Completing a vending route is the same as payday for a vending machine owner. This is the time when he will make the rounds to restock the machines, do maintenance and most importantly, collect money. Doing a vending route can be a great time, assuming that you make or exceed the expected bi-weekly or monthly goal for income. It can turn into a nervous and eye-opening experience if you do not make as much as expected.
Planning Your Route
Since many vending machine owners will usually place several machines in varied locations, it is important for them to plan a route. The most effective way to execute a vending route is to visit the farthest location from home first and then work back to home. Also, car navigator systems and MapQuest have made it much easier for vending machine owners to plan stops. Now, all the owner needs to do is program each address into the navigating tool and allow the system to show the best route.
Frequency of Collections
How often the owner should do a vending route really depends on the expected traffic for each location. Start by checking in on vending machines on a weekly basis. If you find that your product is selling out very quickly, then weekly or even twice weekly may be a good frequency. But if you go an entire week and see that little to no product has sold, you might want to visit the locations on your route on a monthly basis. Adjust the frequency according to your specific situation; many vending machine owners choose to restock and collect on a bi-weekly basis.
Bad Areas
From time to time, you may be faced with an irresistible vending opportunity in a less than desirable area. In this case, you have to go prepared. Look into your local laws regarding carrying a weapon (concealed or revealed) and keep something on you for protection. Also, always do the collections and maintenance during the daytime because trouble usually starts after dark.
Beware
There are many salesmen that will try to sell you vending routes, promising you hundreds and thousands of dollars each week. The first thing you should ask yourself is, with that type of income potential, why isn't this guy doing the vending route himself? The answer is that there is no guarantee when it comes to vending routes. Not only is it sometimes difficult to find locations who are willing to take on your machines, you also don't know for sure what type of traffic you are getting and how interested these people are in your products.
Considerations
There are a few things you need to keep in mind when going through a vending route. If you have an arrangement to pay the location owner, you need to deduct his cut from the amount you collect from the machine. Also, never leave the machine unattended for long periods of time without replacing product; these machines are targets for theft. Finally, when you are doing your route and come across a broken machine, make sure that you know fix the machine or bring someone along who does.
