The Vending Business 101 Blog

Vending Insights & Success Strategies

Practical, no-hype education for people who want to understand how a Smart Cooler business actually operates — locations, financing, day-to-day operations, and knowing when to scale.

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Read it in the order you decide it.

13 guides by Cedric Lavergne, grouped by the decision in front of you. Start at step 1 or jump to your stage.

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All guides

13 guides · written by Cedric Lavergne
  1. 01
    Starting/7 min read/Oct 12, 2026 · Cedric Lavergne

    Vending Machine Business Plan: Free Template and Worked Example

    How to write a vending machine business plan for a smart cooler business: the 9 sections, startup budget, monthly P&L, break-even and a worked example.

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  2. 02
    Locations/6 min read/Oct 12, 2026 · Cedric Lavergne

    How to Find Vending Machine Locations: A Step-by-Step Guide

    Where to put a vending machine and how to land the spot: the best location types, what to check, who to pitch, a simple script and what to put in writing.

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  3. 03
    Profitability/5 min read/Oct 12, 2026 · Cedric Lavergne

    Are Vending Machines Profitable? The Smart Cooler Profit Math

    Smart cooler profit math with published prices and fees: what it costs to buy and run, profit at 100, 300 and 600 sales a month, and how long payback takes.

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  4. 04
    Operations/9 min read/Jul 5, 2026 · Cedric Lavergne

    Smart Cooler Pricing Strategy: How to Price Drinks, Snacks, Fresh Food, and Frozen Items

    A smart cooler pricing strategy for new operators: price by margin, set markups by category, handle fresh and frozen, and test with real sales data.

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  5. 05
    Operations/7 min read/Jul 5, 2026 · Cedric Lavergne

    What to Stock in an AI Smart Cooler: Product Mix by Location Type

    What to stock in a smart cooler: the core categories that sell and a practical product mix by location type — gyms, offices, apartments, hotels, and warehouses.

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  6. 06
    Machines/10 min read/Jul 5, 2026 · Cedric Lavergne

    Vendera vs. HAHA Smart Coolers: Which Model Fits Your Location?

    Vendera vs HAHA smart cooler: both use camera-based checkout, so the choice comes down to size, temperature and features. Here is how to pick.

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  7. 07
    Profitability/8 min read/Jul 5, 2026 · Cedric Lavergne

    Are Smart Coolers Worth It? The Real Numbers New Operators Should Check First

    Are smart coolers worth it? The real numbers new operators should check first — traffic, conversion, order value, and margin — before they invest.

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  8. 08
    Profitability/10 min read/Jul 5, 2026 · Cedric Lavergne

    How Much Does an AI Smart Cooler Cost? Machine, Software, Inventory, and Financing Breakdown

    How much an AI smart cooler costs — the machine, software, first inventory, and setup — plus financing options and how to think about payback.

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  9. 09
    Locations/9 min read/Jul 5, 2026 · Cedric Lavergne

    Best Locations for AI Smart Coolers: How to Score a Spot Before You Buy

    The best locations for AI smart coolers and how to score a spot before you buy — traffic, buying intent, top location types, and matching the machine.

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  10. 10
    Starting/7 min read/Jul 5, 2026 · Cedric Lavergne

    What Is an AI Smart Cooler? How Tap-Grab-Go Vending Actually Works

    What an AI smart cooler is, how tap-grab-go checkout works, what it sells, and why new operators choose it over a traditional vending machine.

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  11. 11
    Starting/8 min read/Jul 5, 2026 · Cedric Lavergne

    9 AI Vending Mistakes Beginners Make (and How to Avoid Them)

    The 9 most common AI vending mistakes new smart cooler operators make before their first sale — and exactly how to avoid each one before you invest.

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  12. 12
    Starting/10 min read/Jul 5, 2026 · Cedric Lavergne

    How to Start an AI Vending Machine Business in 2026: Smart Cooler Operator Guide

    A step-by-step guide to starting an AI vending machine business in 2026 — the smart cooler model, budgeting, locations, machines, product mix, and pricing.

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  13. 13
    Machines/10 min read/Jul 5, 2026 · Cedric Lavergne

    Smart Cooler vs. Traditional Vending Machine: Which Is Better for New Operators?

    Smart cooler vs vending machine for new operators: how they compare on checkout, products, payments, maintenance, and ROI, and which to choose.

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