Week 6 of my vending business
Hello everyone,
I wanted to start documenting and sharing my experience of starting a vending machine business. It’s been about 6 weeks since my first post on this subreddit asking for advice on what machine I should buy. That discussion ultimately convinced me to purchase an AI cooler, and honestly, I’m very glad I did.
One “mistake” I made was buying the machine before securing a location. However, I’m confident and persistent enough that I’ll eventually land a good spot, so I try to look at it as more of a “premature investment” than a bad decision. I had been researching the business for a month or two before finally deciding to spend around $3,500 plus shipping on my machine.
Luckily, I worked things out with the manufacturer so they can hold the machine until I’m ready to have it shipped. That way it’s not sitting in my garage taking up space and collecting dust.
As for locations, there was one specific business that originally inspired me to get into vending in the first place. I had a connection there, so naturally that was the first place I reached out to. They seemed interested, but there have been a lot of bureaucratic delays slowing the process down.
While waiting on updates from them, I started cold-calling other businesses just in case things fell through. Honestly, the first week was emotionally draining. Hearing “no,” getting rejected, being ignored, and having calls abruptly end was pretty demoralizing. At the same time, I knew I needed more options so I could at least feel confident that I didn’t spend $3,500 for nothing.
As time passed, I finally got another lead after calling somewhere around 50–75 locations. I started getting creative — and honestly a little desperate — calling places I wasn’t even that interested in just to see if I could get a yes.
One promising lead was a franchise car shop. The store manager loved the idea, but unfortunately the GM ultimately shut it down, which was disappointing.
Not long after that, I finally received an update from my original location. I was invited to an in-person meeting with one of the higher-ups to discuss my plans, logistics, and overall details.
That meeting was very eye-opening. Some of the main takeaways were:
I would likely start on a 30-day trial period to see how customers interact with the cooler and whether it’s a good fit for everyone involved.
I would need some form of liability insurance.
They also recommended that I create an LLC for tax and business purposes.
The meeting was very informative, but I still haven’t officially received a yes yet. Tomorrow, I have one final meeting with the CEO where we’ll discuss more details and determine whether I’ll be allowed to place the cooler there.
I’ve honestly been waiting a long time for this opportunity, and because of how much potential I see in this location, I’ve slowed down on reaching out to other businesses while waiting for a final answer.
I wanted to ask you guys a few questions:
What type of liability insurance do you recommend for vending machines, and what provider do you personally use?
Should I go the LLC route or stay a sole proprietor? Why?
Any thoughts, advice, or recommendations based on my journey so far?
I appreciate any feedback. I’m still very new to business in general but I’m excited to keep learning and growing.