Vending Machine Locator for Snack & Beverage Operators
We now suggest using Vending Exchange to get location leads because it's far more efficient and effective. You can see the location leads available in your area before you decide which ones to buy, instead of paying for a location without knowing what it is.
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30 days freeRisk-free trial to start
$39 / monthAfter the trial. Leads cost extra
100-mile alertsEmail alerts for leads near you
First to buyThe first operator to buy a lead gets it
Start with a business that already asked for vending
Anyone who has run a route knows the hard part isn't stocking machines. It's finding the next good vending machine location. Cold-calling and walking into lobbies takes hours, and most managers you reach haven't thought about vending at all. Paying a traditional vending locator saves the legwork, but you often pay before you know what the location is.
A location lead flips that around. Each one comes from a business that asked for vending service. You can see the leads available in your area first, then buy only the ones that fit. You still have to earn the account, but you start the conversation with someone who wants to have it.
- Email alerts for leads within 100 miles of you
- The first operator to buy a lead's details gets it
- An automated proposal builder for your pitch
- No commitment. Cancel anytime
From alert to pitch in four steps
Location leads on Vending Exchange come from businesses that asked for vending. Here is how operators in the Vending Exchange network use them.
Get alerted
Join Vending Exchange and get email alerts when a new qualified location lead is added within 100 miles of you.
See it before you buy
Subscribers can view the qualified location leads in their area. Look them over and decide which ones fit your machines and route.
Buy the lead details
The first operator in the Vending Exchange network to purchase a lead's details gets it, so act quickly on the good ones.
Make your pitch
Contact the business, visit, and use the automated proposal builder to put your offer in writing. Winning the account is up to you.
Vending machine placement by machine type
Location leads on Vending Exchange are for full-size snack, beverage and combo vending machines, healthy vending, smart coolers and micro markets. Pick the guide for the equipment you run.
Snack machines
Where full-size snack machines do well, and how to pitch a breakroom manager.
Read the guide →
Soda & beverage
Power, footprint and foot traffic: what to check before you place a drink machine.
Read the guide →Combo machines
Snacks and drinks in one footprint, for smaller sites and tight spaces.
Read the guide →
Healthy vending
Better-for-you machines for gyms, schools, medical centers and offices.
Read the guide →
Smart coolers
Card- or phone-unlocked coolers that suit smaller spaces.
Read the guide →
Micro markets
Open shelves, coolers and self-checkout for bigger, busier sites.
Read the guide →Why we now recommend Vending Exchange
For years, Kick Start Locations worked as a traditional vending machine locator: we prospected businesses, and operators paid for each placement. Many operators still search for a vending locating service to find vending locations. Our answer has changed.
We now suggest using Vending Exchange to get location leads because it's far more efficient and effective. You can see the location leads available in your area before you decide which ones to buy, instead of paying for a location without knowing what it is.
- See before you buy. Subscribers can view the qualified location leads in their area, then choose which lead details to purchase.
- The business asked first. Each lead is a business that requested vending service, and the Vending Exchange team calls to verify its information.
- Lower cost than a locator. Traditional vending locators can charge up to $1,000 per lead. Vending Exchange is $39 a month after a 30-day free trial. Leads cost extra on top of that.
- Alerts near you. Email alerts for new qualified leads within 100 miles.
- No commitment. Cancel anytime.
Location leads on Vending Exchange are for full-size snack, beverage and combo vending machines, healthy vending, smart coolers and micro markets.
