thats what I figured. I wish I had around 50K my friend invest 100K into Yonaturals and is doing real well vending health foods in the schools. Most schools around here are trying to get more health products in the machines but the vendors don't really put anything but candy and chips and maybe one granola bar. They were able to get there machines in and had some other vendors booted due to this. Thats way out of my range though LOL I think I was told at the schools the soda guys give them like 40% I could offer less but would keep the machines full so it would even out. I mean weeks of being empty is just crazy.

Makes sense to me I have another question since your helping me now. I work for the school system here in Michigan and the pop machines are handled by coke,pepsi, and 7 up. They basically suck at keeping them filled at most schools. Is there anyway that you know of that someone could manage these machines for them and share profits. I know 7 up will work with vendors and basically lend them a machine all you do is buy the product from them and keep profit. The juice machine at an elementary empties out in around 2 weeks and stays empty for 3-4 weeks. I watched this happen for months on end and every complained constantly. Sorry if these are dumb questions I am just learning.

thanks
Jeff

Generally all of the good locations will have machines and also many of the bad, but companies make changes all of the time. You have to make yourself stand out, be persistent and offer something the others don't. But don't set yourself up to fail. A flat fee commission is a recipe for disaster, unless you have a long track record on the business that is not affected by seasonal changes, demand etc... Plus, if your going to do a flat fee, you don't want to start it out at a high rate, you would be better off at a lower rate. I just think most companies will understand this logic and be fine with a percentage. I would rather see you go with a slightly higher percentage, like 15% than a flate fee you can't get out of. At least that way you lock in a profit margin after commissions that does not flucutate with market changes and car dealerships are always subject to market fluctuations.

Is the market wide open were you guys are from? Seems everywere I go there are machines how can you turn down anything that sounds decent?

Avoid flat fee commissions, you take all the risk. If their business goes down you are stuck with the commission and when things go bad for them they will definitely want as much revenue from other sources like vending as they can get, so they won't be real agreeable to reducing commission. They need to take a percentage so that their return and your return are consistent and both take the same risk.

Thanks candyforcash I appreciate your input and will continue to read everything I can.

thanks
Jeff

While going out and getting clients is the best way it is also possible to advertise and have a few come direct to you (but don't rely heavily on this as it will be slow and sporadic).

Unless you can find some other unique method of targeting small business owners locally then the methods that are most likely to work are the Yellow Pages and online (try to rank in the organic search results when somebody searches for vendors in your area or pay for 'pay per click' ads). If business owners suddenly decide that they want to explore opportunities to have vending machines on their site these are the two places that they will start looking.

Not asking about putting my pringles machine but a nice bulk rack would be sweet there.

I am looking to get into vending and just purchased a pringles machine. My question is why would my local wal-mart not have any bulk vending machines at its exit? From what I have read Coinstar has walmart accounts. Should I just ask my local manager about this or whom would I contact?