Pod Plug

i just turned down $60K from a potential franchisee in Miami (my favorite market) 🌴 hardest no i've ever had to say. here's what went down... flew LAX → DFW for our first @podplugvending franchise discovery day. grabbed a turo, hit 110° texas heat, and met finalists from el paso, kansas city, augusta, and miami. day 1: no biz talk. just dinner + late night venue tours day 2: warehouse visit, pitch deck, AR demos, deep Q&A then our franchise committee huddled up. Kansas City + Augusta = instant yes ✅ • hungry • coachable • ready to execute our playbook Miami = different story • smart? yes • connected? yes • capitalized? yes • too entrepreneurial? also yes that's the line. a franchise is the system.   if someone wants to rewrite it on Day 1 by being too entrepreneurial, the culture breaks. so i passed on $60K in my dream market did it hurt? absolutely was it the right move? 100% what i learned: • values > revenue • protect the system that works • wrong franchisees compound into nightmares haven’t slept great since making that decision 😅 btw El Paso franchisee just closed 3 of his first accounts within a week of getting his sales materials. sky’s the limit!

In just 11 days, I’ve reviewed 350+ franchise applications. These are the top cities we’re looking to launch in next: 📍 Albuquerque, NM 📍 Boulder, CO 📍 Tempe, AZ 📍 Scottsdale, AZ 📍 Phoenix, AZ 📍 Kansas City, MO 📍 Lawrence, KS 📍 Columbia, MO 📍 Columbia, SC 📍 Charleston, SC 📍 Tallahassee, FL 📍 Philadelphia, PA Territories are filling up quickly. PS. Where do you want to see Pod Plug machines next? Drop your city in the comments!

In the past 6 months, I've officially franchised Pod Plug, expanded my team from 5 to 17, and hit 2.5M views on TikTok in record time. All while traveling the country. But that's just the start. Here are 8 more milestones that stand out: 1. Went from 0 to 1,000+ newsletter subscribers organically. 2. 73 franchise calls in a single week (my calendar was insane). 3. TikTok: Started from scratch → 3.5K+ followers in a month. 4. Instagram: 2 viral videos within four days of each other → 3.7k+ followers in a week 5. YouTube: Launched and already hit 130K+ lifetime views. 6. 374 DMs in a single day from TikTok (still catching up 😂). 7. Scouted 58 college towns for franchise rollout. 8. 2.5M views on my first viral TikTok brought in 192 franchise leads in 24 hours. The cherry on top: • Met my Philippines team IRL for the first time • Traveled to @tribefounders retreats and NAMA in Vegas • Shut down my coaching program called Vending Machine LaunchPad to focus 100% on franchising • Closed our biggest vending location ever in Oxford, MS ($8–10K/month projected) All this… in just 6 months. It's wild what can happen when you stay in motion and bet on yourself. What's been your biggest win so far this year? 👇

One of the hardest parts of being a founder? People don’t really get it. Friends, family (even other entrepreneurs sometimes). Unless they’re in the trenches, it’s hard to really connect. Last weekend at the @Tribefounders retreat in Laguna Beach changed that. I spent 2 days with 18 incredible SMB founders, each doing between $1M to $10M a year. When I say these people are on another level, I mean it. We talked business (nonstop, because we’re addicted), shared wins and struggles, and built real friendships. Here’s a quick breakdown of what went down: • 🔥 A deep-dive workshop on “How to Build a Sellable Business” led by @CoFoundersNik • 😂 A night out at a comedy show • 🍽️ Amazing dinners with nonstop strategy talk • 🌊 Beach walks, hikes, açaí bowls Hard to believe it was only 2 days. This wasn’t surface-level networking. It felt real. I left genuinely closer to this group. Everyone brought something different to the table & everyone was down to share. These are the types of rooms you want to be in. Not just for business growth, but for mindset, clarity, momentum, and most importantly, belonging (because the solo founder journey can get quite lonely). If you're building a 7-figure business (or on your way), and you want to be around people actually doing it, this is it. TRIBE is worth every penny. @trentjhughes @ellieintech @TalMahaj @chrisxmunn @CoFoundersNik @HansDose_Does @alex_borkin @SCullenCarroll @WilDublin @kevinasrx @_bensamuels @derkolstad @julesperez_land

I just exposed why food franchises might be the most overrated business in America. And I compared them side-by-side with vending machines. Search “Fast Food Franchise vs Vending Machine: Which Makes More Profit in 2025” on YouTube to watch it.