Traditional vending locator vs. location leads
Both can get you in front of a business. They work very differently, and they cost very differently.
| Traditional locator | Location leads on Vending Exchange | |
|---|---|---|
| Who finds the business | The locator cold-calls or canvasses for you | Businesses ask for vending themselves and the request becomes a lead |
| What you pay | A locator fee for each placement. Traditional locators can charge up to $1,000 per lead | $39/month after a 30-day free trial, plus the cost of each lead you choose to buy |
| Commitment | Often a contract or a package of locations | No commitment. Cancel anytime |
| Which locations | Usually chosen by the locator | You choose which leads to buy from alerts within 100 miles |
| Who closes the deal | Varies by locator | You do. You contact the business and make the pitch |
| Guarantee | Read every locator contract carefully | No placement guarantee, and no refunds if the sale isn't made |
The kinds of businesses that request vending
Businesses that request vending through Vending Exchange include:
Every type has its own rhythm. An office needs steady weekday snacks and drinks. A gym leans toward water and better-for-you options. A manufacturing site may run several shifts, so its breakroom is busy around the clock. A car dealer's waiting area wants something quick for customers sitting through a service visit.
Read each lead with that in mind. Ask whether the site fits the machine you have, the products you stock and the service schedule you can keep. Our machine guides go through it type by type.
After a 30-day risk-free trial. Lead purchases are extra. Charges can also include winning Best Offer bids, taxes and other authorized charges.
- No commitment
- Cancel anytime
- Email alerts for leads within 100 miles
- Automated proposal builder included
Know what you're paying for
The monthly subscription gets you access to view the leads in your area and sends you the alerts. Each lead you decide to buy costs extra, so you control your spending lead by lead. Traditional vending locators can charge up to $1,000 per lead, so it's worth comparing before you sign a locating contract.
Turning a lead into a placement
A lead is a head start, not a finished deal. These habits separate operators who close from those who don't:
Respond fast
The first operator to buy a lead gets it, and a business that just asked for vending is still thinking about it. Check alerts daily and reach out the same day you buy.
Visit before you promise anything
Walk the space. Look for power near where the machine would go and a level floor. Check that doors and hallways are wide enough to move equipment in. Find out when the site is busiest.
Put your offer in writing
Managers like something they can forward to the person who approves it. Use the proposal builder to spell out the machine, service frequency, how you handle refunds for lost money, and any commission you're offering.
Be honest about service
Promise a schedule you can keep. An empty or broken machine is the fastest way to lose a location.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost?
There's a 30-day risk-free trial, then $39 a month. Leads are purchased separately, and charges can also include winning Best Offer bids, taxes and other authorized charges. There's no commitment and you can cancel anytime. Check the operator page for current terms.
Is placement guaranteed?
No. Vending Exchange doesn't guarantee placement of equipment and doesn't give refunds if the sale isn't made. A lead is a business that asked for vending; you still need to win the account.
How do I hear about new leads?
Operators get email alerts for leads within 100 miles.
Who gets a lead?
The first operator to buy a lead gets it, so it pays to check your alerts promptly.
Which machine types do Vending Exchange leads cover?
Location leads on Vending Exchange are for full-size snack, beverage and combo vending machines, healthy vending, smart coolers and micro markets. Vending Exchange does not provide leads for bulk candy, gumball, sticker or toy machines, or for honor boxes.
Do I need to be a large operator?
No. Each lead is a request from an individual business, so it can suit a single-machine owner as well as an established route. Buy only the leads that fit the equipment and service area you actually have.
Is a vending locator or location leads better?
They work differently. A traditional vending machine locator finds the business and charges for each placement. With leads, you see what's available near you, pick what to buy, and make the pitch yourself. See the full comparison.
Ready to see what's asking for vending near you?
Try Vending Exchange free for 30 days. After that it's $39 a month, plus any leads you buy. No commitment.
What is Kick Start Locations?
Kick Start Locations is a guide for vending operators on finding placement locations. It now recommends location leads from Vending Exchange, which come from businesses that asked for vending. Kick Start Locations is a separate site, not Vending Exchange.
Which machine types do Vending Exchange location leads cover?
Snack, beverage, combo and other full-size machines, healthy vending, smart coolers and micro markets. Bulk candy, gumball, sticker and toy machines and honor or snack boxes are not covered.
How much do Vending Exchange location leads cost?
Vending Exchange offers a 30-day free trial, then $39 a month. Leads are purchased separately, and placement of equipment is not guaranteed.