Welcome to Becoming a Vendpreneur—where every week I help you navigate the challenges of running a vending machine business, whether you’re just starting out or looking to expand your operation.

This week's topic hits different because it's the #1 reason most operators never touch nightlife venues (where the real money is).

Here's what's inside:

Curated picks for Vendpreneurs

"That's illegal, right?"

That's what most people said when they saw our 21+ vending machines.

Now those same people are asking how to copy us.

We solved the compliance puzzle everyone else avoided.

In this issue, I'm breaking down exactly how we legally vend age-restricted products.

If you prefer watching over reading, check out my latest YouTube video below.
And don't forget to Subscribe. 👇

If you’re selling 21+ products through vending machines, you need to be clear on how each product is actually classified — legally.

My machines carry a mix of items, but the age-restricted items include:

Both are legal, both are age-restricted, but they’re not treated the same.

ZYN falls under one set of rules. Devices like GBPs fall under another.

And depending on the state, those rules can shift.

If you’re not 100% sure how your product is classified, that’s your starting point. Without that, you're gambling with fines or worse.

Get this locked in first. Everything else builds from here.

Once you know what you’re selling, the next step is making sure you’re legally allowed to sell it. That means getting the right licenses and permits for your state.

Depending on where you’re located, that could include:

Or sometimes... all three.

Some states make it simple. Others? Not so much. It can be a slow, confusing process if you don’t know where to start.

This is one of the biggest early roadblocks for new operators.

That’s why we handle all of this upfront for our Pod Plug franchisees, so they don’t waste time figuring it out or risk doing it wrong.

Skipping this step isn’t worth the risk

This is where most people drop the ball.

It’s not enough to slap a “21+ only” sticker on the machine and hope for the best. If you're selling age-restricted products, you need legit, built-in verification.

My machines come with real age-gating tech baked in.

Here’s how it works:

If it doesn’t, nothing happens: no access, no exceptions.

It’s fully automated, fully compliant, and removes the risk of underage sales.

Even with the right products, licenses, and tech, where you place your machines still matters.

I only place machines in private businesses that already allow age-restricted sales.

That means:

These spots already check IDs at the door. They cater to adults. It’s a natural fit.

Just because you can place a machine somewhere doesn’t mean you should. We’re not out here pushing the line. We’re building a real, compliant business.

They don’t know the laws.

They cut corners and get shut down.

They don’t want to deal with the tech.

They can’t scale it legally across cities.

I’ve been refining this for over 6 years.

Everything I do, from the products we stock to where we place machines, is built to stay legal, scale fast, and protect the operator.

Our franchise model gives you everything:

The machines, the licensing playbook, the tech, the contracts, and the product lineup that’s working right now.

Click here to take the first step towards owning your own vending empire.

This opportunity is perfect if you have:

💵 $15K in available capital
🔥 Drive to build something real
💪 Commitment to make it work
💼 Sales experience (or willingness to learn)

Sound like you? Let's talk.

Thanks for reading this week’s newsletter.

Hit reply and let me know what you found most helpful this week—I read every single reply and I’d love to hear from you!

See you next Saturday!

-Ethan