Coastal Vending Company

For host locations

What hosting a machine actually involves

Commissions, contract length, what goes in the machine, and how fast we show up when something breaks. If your question is not answered here, ask us directly — we would rather tell you now than after you have signed something.

Money and economics

Do I receive a commission, and what is it based on?

Yes. Commissions are based on gross revenue — we do not net out processing costs or other expenses before calculating your share. The rate itself depends on your location, since foot traffic and sales volume are the two things that move it. We quote a specific number after a free site review, and the full commission structure is written into the agreement before you sign anything.

When and how do I get paid?

Monthly by default, and we can move to quarterly if that suits your accounting better. Most locations are paid by ACH; we can send checks instead if you prefer.

Will I receive a sales report?

Yes. We send a monthly sales report showing units sold and the revenue behind your commission, so the payment is never a number you have to take on faith.

Is there a minimum sales requirement to keep the machine?

No. There is no minimum sales requirement, and no penalty if the machine sells less than we projected. If volume comes in below expectations, that is ours to solve — usually by adjusting the product mix, the pricing, or the placement rather than pulling the machine.

Contract and exit

Can I review the entire agreement before installation?

Yes. Ask and we will send the full agreement over so you can read every term — commission structure, length, and what each side is responsible for — before you commit to anything. There is no obligation to move forward after reviewing it.

How long is the agreement?

Our standard agreement is a one-year term, and it rolls month-to-month after that rather than locking you into another full year. We are flexible on the structure — if your property needs a shorter term, a longer one, or a different arrangement for budgeting or board approval, tell us and we can write it that way.

Can either party terminate without cause?

Yes. Either side can terminate without cause on 60 days’ notice in our standard agreement, and that notice period can be adjusted if your property needs something different. If the machine is not performing, you do not need a reason or a penalty to ask us to remove it.

If I sell the property or change management, does the agreement transfer?

Yes. The agreement transfers to the new owner, so a sale or a change of management company does not interrupt service or void the terms already agreed to.

Are there exclusivity clauses?

It depends on the situation. If we are bringing vending to a location that does not have it yet, our standard agreement often includes exclusivity. If you already have vending on site, that is not a concern and exclusivity is not required. Either way it is spelled out in the agreement, and it is a term we can talk through before you sign.

Maintenance and responsibility

How quickly do you respond if the machine breaks?

We get back to you within 24 hours to schedule service, and usually a good deal faster. Because the machines are connected and reporting live, we often see a problem before anyone at your location calls it in.

Who handles customer complaints and refunds?

We do, directly. If someone loses money in the machine or has a problem with a product, they deal with us rather than your front desk or property staff. We are highly responsive on refunds — it is our machine, so it is our problem to fix, not extra work for your team.

Are you insured, and can I see a certificate of insurance?

Yes on both. We carry general liability insurance, and we are used to buildings that require a COI before a vendor can work on site — we provide whatever documentation your board, owner, or property manager needs. If your building requires specific endorsements, send us the requirement and we will confirm what we can put in place before installation.

What actually gets stocked

Who decides what products go in the machine?

We do the first pass, you have the final say. We start with a mix built for your space and audience based on what comparable locations actually buy, then adjust from there. Because pricing and product changes happen remotely, revising the mix does not require a service visit.

Can I request healthier, premium, local, or specific products?

Yes. We can work with you to build a custom product list for your location. Healthier and low-sugar lineups are a standard option, and we regularly stock specific brands or local products a location asks for. If you have a requirement we have not run into before, ask; we will tell you honestly whether we can source it.

Can I prohibit certain products?

Yes. Restrictions are common and easy to honor — nut-free for schools, no sugary drinks for gyms and wellness-focused workplaces, no energy drinks in some medical and residential settings. Tell us the restriction and it goes into the plan for your machine.

How frequently will you physically restock it?

As often as the sales data says we need to — there is no fixed route day. Every machine reports its inventory and sales live to our app, so restocks are driven by what is actually selling at your location. Busier machines get visited more often, and the goal is that yours is never low on the things people want.

Can I request fresh food, or is it primarily packaged snacks and drinks?

Both are available. Snacks and cold drinks are the core, but refrigerated and combination machines can hold sandwiches, salads, yogurt, breakfast items, and other grab-and-go meals. Fresh food raises the bar on service — a machine holding sandwiches cannot sit for weeks the way a snack machine can — so we recommend it where the traffic supports proper rotation.

Do you track temperature for refrigerated machines?

Refrigerated units monitor and log their own temperature, which is what makes a reliable cold chain possible for fresh food. If a unit drifts out of range, it shows up in the machine’s reporting rather than waiting for someone at your location to notice something is off.

Location and performance

How many machines do you recommend for my expected traffic?

That comes out of the free site review. Headcount, foot traffic patterns, and whether people have other options nearby all factor in. A single combination machine covers most locations, while larger sites sometimes do better with a separate snack and drink pair, or units on more than one floor.

If sales are weak, will you change the product mix, machine type, or pricing before removing it?

Yes — that is the normal sequence. Product mix is the first lever and the easiest, since the sales data usually shows what is not moving. Pricing and product changes happen remotely, without a service visit. Moving the machine to a better spot in the building is often the fix when the mix is right but the placement is wrong. Removal is a last resort, not a first response.

Looking for how the machines themselves work — payments, product mix, hardware? That is covered in the general FAQ on the home page.

Service areas

Where we install and service machines

We run our own routes in both markets, which is what makes the restock and repair timelines above possible. If you do not see your city, ask anyway — we add stops when a location makes the route work.

San Francisco

Covering the San Francisco Bay Area

San Francisco & Peninsula
San Francisco · Daly City · South San Francisco · Brisbane · San Bruno · Millbrae · Burlingame · San Mateo · Foster City · Belmont · San Carlos · Redwood City · Menlo Park · Palo Alto
Marin
Sausalito · Mill Valley · Tiburon · Corte Madera · Larkspur
East Bay
Alameda · Oakland · Berkeley · Emeryville
San Francisco vending services

San Diego

Covering San Diego County

Central San Diego
San Diego · La Jolla · Sorrento Valley · Kearny Mesa · Mission Valley · Mira Mesa · Point Loma · Coronado
North County
Carlsbad · Encinitas · Del Mar · Solana Beach · Oceanside · Vista · San Marcos · Escondido · Poway
South Bay & East County
Chula Vista · National City · La Mesa · El Cajon · Santee
San Diego vending services

Want to see the agreement first?

Ask and we will send a sample over, along with a commission estimate for your location. No obligation, and no cost to review it.