How Much Does This Cost Your Business?
Short answer: nothing. Sidecar covers the machine, installation, stocking, and ongoing maintenance — there's no cost to your business at any point.
There's no installation fee, no monthly fee, no equipment cost, and no charge for stocking or repairs. Sidecar installs and runs the entire program at no cost to your business, whether you're an office, warehouse, apartment community, gym, medical facility, or auto dealership. The only thing we ask in return is a simple service agreement — covered below.
Everything, from install to ongoing service.
The Machine & Installation
We supply the machine and handle delivery, placement, and setup — no purchase or lease cost to you.
Ongoing Stocking
Restocking is included and based on real usage data, not billed as a separate service.
Maintenance & Repairs
If something breaks, a local technician responds the same day — repairs are covered, not invoiced.
Smart Inventory Monitoring
The monitoring system that keeps machines stocked is part of the service, with no added tech fee.
Product pricing, and does my location qualify?
Product Pricing
Most food and drink items run $1.50-$4.00, with a few premium options available above that range. Sidecar sets and manages pricing, reviewing real sales data to keep it competitive — and we're glad to work with you on a price target if you have one in mind, whether you want classic vending staples or a premium food, drink, or household-item mix.
Is My Location a Fit?
As a general guide, we look for locations with roughly 50+ people passing through daily. Higher-traffic locations may be a good fit for more than one machine. Not sure where you land? That's exactly what the free on-site evaluation is for.
Cost, answered.
Is there really no cost at all to my business?
Correct — no cost for the machine, installation, stocking, or maintenance. Sidecar's revenue comes from the purchases customers make at the machine, not from any fee charged to your business.
If it's free for us, how does Sidecar make money?
The same way any vending operator does — a small margin on each purchase made at the machine. That's the entire business model, which is why there's no separate charge to the location hosting it.
Do we pay for the electricity the machine uses?
Machines plug into a standard outlet and use a negligible amount of power — comparable to a small appliance. It isn't separately billed. If you have questions about your specific setup, we're happy to walk through it during your free on-site evaluation.
Is there a fee if we need to relocate or cancel?
No, and there's no minimum term either. The service agreement simply asks for 30 days' notice if you ever need a machine relocated or removed — whether that's next year or next month — with no cancellation fee or penalty involved.
Are there any hidden fees I should know about?
No. What's on this page is the complete picture: no cost for the machine, installation, stocking, or maintenance. If a specific question about your space comes up, we'll answer it plainly during your free evaluation before anything is installed.
How much do items in the machine cost?
Most food and drink items are priced between $1.50 and $4.00, with select premium options available above that. Sidecar manages pricing and adjusts it based on real sales history to stay competitive, and we can work with your preferences if you have a price target in mind for the product mix.
Does my location have enough traffic to qualify?
As a general starting point, we look for locations with roughly 50 or more people passing through daily. Locations with heavier foot traffic may be well-suited for more than one machine. The best spots are typically high-traffic areas like a front entrance, near a parking garage, or a lobby/amenity area. If you're not sure where your location falls, the free on-site evaluation is exactly where we figure that out together.