Q1: What are the dimensions of the 99 Spoons kiosk?
The 99 Spoons soft serve vending kiosk has the following footprint:
| Dimension | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Height | 76.4 inches |
| Width | 38.7 inches |
| Depth | 36.6 inches |
| Floor footprint | ~10 sq ft |
The machine requires a minimum of 5 inches of clearance at the rear for ventilation. No plumbing or drainage is required — just a standard 110V dedicated grounded outlet.
Q2: Can you summarize the 99 Spoons program?
99 Spoons sells fully automated soft serve vending kiosks to independent operators. Here is how it works in brief:
- You buy the machine — one-time purchase, no lease, no rental, no franchise fees
- You choose your location — hotels, malls, hospitals, universities, military bases, gyms, and more
- The machine handles everything — ordering, dispensing, payment processing, temperature monitoring, and real-time alerts, 24/7
- You keep your revenue — after your cost of goods and a $49/month software fee, what remains is yours
There are no franchise fees, no royalties, and no revenue share to 99 Spoons. You operate under your own brand. Visit our Steps to Success portal for a full operational walkthrough.
Q3: Is the 99 Spoons machine certified for health department approvals?
Yes. 99 Spoons machines carry Intertek certification — Intertek is one of the world's leading product testing and certification organizations. Intertek certification confirms that the machine has been independently tested and verified to meet safety, sanitation, and performance standards required for commercial food service equipment. This is the certification health departments, military base commanders, and institutional facility managers look for when approving vending equipment.
Machines have passed health department inspection in every state they have been placed in.
99 Spoons provides operators with a full health department compliance guide, cleaning protocol documentation, and on-site training to prepare for inspection. Most operators obtain their health permit without difficulty.
Q4: What payment methods are accepted?
99 Spoons machines accept all major credit and debit cards, contactless tap-to-pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other digital wallets through the integrated Nayax card reader. Campus card and student meal plan payments are also supported at qualifying university installations. Cash is not accepted.
Transactions are processed in real time and funds are deposited directly into your merchant account. The Nayax device fee is approximately $10/month, paid directly to Nayax.
Q5: How does the remote management software help me operate the vending machine?
The 99 Spoons cloud portal gives you full visibility and control over your machine from any device. Here is what it does:
- Real-time sales tracking — see every transaction as it happens
- Temperature monitoring — the TARS alert system notifies you immediately if the machine goes out of safe range
- Menu and pricing management — update products, prices, and promotions remotely without touching the machine
- Inventory visibility — monitor stock levels so you know when to restock
- Machine health diagnostics — the system flags issues proactively, often before they affect service
- Promotion tools — run time-limited offers and discounts directly from the dashboard
The $49/month software subscription covers all of the above plus ongoing technical support. There are no additional per-transaction or per-feature fees from 99 Spoons.
Q6: How do I find a location?
Location is the most important variable in this business, and 99 Spoons gives you a full toolkit to find a strong one:
- Location procurement guide — includes outreach scripts, foot traffic criteria, contract templates, and recommended venue categories
- Third-party placement specialists — 99 Spoons can refer you to location specialists who will source placements on your behalf. Third-party location procurement services typically range from $1,500 to $2,000, paid directly to the specialist
- Proven location categories — including but not limited to:
- Hotels & resorts
- U.S. military bases
- Hospitals & medical centers
- Universities & colleges
- Shopping malls
- Gyms & fitness centers
- Apartment complexes & residential communities
- Bowling alleys & entertainment venues
- Corporate campuses & office parks
- Airports & transit hubs
- Sports complexes & arenas
- Trampoline parks & family entertainment centers
- Truck stops & turnpikes
- Pre-purchase consultation — the 99 Spoons team will give you honest feedback on any location you have in mind before you commit
Operators who take placement seriously consistently outperform those who don't. 99 Spoons does not guarantee any specific location outcome, but the tools and referrals are included in your purchase.
Q7: What other services does 99 Spoons provide?
Beyond the machine itself, 99 Spoons provides a full end-to-end service package:
- Delivery — white-glove delivery to your placement location
- Installation — professional setup, connection, and first-run testing
- On-site training — approximately 3 hours covering all aspects of operation, cleaning, restocking, and software management
- Supply chain management — access to approved suppliers for soft serve mix, cups, toppings, syrups, and cleaning supplies
- Ongoing technical support — WhatsApp group, phone, email, and remote diagnostic assistance from industry veterans, available 24/7
- National technician network — on-site technicians available for labor warranty claims
- Warranty coverage — standard warranty included with all machines
- Spare parts — spare parts kit included with your machine; additional parts available through 99 Spoons
Q8: Can I brand my machine?
Yes. 99 Spoons offers full custom branding options. You can wrap the machine exterior with your own brand identity, logo, and color scheme. This is popular with operators who want to build a recognizable local brand, as well as corporate, hospitality, and entertainment clients who want a co-branded experience for their venue.
Operators like Scoop Dogg (Atlanta), Sunset Sundaes (Destin, FL), Cup for a Cure, Frozzi, and FroGo have all built independent brands on the 99 Spoons platform. You own your brand completely — 99 Spoons has no claim on it.
See how custom branding works: View the Operator Branding Showcase →
Q9: How quickly can I get a machine up and running?