HIRING: Franchise Sales Intern (Remote, US-Based) 💻 Fully Remote | Part-time | Paid Internship We’re looking for a high-energy intern to help expand Pod Plug’s footprint across the country. Pod Plug is a nightlife vending company with machines inside bars and clubs… and we’re now a franchise! This role is all about helping us grow that network. What you’ll do: • Build relationships with potential franchisees, especially in the college/Greek scene • Strengthen our Campus Ambassador Program • Execute lead gen strategies and refine outreach tactics • Work closely with the Franchise Sales team to scale Pod Plug across new markets Who you are: • A college sophomore to senior studying Marketing, Business, or something related • Tapped into Greek life, nightlife, or college social scenes (esp. in Dallas or LA) • Confident, goal-oriented, and not afraid to send the first message • A relationship-builder with a hustler’s mindset This is a rare chance to work closely with a fast-growing franchise brand, build real sales experience, and plug into a team that moves quick. 📩 Send your CV and/or portfolio to [email protected].

I’m hiring in Dallas & Fort Worth, Texas! Looking for a Vending Machine Route Driver to stock machines, manage inventory, and keep things running smooth. Must have retail/merch experience + valid license. 📍 On-site (DFW-based) 📩 Send your CV/resume to [email protected]

The most underrated startup advice you'll read today: Start building your personal brand. I kept hearing “share your journey” before I started putting myself out there. Now, I can confirm, IT WORKS. Here’s what happened when I committed to it: 1. My storytelling became a business asset. At first, I struggled to explain vending without sounding boring. I’d just say, “I own vending machines.” But when I started sharing the *why (*escaping the 9-5, creating another income stream, and helping others do the same), people started paying attention. Now, I know how to hook people in, make them care, and get them thinking, “Could I do this too?” 2. I built an engaged network while learning. Most people think you need to be an expert before sharing. Wrong. I started posting while I was still figuring things out. I shared my wins, losses, and lessons in real time. People connected with that way more than some polished success story. Now, I have an audience that trusts me. Not because I act like I have all the answers, but because I show up and share what I’ve learned. 3. Opportunities started chasing ME. I’ve never had to run expensive ads. I’ve never had to chase down leads. By consistently posting, I’ve: • Raised my first $50K through Twitter & LinkedIn. • My newsletter generates 3 franchise leads daily. • Made lifelong friendships. • Invited to 7 podcasts. • And a lot more. When you share your journey, you get the right kind of attention. 4. I stayed top of mind (even on tough days). There were times when vending got frustrating. Machines broke. Locations flopped. Collections disappointed. But I kept posting. I didn’t just share the highlights, I showed the process. And guess what? Some of my biggest wins (like media features and huge business deals) came when I least expected them. If you disappear when things get hard, so will your opportunities. 5. I built unshakable confidence. Posting online felt uncomfortable at first. What if people judged me? What if nobody cared? But confidence isn’t something you wait for, it’s something you build through action. I stopped overthinking. I kept sharing. Now, I I lead an entire community of people getting real results. Most founders wait until they “have results.” 🚫 So they miss out on building trust early. Most founders wait until things are “perfect.” 🚫 So they never start at all. If I had waited, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Start sharing. Build in public. Take action. It will change everything. PS: You don’t have to share everything. Just start. 🚀

Last week, I spoke at my high school’s career day on the entrepreneurship panel. Talked about my vending journey, mistakes I made, the advice I wish I had at 17, and how I barely got into college with a 3.3 GPA (shoutout to my college counselor for that Hail Mary). At the end, I had a crowd of students around me asking questions. Then someone asked: "Are you offering internships?" I hadn’t even thought about it. But I paused and said: "Uh… yeah. I have 2 spots." I handed them my phone, told them to drop their info. 37 people typed in their names, numbers, and emails. Here’s the wild part. The next day, only 2 of them followed up. • Found me on LinkedIn • Sent a thank-you DM • Showed they actually wanted it Those 2 people got interviews. The other 35? I never even bothered to reach out. Meanwhile they all had LinkedIns and 95% of them weren’t creative enough to reach out (they really thought I’d email them). That’s the difference between people who say they want an opportunity… and people who actually go get it. Because if you actually want something, you’ll go the extra step. Now, I’m creating an internship program from the ground up. Not because I planned to, but because two people proved they deserved the shot. Sometimes, the best things in business aren’t planned. You just build as you go.

