The Everest Blog

Starting a business can be scary. Even if you have secured start-up capital and assessed all the risks, being successful isn’t an automatic guarantee, and you never know what bumps in the road could lie ahead. Though there isn’t one failsafe, guaranteed way to ensure every owner’s equal success with ice vending, there are some tried and true strategies to help ensure that your new business venture is as prepared for success as possible. 

Define what success means to you, and then make a business plan 

The first step towards success is brainstorming exactly what success for your ice and vending business looks like. Are you looking for some extra income every month to supplement your regular job? A passive way to get rid of your 9-5 altogether? Perhaps you might even be using ice vending as a way to save for retirement. 

No matter what your goals are, it is important to think about what you hope to achieve in your financial future, and how ice vending can help you get there. Using this as a starting point, you can then map out a business plan to help your dreams become reality. Not sure where to start? The SBA has plenty of tools to help you put together a comprehensive business plan that will help guide you on your ice vending journey. 

Take your location search seriously

Once you have outlined your financial goals and created a business plan for your ice vending venture, it’s time to do some legwork. The single most important factor when it comes to the success of your business is your location. First, make contact with your local government office and find out what codes and ordinances are in place with regard to vending machines. Learn where you are allowed to place your vending machine in your community, and research any permits that must be obtained so that when the time comes to install your machine, you’re ready. 

Once you know what it will take to get your vending business legal with your local municipality, it’s time to look into specific locations. If you own your own land, this part is easy, as you can just verify that you have the appropriate utility connection, and then place your machine. 

However, if you’re looking to partner with local business owners, you’ll need to start making some calls. 

Talk to local business owners that may benefit from having an ice vending machine on their property, and let them know about how your business can help bring them additional customers. Set aside time to gather data, especially about traffic trends, as the busier a potential location is already, the greater chance you have of developing your customer base quickly. Don’t be afraid to ask hard questions and invest some serious time during this phase, as the more you know about your location, the more prepared you’ll be once it’s time to place your machine. 

Make sure you maintain your machine

Though the Everest VX series doesn’t require as much maintenance as other ice and water vending machines, it is important to still make sure that you are taking adequate care of your machine. This includes taking time weekly to clean your machine, refill ice bags, and take out coins and bills. Owners also should stay on top of longer-term maintenance items like cleaning the inside of the machine and changing the filters. 

Though these tasks might not seem directly related to the overall success of your business, they will help minimize downtime, keeping your machine ready to serve customers (and generate profit for you) 24/7. 

Don’t be afraid to change your strategy

Sometimes, even if you go into a new business venture with a solid strategy, something unexpected can happen that throws a wrench into the best laid plans. Perhaps the convenience store that you placed your Everest Ice & Water vending machine in front of has seen a decline in traffic or a change in the weather has led to interrupted sales. Maybe you aren’t happy with your lease agreement or are having trouble getting repeat customers. 

No matter what issues arise, don’t be afraid to return to your business plan, and see where you can make changes. Perhaps it’s time to scout for a new location. Or maybe you can implement a customer loyalty program to encourage repeat vends. Whatever you decide, don’t be afraid to pivot and adjust your strategy as business conditions change. 

Owning your own ice and water vending business is exciting, and having an Everest VX machine makes it easy to earn passive income on your terms.  However, even though ice vending may not require as much upfront cost or hands-on management as other business ventures, it is still important to follow some best practices and strategies so your machine can be as successful as possible.