Start With the Business
Mindset, financial freedom, formation, startup budgeting, marketing, and the foundation.
The original playbook
THE
VENDING GAME
How to Start and Run Your Own Vending Machine Business—written from the real experience of Kerry L. Shipman and Koby M. Shipman.
LEARN HOW WE MADE$50,000IN 6 MONTHSKERRY L. SHIPMAN · KOBY M. SHIPMAN
Why this book exists
We wrote the book we needed when we were starting.
There was plenty of vending information online. What was missing was the truth about what happens between buying a machine and building a business.
The Vending Game covers formation, shoestring startup, choosing locations, buying equipment, setup, purchasing products, servicing locations, route management, scaling, proposals, contracts, security, reducing losses, competing for accounts, and managing larger opportunities.
But the reason people remember the book is the story behind it: we entered the industry with no prior knowledge, made expensive mistakes, kept knocking on doors, and learned through real contracts and real operations.
Inside the book
Five parts. One practical journey.
Enough structure to help you think like an operator before you spend money like one.
Location Before Machine
Foot traffic, visibility, contracts, commissions, equipment choices, and setup.
Operate the Route
Products, pricing, service schedules, route management, and customer feedback.
Scale Intentionally
Employees, proposals, presentations, contracts, security, accounting, and systems.
Stay in the Game
Competition, loss reduction, cash flow, larger accounts, and protecting the business.
Buy direct
Choose how you want to learn the game.
Purchase directly from Two Brothers Vending. Choose the format that fits how you want to learn, and check out securely through Stripe.
Digital
eBook
$19Immediate digital access after successful payment.
Buy the eBookMost popular
Paperback
$24.99Physical copy of the original edition shipped directly to you.
Buy paperbackCollector
Signed Paperback
$39A signed physical edition from the Two Brothers Vending founders.
Buy signed editionA note on the 2020 edition
The principles are real. Some market numbers have changed.
The original edition reflects the vending market and costs at the time it was written. Machine pricing, payment technology, suppliers, labor, financing, and operating economics have evolved. That is why we are building updated digital resources and the next book instead of pretending every 2020 number is still current.
See what is coming nextWant more than the book?
The book teaches the foundation. The Vault gives you the working tools.
Templates, checklists, calculators, forms, updated lessons, community access, and deeper case studies are being organized inside The Vending Game Vault.
Explore the Vault