It depends on exactly what kind of service you are thinking of providing.

When I used to supply pour over machines I used to give them the machine on free loan and they agreed to buy a set amount of coffee per month. The coffee was delivered and invoiced every month. Sometimes a good account would use more than the set amount. How much coffee you would need to tie them into would depend on the cost of the equipment provided and the margin you make on the coffee sales, and see what the ROI works out at. I used to have a minimum two year agreement and my equipment paid for within the first year.

If you are thinking of going into vending, there are a couple of options.

One is to put a coin operated machine in and provide the full service, cleandown, restock and maintenance, and keep the takings.

The other one, which works well for me in the UK, is to rent a machine to the customer for them to cleandown and restock themselves. It's up to you whether or not you tie the customer to buying ingredient from you, but if you get your rental figures right and make money on that, then any profit on ingredient sales is jam on the bread.

There may be other ways. I've given you some options to consider, but as I don't know the US market for machines they may not be much use to you.

Something that hasn't been mentioned up to now.

Your costs are rising, gas & product prices and other things. The guy in the street is suffering the same increases. Gas prices go up and everything delivered by road goes up. It costs the guy in the street more money to get to work and more money to feed himself and his family.

If he feels the pinch then the first thing he will cut down on is the non essentials. The candy & soda at break time will be likely to go, and more likely to go if it's at a higher price.

Have you considered the effects of declining sales when you increase your prices?

It's a tough time out there and sometimes it pays to maintain sales at lower margins, but that's a decision only you can take, because only you know your business model.

See the books.

Why is he selling?

See the books

How old are the machines?

See the books

Are any of the sites contracted?

See the books.

How many hours a week will it take you to service the route?

Did I mention. See the books.

Good luck

Iam wondering if I should include color photos of a snack/or soda machine when I locate?

I've had someone ask me to send them photos along with prices.... Does anyone know where I can find photos of soda machines and the dementions?



Thanks SW

The manufacturer's website should have pictures and sizes.

thanks for the reply. I checked the cams and they are set properly(at the 1st slot)but it is still doing the same thing. Let me try to better explain the situation. All the selections work and give drinks accordingly when customers make a single selection. What's happening is once the machine registers the credit the customer will press 2 selections simultaneously/almost at the same time and bam the machind delivers 2 drinks for the price of one. Its as though the credit relay does not cancel itself once the first selection is made. Am I making any sense at all?

Hello, Ace.

I've only just found this forum and your problem. I hope I'm too late and you have this problem sorted by now or you will be out quite a bit of cash.

It sounds to me as though the credit relay is slow and replacing that would be my first step.

If that doesn't cure it, then change the coin mechanism.

I hope that helps