Once you have a confirmed location, 99 Spoons can deliver and install your machine within 10–14 days, anywhere in the United States. Here is the typical timeline:
- Order placed: 50% deposit, machine enters production. Use this time to finalize your location and start the health permit process
- 10–14 days: Machine is assembled, tested, and inspected at the factory, then shipped directly to your location
- Delivery day: White-glove delivery, professional installation, and ~3 hours of on-site training. Machine is live the same day
The faster you lock in your location, the faster you can be earning. Most operators are fully operational within 2–3 weeks of placing their order.
Q10: What is the customer experience with the 99 Spoons machine?
The 99 Spoons kiosk is designed to be intuitive, fast, and satisfying for the end customer. Here is what the experience looks like:
- Customer approaches the large touchscreen display and browses the menu
- They select their soft serve flavor, toppings, and syrups through an easy step-by-step interface
- Payment is made cashlessly — tap, swipe, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or campus card
- The machine dispenses a freshly made soft serve cup in approximately 40 seconds
- A spoon is automatically placed with the cup — no staff interaction required at any point
- The machine is connected to real-time monitoring, so temperature, cleanliness, and product quality are maintained automatically
The entire experience is fully automated — no buttons to jam, no staff to wait for, no cash to handle. Customers get a consistent, high-quality product every time.
Q11: What is a soft serve vending machine, and how does 99 Spoons work?
A soft serve vending machine is a fully automated kiosk that accepts a customer's order via touchscreen, dispenses fresh soft serve ice cream with toppings and sauces, and processes payment — all without any staff involvement. The 99 Spoons kiosk does exactly that, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You monitor everything — sales, inventory, temperature, alerts — from your phone. The machine cleans itself on a cycle and only needs about 45 minutes of your time per week for restocking and a wipe-down. The 99 Spoons kiosk is Intertek certified and health department permitted nationwide. It runs on a standard 110V outlet with no plumbing required.
Q12: How much does an ice cream vending machine for sale actually cost all-in?
The honest all-in cost of a 99 Spoons soft serve machine is approximately $22,000–$24,000, which includes:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Machine (equipment) | $18,499 |
| Delivery & installation | $999 |
| On-site training & tech support | $2,500 (one-time) |
| Initial supplies | Varies (typically $500–$800) |
| Third-party location procurement (optional) | $1,500–$2,000 (paid directly to specialist) |
| Total all-in (approx.) | ~$22,000–$24,000 |
After that, your ongoing costs are: $49/month software and remote monitoring fee, ~$35/month insurance, ~$10/month Nayax payment device fee, and consumables ordered directly from approved suppliers. There are no franchise fees, no royalties, and no revenue share — ever.
Q13: What makes this an "automatic ice cream vending machine" — what's actually automated?
Nearly everything. The 99 Spoons kiosk is a true automatic ice cream vending machine in the fullest sense:
- Order taking — The touchscreen guides customers through flavor, topping, and sauce selection without any human interaction
- Dispensing — The machine measures and dispenses the correct amount of soft serve automatically, every time
- Payment processing — Cashless payments are processed instantly via Nayax
- Temperature monitoring — The machine tracks its own internal temperature 24/7 and sends automatic alerts if anything goes out of range
- Menu management — You update pricing, products, and promotions remotely via the cloud portal
- Alerts and diagnostics — The remote monitoring system flags issues proactively, before they affect service
What isn't automated: restocking mix and toppings (~30–45 minutes per week) and the weekly cleaning cycle (~45 minutes). These are the only two ongoing tasks for operators.
Q14: Can a soft serve vending machine generate passive income — and how passive is it really?
The passive income component is real but comes with an honest caveat: the first few months require active work to place your machine, get your health permit, and dial in your restocking rhythm. After that, the operation becomes genuinely low-effort.
Once placed in a strong location, here is what the typical week looks like:
- ~10–15 minutes restocking soft serve mix and toppings
- ~35 minutes running the weekly cleaning cycle
- ~10 minutes checking your dashboard for sales data and alerts
That is roughly 60–75 minutes of active work per week per machine. Everything else — serving customers, processing payments, monitoring temperature, sending alerts — happens automatically.
Q15: How does 99 Spoons compare to a vending machine franchise?
| Factor | Vending Machine Franchise | 99 Spoons |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront franchise fee | $10,000–$50,000+ | $0 |
| Ongoing royalties | 5–15% of revenue, forever | $0 |
| Brand control | Franchisor's brand, their rules | Your brand, your rules |
| Territory restrictions | Locked to a territory | Place machines anywhere in the US |
| Exit / resale | Franchisor approval required | Sell your machine to anyone, anytime |
| Monthly fees | Varies widely | $49/month software only |
Q16: How do I start a vending machine business with 99 Spoons?
- Book a call — Talk to the team, ask questions, discuss locations. Book here.
- Place your order — 50% deposit to begin, 50% balance when your machine is ready to ship. Fully assembled and tested at the factory.
- Lock in your location — While your machine is being prepared (typically 2–4 weeks), use the 99 Spoons location procurement guide to secure your first placement, or work with a third-party location procurement specialist we can refer you to.
- Delivery, install, and go live — The 99 Spoons team delivers, installs, and trains you on-site. You're typically up and running within a day of installation.
Most new operators are fully operational within 2–4 weeks of placing their order.
Have more questions? Visit 99spoons.com or book a call to speak with the team directly.