Guide

How to find vending machine locations

Finding a site is easy. Finding one where people will actually buy, and where you have written permission, takes a process.

Where to look

Think about places where people wait, take breaks, or have limited food options: offices, clinics, gyms, apartment complexes, warehouses, schools and other institutions, and similar sites. List ten candidates and find out who approves vending at each.

Foot traffic is not demand

A busy hallway can be a poor site if people rush through or have free food nearby. Count the people who can buy, when they are there, how long they stay, and what else they can do instead.

Find the decision maker

Facilities, operations, food service, a principal, an office manager, or a property manager may each control different pieces. Ask who approves vending and whether there is a written process. Never place equipment without written permission.

Walk the site

• Where would the machine sit, and who can see it?
• What alternatives are nearby, and at what prices?
• Is there a usable outlet and reliable internet or cellular signal?
• What is the delivery path, and what are the access hours?
• Who is responsible for damage or theft?

Score every site the same way

Rate buyer audience, demand and product fit, competition and exclusivity, economics and host terms, access and logistics, and utilities, security, and compliance. Mark what you do not know as unknown instead of guessing. A high score is not a promise of sales.

Educational materials only. Not legal, tax, accounting, or investment advice. Results vary and are not guaranteed.