethan's Twitter!

A big thank you to everyone who participated! Your enthusiasm made this giveaway a blast. Stay tuned—there are more exciting surprises and giveaways coming your way soon. 🎁

Keep an eye on The Vending Vault for more information and updates. Who knows, the next winner could be YOU!👀

Now, let’s dive in to this week’s topic!

Step 1: Locate a Route

The vending world is full of opportunities. Some operators manage a single machine, while others run routes worth six figures a month.

Your search starts with high-traffic areas:

• 🏋️ Gyms

• 🏢 Offices

• 📚 Schools

• 🏥 Hospitals

• 📦 Warehouse

When evaluating routes for sale, remember this golden rule: pay no more than 1x the annual revenue.

A route generating $30,000 annually shouldn’t cost you more than that—and under 1x (more like .75x) is a stellar deal.

Great places to start your search:

• OfferUp: A mobile-friendly marketplace for buying and selling vending machines and routes.

• LoopNet: A platform for finding commercial real estate listings, including vending machine-friendly locations.

• Craigslist: A classified ads website where you can find vending machines, routes, and locations for sale.

• BizBuySell: A business-for-sale marketplace featuring vending routes, businesses, and opportunities.

• Vending Connection: A niche resource for the vending industry, offering classifieds, news, and supplier connections.

Simply search for “Vending routes in [Your City],” and you’re on your way.

Step 2: Make Contact

Not all vending routes are created equal. Here’s what we look for in a solid deal:

Pro Tip: Always ask why the seller is letting go. If they’re retiring or moving, you’ve got a motivated seller on your hands.

Step 3: Negotiate and Purchase

Now, it’s time to negotiate. Stick to a purchase price under 1x annual revenue.

If the machines are older or the seller is eager, aim for 70-80 cents on the dollar.

 🚩 Red flags to avoid

Pro Tip: Always perform due diligence when negotiating. Reply to this email is you think you’ll be needing a helpful checklist for buying vending routes, and we’ll send it over!

Step 4: Finalize Legal Details

Lock it in with a strong contract. These are the documents we always recommend:

• Bill of Sale: A legal document that transfers ownership of assets from a seller to a buyer.

• Tax Records: Official documentation of income, expenses, and taxes filed for a business.

• Lease Agreements: Contracts outlining the terms of renting a property or location for vending machines.

• Non-Compete Agreement: A contract preventing the seller from starting a competing business in the same area.

Which one of these do you think would be the most helpful for you right now? Reply to this email and let us know—we'll share it with you!

Step 5: Upgrade Equipment

Your new route is officially yours. Now let’s take it to the next level.

Start by upgrading machines to include cashless payment systems like Nayax or Cantaloupe. These upgrades have consistently boosted our sales by 30-40%.

Update inventory to fit the location. For example, gyms thrive on items like protein bars, shakes, and energy drinks like Celsius.

A few changes can double or even triple your revenue.

Step 6: Expand Your Business

This is where it gets exciting. Once your route is profitable, focus on growth:

• Test new products in a few machines before scaling: Explore top vending machine product trends to find what works best.

• Replace slow sellers with high-demand items: Use tools like VendSoft for inventory tracking to identify and replace underperforming products.

• Explore on-machine advertising as an extra revenue stream: Learn how to set up digital vending machine screens for advertising.

• Prospect for new locations: Use platforms like LoopNet or Craigslist to find high-traffic locations for your machines.

Scaling is about smart choices and consistent action. Keep refining your processes, and the results will follow.

Final Thoughts

The vending industry is booming, and many veteran operators are retiring. That means more routes for sale and more opportunities for growth.

If you’re ready to take action, start with these six steps. Start with one route, stay adaptable, and remember: the better you understand your locations, the greater your profits!

That’s a wrap for this week!

Reply to this email with what you found most helpful—every reply helps us bring you more of what you need.

See you next week!

— Jaime & Ethan

P.S. If you’re dreaming of building something bigger with your vending business, we’d love to help you get there. The Vending Machine Launchpad is here to guide you every step of the way. If you’re ready to take that next step, book a call with our team today and let’s see how we can support your journey.