Today we’d like to introduce you to Jaime Ibanez.
Hi Jaime, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I actually started my vending machine business back in 2018 right after high school. I didn’t really have any business experience or a big plan or anything like that, I just wanted to try something on my own and vending seemed like a cool way to start. Especially since I was that kid in high school that would walk around selling chips and candy to classmates – this felt like the next level!
I used the $3500 i saved up from selling chips in high school, and I bought one snack machine off Facebook marketplace. I bought this machine already on location, meaning I didnt have to move it or find a spot for it – so it was already making money from day one!
I then had this “fire” lit under me, I was highly motived to buy more machines! I used the profits from my first machine, and paychecks from my part time job to purchase more machines every time I could. Within the first 12 months, I had around 12 vending machines. 6 years later, I now have 60 vending machines on location through out the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Along the way, I have been documenting my entire journey on YouTube. I show the “good” and “bad” about the vending machine industry, and even how much my machines generate. I’ve been able to grow my channel to 500,000 subscribers, which generated enough revenue to also help me scale my vending business.
Fast forward to today — I now run a full-service vending and office coffee company here in DFW, with over 60 vending machines. It’s been a grind for sure, but I’ve learned everything hands-on. I think that’s what makes this business fun for me — I’ve been through every part of it, from installing machines to delivering snacks to now building out full breakroom setups.
My end goal? To be not just the biggest, but the best vending company in DFW. I truly wake up and enjoy what I do every single day.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely hasn’t been a smooth road – but not too bad either. I think thats the case with every business to be fair.
When I started, there was ZERO information online about the vending business. There was no articles, no YouTube videos, no guides, nothing! So everything I learned was from trial and error. I remember buying my first machine and struggling just to figure out how to change prices or get it to accept bills.
There were also financial struggles. A lot of people think vending is all profit, but it can be tight margins sometimes. for example, product cost, gas, repairs, equipment, credit card fees, etc. I remember months where I would barely break even because I was reinvesting every dollar back into the business.
But honestly, I’m glad it wasn’t smooth. Every setback forced me to level up and get better. I’ve learned how to pivot, how to problem solve, and how to stay consistent even when things weren’t going my way. That’s what’s helped me get to where I’m at now.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
So I run a company called Vending Bites based here in Dallas-Fort Worth. We specialize in full-service vending, micro markets, and office coffee. Basically we help businesses keep their employees happy by providing snacks, drinks, fresh food, and coffee. whether it’s through traditional vending machines or self-checkout markets.
What I’m probably most proud of is how we’ve been able to scale everything while still keeping the attention to detail. I started with one vending machine, and now we’re in dozens of buildings across DFW — everything from warehouses and offices to police departments. People know us for going above and beyond, and for actually doing what we say we’re going to do. Whether it’s a machine refill or fixing an issue, we move quick and take care of it.
What really sets us apart is the fact that I’ve done everything myself at some point — sales, servicing, repairs, deliveries — so I know what a good operation should look like. I’m also big on supporting local. A lot of the products we stock are from Texas-based brands, whether it’s a local cold brew roaster, a Dallas coconut water company, or a meal prep company making fresh food for our markets. I think that personal touch is something people feel when they work with us.
What’s next?
I do plan on running my vending business forever, so the future plan will be to continue to scale, buy more equipment, and hire more employees. We just added office coffee services to our business 12 months ago, which I didnt know how much I enjoyed coffee until then. So another 12 month goal would be to start our own coffee brand and open up a local coffee shop here in Fort Worth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vendingbites.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaimeibanezz/?hl=en
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaime-i-720942136/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmsAwNJKAGI2ibq–B-unKw
