Vending machine placement means a local operator puts a machine in your building, stocks it and fixes it. The property gives a spot and power. You pay nothing for the machine, and some sites get a share of sales. VendBuddy does not charge owners or managers. We tell you whether operators are likely to want your spot, then pass your request to at most two of them if you say so.
The machine, the product, the restocking and the repairs are the operator’s job and cost. You get a snack and drink option for the people in your building without running it yourself. Some sites also get a share of sales, usually 5 to 15 percent at busy locations, and many smaller ones get none. The property normally covers electricity, roughly $20 to $40 a month for a modern machine.
The usual arrangement is not a flat rent. Operators earn from what sells, so the payment to the property is most often a share of sales, or nothing. If you have a spot with steady foot traffic, the useful question is how many people pass it on a normal day, not how much you can charge. Our commission rates guide shows what is common, and the free check tells you if your place clears the usual bar.
Operators want enough people on site on a normal day. These are the floors our location guides publish. Below a floor a machine can still work if an operator already services a building close by.
| Kind of place | Floor | Counted as |
|---|---|---|
| Office | 40 | people on site on a normal weekday |
| Apartment community | 90 | apartment units |
| Warehouse or plant | 75 | employees across all shifts |
| Gym or fitness center | 150 | check-ins on an average day |
| Clinic or medical office | 40 | staff on site |
| Hotel or motel | 80 | rooms |
| School or campus | 300 | students |
| Dealership or auto shop | 25 | repair orders or customers a day |
| Car wash | 150 | cars a day |
| Coworking space | 60 | badge-ins a day |
Beyond headcount, operators also care about a spot that people walk past, a power outlet nearby, access for restocking, and a decision maker who can say yes. Each guide in the table goes into the details for that kind of place.
It is when a vending operator puts a machine in a business or building they do not own. The operator buys the machine, delivers it, stocks it and fixes it. The property gives them a spot and a power outlet.
Normally no. The operator carries the machine, the product and the service calls. What the property usually covers is the electricity, roughly $20 to $40 a month for a modern machine. VendBuddy does not charge owners or managers for the check or for passing your request on.
Usually not a flat rent. The common deals are a share of sales or no payment at all. Busy sites often get 5 to 15 percent of sales, and many smaller ones get nothing, which is normal. A commission can mean higher prices, so lower prices or free product for a break room can be the better deal. If an operator offers flat rent, ask how the price per item changes.
We are not the operator and we do not place the machine ourselves. We make software for vending operators. When you send a request, we tell you whether any operator on VendBuddy works near you, and we pass the request to at most two of them. You deal with the operator directly.
Operators pay VendBuddy when we refer a location to them. You never pay us, and your details go to an operator only after you tick the box that says so.
It depends on the kind of place. The floors in the table above are what our location guides say operators look for. Below a floor it can still work if an operator already services a building nearby.
No. Any agreement is between you and the operator. Before you sign one, our free placement agreement generator lists the clauses worth asking for, such as a restock standard, repair response time, insurance and a way out.
Yes. If you work at, live at or visit a place that needs one, send it as a location suggestion. The operator will ask who makes the decision.
Related: Request a machine for your property · Free vending machine check · Suggest a location · Vending machine contracts 101