The Vending Game: A Practical Playbook for Locations, Machines, Cashless Payments, Products, Routes, Contracts, and Growth

Previously published as The Vending Game by Kerry L. Shipman and Koby M. Shipman.

Most vending books start with the machine. This one starts with the decision.

The Vending Game: Updated & Expanded Second Edition is a practical, no-hype guide for people who want to start, operate, or grow a vending business without learning every lesson the expensive way.

The book is built from the real story of Two Brothers Vending. After the loss of their mother, while Kerry was finishing law school, supporting his son, and helping care for his teenage brother Koby, a poorly serviced vending machine revealed a business opportunity. That opportunity grew into government and private contracts and approximately $50,000 in gross revenue during the company’s first six months—not guaranteed income, but real operating experience.

Readers learn how to qualify locations before buying equipment, build realistic startup budgets, evaluate machines and payment systems, use cashless technology and telemetry, price products, manage inventory and routes, pitch accounts, negotiate terms, evaluate route purchases, pursue larger contracts, and scale with controls.

The Second Edition also includes a 30-day startup plan, location scorecard, financial formulas, scripts, red flags, and lessons the founders would apply differently today.

If you want vending-business substance instead of passive-income hype, start here.