What You Actually Need to Start a Vending Business
I started vending in February 2020.
Yeah ....right before the world shut down.
My cousin put me onto vending, and honestly, I didn’t think much of it at first. I just knew I was ready to do something different, make some extra money, and start my own business of some sort. At the time, it was just something I wanted to do on the side.
Fast forward to now, and I have 11 machines running across 6 locations. Vending has become a real part of my life — not just a side hustle I dabble in. I’ve built DKWVending from the ground up, and I’m still building it every day.
But I’m not writing this to flex numbers.
I’m writing this because I remember exactly what it felt like to start.
I was overwhelmed. I was Googling things at midnight. I was trying to figure out what machines to buy, what products to put inside them, and most importantly, how in the world I was supposed to find a location.
And I constantly wondered if I was about to waste money on a machine that was just going to sit in my garage.
So let’s talk about what you actually need to start a vending business.
Not the fluffy stuff.
The real stuff.
It’s Not the Machine. It’s the Location.
Everyone obsesses over the machine.
What brand? What size? Snack or drink? New or used? Touchscreen or traditional?
I get it. The machine is the shiny part.
But here’s the truth I wish more people talked about when they’re starting out:
The machine is not what makes you money. The location does.
You can have the newest, nicest vending machine on the market, but if you put it somewhere with little traffic and hardly anyone to sell to, it’s not going to magically make you money.
When I first started, I spent so much time trying to find locations — and not just any locations. I wanted good locations.
Places with enough people coming through. Businesses where vending actually made sense. A decision-maker who would hear me out. A location where the products I stocked would actually sell.
I was cold calling. Driving around. Walking into businesses. Sending emails. Following up. Getting told no more times than I can count.
And honestly?
It took up a LOT of my time.
I was sacrificing hours I didn’t even realize I had to give just trying to find the right location.
That’s the part they don’t put in the YouTube thumbnails.
It’s not:
“Buy a machine → place it → get rich.”
It’s:
“Find the right location → get the placement → stock the machine → maintain it → learn what sells → keep showing up.”
That’s the business.
What You Actually Need to Start
Strip away all the noise, and starting a vending business really comes down to a few important things:
1. A location with real potential.
Not just a place that looks busy. You need to think about how many people are actually there, how long they stay, whether they have access to food and drinks, and whether vending would solve a problem for them.
2. A relationship with the person who makes the decision.
Finding a business isn't enough. You need to connect with the person who can actually approve a vending machine for the location. Building relationships can take you much further than simply asking, “Can I put a vending machine here?”
3. A machine that fits the location.
You don't need the biggest, fanciest, most expensive machine just because it looks good. The machine should make sense for the location, the products you plan to sell, and the people who will actually use it.
4. Products people actually want to buy.
This one gets overlooked. Your machine can be in a great location and still struggle if you fill it with products nobody wants. Pay attention to what people are asking for, what sells quickly, and what sits there.
5. Patience for the slow part.
The sourcing, outreach, follow-ups, research, and learning curve are all part of the process. You may hear “no” a lot before you hear “yes.”
Notice what’s not on that list?
Luck!
Some secret connection.
A huge bank account.
You don't need any of those things to get started.
Vending is something you can learn.
And trust me, I wish someone had handed me a shortcut for the location-hunting grind instead of me figuring it out through months of trial and error — during a pandemic, of all times.
The Part I Wish I Could’ve Skipped
If I’m being real with you, the location search is still one of the biggest things that separates people who actually get machines placed from people who buy a machine and let it collect dust in storage.
It’s not necessarily complicated.
But it is tedious.
And there’s a way to approach it efficiently — and there’s a way to spend your entire week doing things that get you absolutely nowhere.
I eventually built a process around finding locations after spending way too much time doing things the hard way.
I learned how to approach businesses, cold call, follow up, figure out which types of businesses were worth pursuing, get in front of decision-makers, and explain the value of having a vending machine in their location.
I also learned something else:
Not every location is a good location.
That might be one of the most important lessons I can give someone who is just starting.
You don't want to spend your money on a machine first and then start wondering where you're going to put it.
You want to think about the location first.
Then figure out what that location needs.
Then find the machine that makes sense for it.
That simple shift in thinking can save you a LOT of time and money.
You Don’t Have to Figure It All Out Alone
I’ve made mistakes in this business.
I’ve learned things the hard way.
I’ve spent time chasing locations that weren’t worth it. I’ve tested products that didn’t sell. I’ve figured out what works by actually doing the work — not just reading about vending online.
And that’s exactly why I created DKWVending — The Vending Resource Hub.
I wanted to create the resource I wish I had when I was starting.
A place where aspiring vending business owners can find practical information, tools, guides, and resources to help them make smarter decisions — without having to spend months searching for answers.
Because here’s the thing:
You don’t need luck to start a vending business. You need the right information, a willingness to do the work, and a plan.
If you’re currently trying to figure out where to start, what machine to buy, how to find a location, or how to actually turn that machine into a business, you’re in the right place.
Welcome to DKWVending — The Vending Resource Hub.
Let’s get started!