Vending Playbook guidesFree guides and calculators to start and grow a vending business: machine prices, smart cooler and card fees, permits, tax, and buying or selling a route.https://vendingplaybook.com365 Retail Markets: PicoCooler Vision, Stockwell and CV Vantage Prices, Fees, and Holdshttps://vendingplaybook.com/365-retail-marketshttps://vendingplaybook.com/365-retail-markets365 Retail Markets prices for PicoCooler Vision, Stockwell 2.0 and CV Vantage, published fees, the $10 default hold, warranty, and the Cantaloupe acquisition.Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTAI Vending Machines: What the AI Does and What It Costs per Salehttps://vendingplaybook.com/ai-vending-machineshttps://vendingplaybook.com/ai-vending-machinesAI vending machines explained: how camera recognition works, prices from $2,950 to $10,225, per-sale AI fees, human review, and the items they cannot sell.Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTBest Vending Machines for a Small Operator: Snack, Drink, Combo, and Smart Cooler Models by Published Spechttps://vendingplaybook.com/best-vending-machineshttps://vendingplaybook.com/best-vending-machinesBest vending machines for a small operator: Selectivend, AMS, Royal, Piranha, Haha, and Vendera models with published prices, capacity, power, and card options.Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTBuying a Vending Route: What Routes Sell For, What to Check, and California's Tax Ruleshttps://vendingplaybook.com/buying-a-vending-routehttps://vendingplaybook.com/buying-a-vending-routeBuying a vending route: BizBuySell sale prices and multiples, California listings, location contracts, sales records, CDTFA tax clearance, and SBA loans.Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTByte Smart Fridge: Prices, the $125 Monthly Fee, RFID Tag Costs, and How Byte Pays Outhttps://vendingplaybook.com/byte-smart-fridgehttps://vendingplaybook.com/byte-smart-fridgeByte smart fridge prices ($5,500; XL $7,000), the $125 monthly fee, 2.5% + $0.20 per sale, $0.15 RFID tags, monthly payouts, specs, and warranty.Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTCantaloupe Vending: Engage and G11 Reader Prices, Fees, Contracts, and Smart Store Costshttps://vendingplaybook.com/cantaloupe-vendinghttps://vendingplaybook.com/cantaloupe-vendingCantaloupe vending prices: Engage $329, G11 kit $329, $9.95 monthly fee, 5.95% processing, contract terms, Smart Store 600 and 700 prices, and 365 ownership.Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTHaha Vending Machines: Every Model's Price, the Monthly Fees, and the Warrantyhttps://vendingplaybook.com/haha-vending-machineshttps://vendingplaybook.com/haha-vending-machinesHaha vending machine prices for every model at three sellers, the $40 monthly fee and 5.95% processing, warranty options, specs, and stated limits.Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow Much Does a Vending Machine Cost? 2026 Prices by Typehttps://vendingplaybook.com/how-much-does-a-vending-machine-costhttps://vendingplaybook.com/how-much-does-a-vending-machine-costVending machine prices in 2026: new snack machines from $2,800, refurbished from $1,295, drink machines, combos, and smart coolers from $2,950, with sources.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTImporting a Vending Machine From China: Factory Prices, Duty, and Ruleshttps://vendingplaybook.com/importing-vending-machines-from-chinahttps://vendingplaybook.com/importing-vending-machines-from-chinaImporting vending machines from China: Weimi factory prices, TCN and Haha US stock, US duty, the EPA refrigerant rule, UL and NSF standards, and warranty terms.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTMicromart Smart Fridge: Prices, Lease Terms, Fees, and Where Micromart's Pages Disagreehttps://vendingplaybook.com/micromart-smart-fridgehttps://vendingplaybook.com/micromart-smart-fridgeMicromart smart fridge prices ($6,295; Freezer $6,995), the 36-month lease, $60 monthly fee, 4% + $0.10 per sale, upfront fees, specs, and warranty.Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTNayax Vending: VPOS Touch Prices, Monthly Fees, Processing, and Nova Smart Coolershttps://vendingplaybook.com/nayax-vendinghttps://vendingplaybook.com/nayax-vendingNayax VPOS Touch prices at Nayax, D&S and Kleen-Rite, the $9.99 monthly plan, reseller processing rates, Nova Smart Cooler specs, and support hours.Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTSandStar Vending Machine: VRK Prices, Fees, Specs, and the Warrantyhttps://vendingplaybook.com/sandstar-smart-vendinghttps://vendingplaybook.com/sandstar-smart-vendingSandStar vending machine prices at two resellers, the monthly fee and warranty figures that disagree, supported card readers, and VRK specs.Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTSelling a Vending Route: Listing Fees, Broker Commissions, and the Tax on the Salehttps://vendingplaybook.com/selling-a-vending-routehttps://vendingplaybook.com/selling-a-vending-routeSelling a vending route: BizBuySell and broker fees, what buyers ask for, closing your CDTFA account, sales tax on equipment, and depreciation recapture.Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTSmart Vending Machines: The Four Kinds, What Each Costs, and the Rules That Applyhttps://vendingplaybook.com/smart-vending-machineshttps://vendingplaybook.com/smart-vending-machinesSmart vending machines compared: connected spiral machines, smart coolers, walk-up stores, and micro markets, with published prices, fees, and rules.Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTUsed Vending Machines: Asking Prices, Refurbished Dealers, and What to Checkhttps://vendingplaybook.com/used-vending-machineshttps://vendingplaybook.com/used-vending-machinesUsed vending machine prices in October 2026: Craigslist and eBay asking prices, refurbished dealers from $1,295 with warranty terms, and what to check first.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTVendera Smart Cooler: Reseller Prices, Fees, Specs, and Warrantyhttps://vendingplaybook.com/vendera-smart-coolerhttps://vendingplaybook.com/vendera-smart-coolerVendera Core smart cooler prices at four resellers, the $40 or $43 monthly fee, 5.85% processing, and the specs and warranties that differ by seller.Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTVending Industry Numbers 2026: Smart Coolers, Cashless Share, and Shrinkhttps://vendingplaybook.com/vending-industry-numbers-2026https://vendingplaybook.com/vending-industry-numbers-20262026 vending industry statistics: $40.04 billion revenue, smart coolers at 33.5% of equipment, 78% cashless sales, average ticket $2.45, and shrink figures.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTVending Locator Services: What They Charge for Leads and Placementshttps://vendingplaybook.com/vending-locator-services-costhttps://vendingplaybook.com/vending-locator-services-costVending locator services cost: lead lists from $19 to $999 and guaranteed placements from $500 to $2,000 by employee count, with guarantees and refund terms.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTVending Machine Business License and LLC: What Each State Requireshttps://vendingplaybook.com/vending-machine-business-license-llchttps://vendingplaybook.com/vending-machine-business-license-llcVending machine business license by state: sales tax registration, food permits, Texas and Florida machine licenses, and what a California LLC costs.Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTVending Machine Card Readers Compared: Nayax, Cantaloupe, and PayRange Costshttps://vendingplaybook.com/vending-machine-card-readershttps://vendingplaybook.com/vending-machine-card-readersVending machine card readers compared: Nayax VPOS Touch, Cantaloupe Engage and ePort G11, and PayRange hardware prices, monthly fees, and processing rates.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTVending Machine Business Financing: Dealer Plans, Clicklease, Equipment Lenders, and SBA Loanshttps://vendingplaybook.com/vending-machine-financinghttps://vendingplaybook.com/vending-machine-financingVending machine financing compared: dealer plans, Clicklease, Ameris Bank, Crest, National Funding, SBA 7(a) and microloans, and California SB 1235.Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTVending Machine Insurance Cost: Published Premiums by Policyhttps://vendingplaybook.com/vending-machine-insurance-costhttps://vendingplaybook.com/vending-machine-insurance-costVending machine insurance cost: median premiums for general liability, business owner's policy, commercial auto, and workers' comp for vending operators.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTVending Machine Rental and Leasing: Monthly Prices, Total Cost Against Cash, and California Taxhttps://vendingplaybook.com/vending-machine-rentalhttps://vendingplaybook.com/vending-machine-rentalVending machine rental and lease prices from Micromart, Cantaloupe, Atlantic and Clicklease, total cost against cash, free placement, and California tax.Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTVending Machine Payment Processing: Every Published Rate, Worked Out per Salehttps://vendingplaybook.com/vending-payment-processorshttps://vendingplaybook.com/vending-payment-processorsVending machine payment processing fees compared: Cantaloupe, Nayax, PayRange, WeVend, Greenlite, and smart coolers, worked out per sale at three prices.Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhere to Buy Vending Machines: Dealers, Manufacturers, and Used Sources with Priceshttps://vendingplaybook.com/where-to-buy-vending-machineshttps://vendingplaybook.com/where-to-buy-vending-machinesWhere to buy vending machines: 30+ manufacturers, dealers, refurbishers, and used sources with published prices, warranties, and California locations.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTSpectra Smart Cooler: Wittern's Prices, $64.95 Fee, Specs, and Warranty by Modelhttps://vendingplaybook.com/wittern-spectra-smart-coolerhttps://vendingplaybook.com/wittern-spectra-smart-coolerSpectra smart cooler prices, the $64.95 monthly fee and 5.75% + $0.05 per sale, specs and warranty for all five models, and Wittern's financing terms.Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTCalifornia Vending Machine Permits: What San Francisco and San Diego Chargehttps://vendingplaybook.com/california-vending-machine-permitshttps://vendingplaybook.com/california-vending-machine-permitsCalifornia vending machine permits: seller's permit, city registration, and health permit fees in San Francisco and San Diego, and food code rules for coolers.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTCalifornia Vending Machine Sales Tax: The 33% Rule, Factors, and Exampleshttps://vendingplaybook.com/california-vending-machine-sales-taxhttps://vendingplaybook.com/california-vending-machine-sales-taxCalifornia vending machine sales tax explained: the 33% rule for cold food, 100% for soda, CDTFA factors, and worked examples for San Diego and San Francisco.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow Smart Coolers Know What You Took: Cameras, Weight Trays, and RFIDhttps://vendingplaybook.com/how-smart-coolers-detect-itemshttps://vendingplaybook.com/how-smart-coolers-detect-itemsHow smart cooler vending machines detect items: computer vision, weight sensors, and RFID compared, with each method's documented limits and costs.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow to Run a Vending Route: Stocking, Card Fees, Sales Tax, and Renewalshttps://vendingplaybook.com/how-to-run-a-vending-routehttps://vendingplaybook.com/how-to-run-a-vending-routeHow to run a vending route: restocking rules, card fees, the monthly numbers per machine, California sales tax arithmetic, and the renewal calendar.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow to Start a Vending Machine Business: Steps, Permits, and First-Machine Costshttps://vendingplaybook.com/how-to-start-a-vending-machine-businesshttps://vendingplaybook.com/how-to-start-a-vending-machine-businessHow to start a vending machine business: find the location, register, get the permits, buy the machine. First-machine costs for San Francisco and San Diego.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTSmart Cooler Fees: What $500 of Monthly Sales Costs on 10 Platformshttps://vendingplaybook.com/smart-cooler-monthly-feeshttps://vendingplaybook.com/smart-cooler-monthly-feesSmart cooler monthly fees compared: platform fee, processing, and per-transaction charges for Haha, Vendera, Micromart, 365, Byte and more on $500 of sales.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTSmart Cooler Pre-Authorization Holds: Amounts, Release Times, and Complaintshttps://vendingplaybook.com/smart-cooler-pre-authorization-holdshttps://vendingplaybook.com/smart-cooler-pre-authorization-holdsSmart cooler pre-authorization holds explained: default amounts at 365, Micromart, Byte and Haha, how long banks take to release them, and what Visa requires.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTSmart Cooler Vending Machines Compared: 26 Models, Prices, and Feeshttps://vendingplaybook.com/smart-cooler-vending-machineshttps://vendingplaybook.com/smart-cooler-vending-machinesSmart cooler vending machines compared: 26 models from Haha, Vendera, Micromart, 365, Cantaloupe, Byte and others, with list prices, fees, and warranties.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTTurnkey Vending Business Packages: What the Law Makes Sellers Tell Youhttps://vendingplaybook.com/turnkey-vending-business-packageshttps://vendingplaybook.com/turnkey-vending-business-packagesTurnkey vending business packages and the FTC Business Opportunity Rule: required disclosures, California's registration rule, and documented fraud cases.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT