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The Smart Cooler Operator Program

Build your smart cooler business with confidence.

Learn the business, find the right locations, win the placement and sign the agreement. One program brings the training, apps and operator tools together.

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20+ years in the vending industryCourses, apps and operator tools in one programFree year of membership with any Smart Cooler from Smart Cooler Supply

Inside the program

What powers the ecosystem.

More than a course. The training, the apps and the tools work together, so you can learn the business, find the right location and run it with confidence.

01 / Learn

Self-paced courses for every stage.

Lessons follow the same eight stages the apps do, from your first placement to running a route. Learn on demand, at your own pace.

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Vending Business 101 training library on a laptop showing the Starter, Expansion, Mistakes and Bonus courses
02 / Find & win

Smart Cooler apps.

Machine Matchmaker, Location Score and more, plus the three core apps below.

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03 / Plan & operate

Operator tools.

Run the numbers, prepare the proposal and agreement, and keep restocking on schedule.

Business Plan Builder, Contract Generator and RouteReady with example data

The operator apps

Find it. Win it. Sign it.

Three apps. One location. Start to signature.

Location Scout running on a laptop and an iPhone, showing scored prospects and a map

Screens shown with example search data; company names and addresses are placeholders. The Contract Generator produces a draft agreement, not legal advice.

Cedric Lavergne, founder of Vending Business 101

Who’s behind it

Built by an operator. In vending since 2006.

Cedric Lavergne started his first vending company in 2006 and ran routes until 2024, when he sold the route to teach new operators and to sell vending machines and smart coolers. Vending Business 101 is backed by Louisiana Vending and works alongside its sister company, Smart Cooler Supply.

★★★★★

“We have learned a lot from Cedric personally and from this course. Highly recommend it to anyone getting into AI vending.”

Read Cedric’s story →

Free readiness quiz · 2 minutes

Are you ready to start a smart cooler business?

Answer 8 quick questions about your budget, time, location and goals. Get a readiness score with every point explained, what to do to reach 100, and the path that fits you.

  • 8 questionsAbout two minutes
  • Score breakdownEvery point explained
  • Path to 100Steps to close each gap
  • Your best pathLearn first, Annual, or a machine

Access

Choose the access that fits where you are.

Monthly
$49 /month
Access to the Smart Cooler Operator Program — learning, the app ecosystem and operator tools.
✓The full program, billed month to month. Best for exploring the business and working through your first opportunities.
Start Monthly Access

Renews monthly. Cancel anytime.

Best value
Annual Access
$349 /year
$588 if paid month to month
Save $239 (41%) vs. paying monthly for 12 months

Equivalent to $29.08/month, billed annually.

Full-year access to the Smart Cooler Operator Program — learning, the app ecosystem and operator tools.

✓The full program for a full year. One yearly payment covers every course, app and tool for 12 months.
Get Annual Access →

Renews yearly. Cancel anytime.

Before you join

The questions everyone asks.

Straight answers on machines, pricing and what happens after you join.

Do I have to buy a machine to join?
No. You can start with Monthly access to learn and use the tools first. Buying any Smart Cooler through Smart Cooler Supply includes your first year free.
What’s the difference between Monthly and Annual?
Both plans include the same thing: the full training library, the operator apps and the tools. Monthly is $49 a month. Annual is $349/year — save $239 (41%) compared with paying monthly for 12 months. Equivalent to $29.08/month, billed annually. Both renew automatically until you cancel. Two apps have monthly allowances: Location Scout includes 30 location searches and 80 contact lookups, and Wrap Studio includes 25 design credits.
What does “Year 1 free” mean?
When you buy any Smart Cooler through Smart Cooler Supply, your first year of the program is included — a $349 value, delivered as a one-time access code. The free year itself never renews or charges you.
Do memberships renew automatically?
Yes. Monthly renews every month and Annual renews every year, charged to the card you used, until you cancel. We email a reminder 7 days before each renewal. You can turn off auto-renew anytime in My Account → My Subscriptions and keep access until the end of the period you already paid for. If a renewal goes through that you didn’t want, email support@vendingbusiness101.com within 7 days of the charge for a full refund of that renewal.
Which machines do the courses and apps cover?
The Vendera line (Core, Atlas and the Arctic freezer; Apex is pre-order, project only) and the HAHA line (Mini, Plus, Pro, Frozen, Max, Ultra and the O-series). Machines are not sold on this site; see current models and prices at Smart Cooler Supply.
Do you offer support?
Yes. All members can contact the team for help.

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Real tools. Real numbers.For vending operators.

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