What you need before the machine goes in
Permits and taxes for vending vary by state, by county health department and sometimes by city. These guides tell you which agencies to call and what they’ll ask for — written for someone about to place a machine, not for a search engine.
Vending permits by state
States where we hold signed inventory, ordered by how many locations are available.
Vending machine license in California
19 openSeller's permit. No state license; county health permits for food vending machines.
Vending machine license in Ohio
16 openTransient vendor's license. Local health license for most food vending locations; claw games need a state license.
Vending machine license in New York
15 openCertificate of Authority. Local health permit for every food or drink machine.
Vending machine license in Texas
8 openSales and use tax permit. None for snack or drink machines; claw and prize machines need a Comptroller license and a $60 decal each.
Vending machine license in Georgia
8 openSales and use tax number and certificate of registration. None for snack or drink machines; claw games need a Georgia Lottery license.
Vending machine license in Wisconsin
8 openSeller's permit. State license for food machines ($125 a year plus $9 per machine), except exempt snacks and canned drinks.
Vending machine license in Florida
7 openCertificate of Registration (Form DR-11). State license only for machines selling perishable food ($21 a year); amusement machines need a $30 certificate.
Vending machine license in Mississippi
6 openSales tax permit. Not confirmed: a state vending privilege tax is in the code, but we could not confirm it is collected.
Vending machine license in Massachusetts
5 openSales and Use Tax Registration Certificate (Form ST-1). None for snack or drink machines; claw games need a city or town license.
Vending machine license in New Jersey
5 openCertificate of Authority to collect sales tax (Form NJ-REG). None for snack or drink machines; claw games need state and municipal licenses.
Vending machine license in Virginia
4 openCertificate of registration for the Vending Machine Dealers Sales Tax. No vending license; the vending step is the dealer tax registration.
Vending machine license in Maryland
4 openSales and use tax license. $2.50 per machine a year from the county Circuit Court clerk, with a sticker on each machine.
Vending machine license in Michigan
4 openSales tax license. State food vending license from MDARD, except packaged snacks and canned drinks.
Vending machine license in North Carolina
4 openCertificate of Registration. No vending license or decal.
Vending machine license in Pennsylvania
4 openSales tax license. No vending license or decal; each machine shows your name and address.
Vending machine license in Tennessee
4 openCertificate of Registration (sales and use tax). No vending license; amusement games owe a separate state tax.
Vending machine license in Illinois
3 openCertificate of Registration (Retailers' Occupation Tax). A state vending decal on each machine, issued with your sales tax registration.
Vending machine license in Washington
3 openBusiness license (Business Licensing Service). No vending license or decal.
Vending machine license in North Dakota
3 openSales and use tax permit. State vending license from Health and Human Services, $40 a year, except packaged snacks and canned drinks.
Placement
How placement works
We find, sign and license the venue, with a 6-month guarantee behind it.
How to find locations
The full playbook: where to place, what venues pay, how to pitch.
Starting a vending business
Costs, machines, licenses and insurance — from idea to first machine.
All operator guides
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