If you start a vending business now, you could be making $3,000 per month by April 2025 (easily). Usually, I’d charge $249 for this Vending ROI Calculator, but today I’m giving it away for FREE. Like + Comment "ROI" and I’ll DM it to you! (Must be following)

I'm raising $300k from investors for my vending machine company I’m about to franchise (one of the only vending franchise opportunities available on the planet). Here’s why: • I’ve perfected the model after I made over $200k in mistakes, and now ready for hyper-growth • Franchised businesses sell for higher valuations (between 12-15x EBIT) • The vending business is local mom and pop owner-operator business • No more capex or inventory carry costs with a franchise • Average payback period per machine: 8-10 months • Increased local competition —> scale faster • $70% gross margin business If you want dibs on investing in my vending machine company and want the investor pitch deck, comment below the word “franchise” and I’ll DM it to you. PS. I’m only bringing on 5 investors for this round. If you want in, the minimum investment is $25k.

Just picked up my bucket hat from the merch shop, and I can’t lie… I’m hyped. Feels good to wear something that represents all the work I’ve put into growing this vending business. Let’s keep building! 🧢💪

Common misconceptions about the vending business: 1. It’s passive income. (Reality: Weekly stocking & maintenance is a must.) 2. The market is saturated. (New locations are opening daily.) 3. You need a license or LLC. (Not necessary to start.)

Most people think learning the vending business takes 10,000 hours. But I can explain it to you in 30 seconds. A quick breakdown on: 💡 Finding profitable locations 💡 Choosing the right machines/products 💡 Maintaining machines for long-term success Let’s dive in… (and no, this isn’t rocket science). 🚀 1.) Finding Profitable Locations: Look for high-traffic spots like offices, gyms, schools, or apartment complexes. Negotiate with the property owner for placement. 2.) Choosing the Right Machines/Products: Start with a combo machine (snacks + drinks) for flexibility. Focus on top-selling items like chips, candy, and sodas. 3.) Maintaining Machines for Long-Term Success: Restock regularly, keep machines clean, and fix issues ASAP. Happy customers = repeat business. Start with 1 machine, master the basics, and scale from there. Simple, right? Let me know if you want more tips! 👇

Vending machines aren’t 100% passive income (it’s more like semi-passive). You can earn while you sleep, but there's still work involved: restocking, repairs, and chasing leads. It’s worth it though, because the income doesn’t stop when you do. 😌

7 proven steps to build a valuable skill, quit your job, and start a vending company. This is exactly how I did it 👇

Over the last 6 years, I've spent 10,000+ hours mastering the best types of vending machines, products, and locations so you don’t have to. Here’s my 2025 ultimate guide to starting a vending business that actually makes money: 🧵👇 1. Choose your niche Not all vending machines are created equal. Decide between snacks, drinks, candy, or even specialty items (like Zyn in bars & clubs). Each has its pros and cons depending on your goals and market. 2. Start small, think big Don’t drop $10K on a fancy machine for your first go. Start with a refurbished machine for $2K. Learn the business, then scale. 3. Location is EVERYTHING The right location can make or break your vending business. Look for high-traffic areas like gyms, schools, breakrooms, or hospitals. Talk to property managers and pitch the value your machine adds. Pro tip: come decked out in a polo with your company logo, a flyer, and business cards. 4. Negotiate smartly Some locations will want a commission. Offer max 10% of sales (not profits). Always have a written agreement with a 5-year term. 5. Stock your machine wisely Stick to top-sellers for your target audience. For snacks, think chips, candy, and granola bars. For drinks, Coke, Pepsi, and water dominate. Monitor sales (via the Nayax Moma mobile app) and adjust inventory based on demand. 6. Maintain and refill consistently A poorly stocked or broken machine is a money-loser. Plan weekly visits to restock, collect cash, and handle any tech issues. 7. Reinforce with tech Many modern machines accept credit cards and have inventory tracking. While these cost more upfront, they can increase sales by 40%. 8. Scale smartly Reinvest profits to grow. Once you have 3-5 machines in solid locations, consider hiring someone to help with restocking and maintenance to free up your time (so you can focus on sales/growth). 9. Track your numbers Know your sales, expenses, and profits. Tools like spreadsheets or vending management software will help you see what’s working (and what’s not). 10. Be patient Vending isn’t an overnight success story. It’s semi-passive, not fully passive. But with the right strategy and team, it can bring in thousands per month while you sleep (just like I did). Got questions? Let me know in the comments. Let’s make 2025 your year of financial freedom!

Vending machines are how I built a 7-figure business. But when I started out, I was completely overwhelmed. Here’s the 3-step process I wish I had back then to master vending (and you can start using today):

20 minutes. $800/week. Vending machines are the closest thing to semi-passive income. Stop sleeping on this hustle.. here’s how you can start 👇