Define what you can actually service
Start with the area you can reach reliably, including traffic, parking and access time. Choose a product and equipment category you understand. A distant prospect can look attractive until an extra trip or service problem consumes the margin.
Set practical constraints before searching: machine footprint, power requirements, stocking capacity and the times you are available. A prospect outside those constraints is not a near-term opportunity.
Build a small, qualified list
Research locations with a plausible repeat buying occasion. Public directories can identify businesses but do not verify permission, foot traffic, vacancies or demand. Mark those facts as unknown until checked.
- Record the location, category and source of the lead.
- Identify the person responsible for facilities or the proposed space.
- Note evidence of repeat use and likely buying times.
- Record current vending, nearby alternatives and potential restrictions.
- Give every prospect one next action and a follow-up date.
Ask about the host's problem first
Start with a short question: is food or drink access a problem for the people using the building? Explain what you could supply, how servicing would work and what you need to inspect. Do not promise earnings or placement dates before the facts are known.
If the host already has a provider, ask whether they are satisfied and when any agreement is reviewed. A name in a directory is not permission to install a machine or disregard an existing contract. Respect a refusal and local outreach rules.
Visit the site and agree on what happens next
Use the free location checklist for the site visit. Verify the physical placement, access, equipment requirements and the host's authority to agree terms. Then prepare a cost model using written quotes and explicit assumptions.
Finish with a clear outcome: decline, gather missing information or discuss written terms. If a trial is proposed, document its duration, service responsibilities, review date and removal process. Keep equipment purchasing separate until the important conditions are settled.
Sources & scope
Use this guide to help plan your next steps. Examples explain the calculations; they aren’t earnings forecasts. Check local requirements, get supplier terms in writing, and use your own records when making business decisions. This is educational guidance, not professional advice or original market research.
- SBA: Plan your business
General background on researching a business and separating startup and recurring costs; not vending earnings data.
Source background checked September 6, 2026. The links provide background, not validation of a particular location or product.
Take the next step with your location.
Use the Operator System’s location checklists, startup tools, and agreement template to organize your plans before placing a machine.
Find the right file in the $79 toolkit
Open the free location checklist, try the free sales-and-cost calculator, or explore the $79 Operator System for spreadsheets and templates to track costs, assess locations, and organize your business.