I have been thining about buying a soda machine mainly as a hobby to make a little money and possibly expand if I'm successful. I work a steady 9-5 job and enjoy the stability but hate the corporate culture. I've heard that starting a vending machine business is hard work but can pay off relatively quickly and I want to ask a few questions to anyone who has been in the field for a few years.

1. How much should I expect to pay for a good working machine, either new or used?

2. What are the best locations to put either a soda or snack machine?

3. Should I expect to have to pay a participating location to keep a machine on their premis?

4. To stock the contents, is it best to find a vendor or to just buy in bulk from somewhere like Costco?

5. How many hours per week/ month does it usually take to maintain one machine?

6. Is it imperitive to have a truck or SUV to operate this kind of business? (I have a 4 door Carolla)

7. What are the long term odds of being successful in this business? As someone new to this, how much research do I need to do before I start?

I have more questions but this is a good starting point.

Thanks.

Joel