Q: Why vending?
A: Over the past decade, the snack and beverage industry has flourished. The number of new products has continued to grow along with demand. Meanwhile, employees are under more pressure than ever to be productive. This means less time available for breaks and lunch off-site. Companies want and need the Office Deli: a huge variety of products in a small space, replicating the ease of a convenience store, without the lost time. All industry forecasts show vending continuing to grow. For 2007, projected sales for Vending were over $40 BILLION! The demand has never been higher!

Q: What products will I put in the Office Deli?
A: Simple whatever your location wants! They can choose from the enormous, ever-growing variety of entrées, snacks and drinks. Products are not limited to any brand. You can put both Coke and Pepsi side by side! Canned energy drinks, like Red Bull, bottled iced coffee like Starbucks Frappuccino, Gatorade, juices and bottled water! The entrée food machine holds full-size meals that are ready to heat (like turkey and gravy, chili, chicken teriyaki, soups, tuna salad and crackers, noodles and pasta dishes, and much more.) In our snack machines you can put candy, energy bars, popcorn, chips, nuts, pretzels, breakfast danishes, and more! Healthy and not-so-healthy options. It’s up to your location, and as long as they are purchasing the products, you will continue to provide their choice.

Q. How is the Office Deli unique and state-of-the-art?
A: Planet Antares holds the only Patent Pending application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office as it is the only vending machine of its kind. The one-of-a-kind technology consists of multiple machines (Entrée/Food, Snacks & Drink) all based and connected to the same circuit board, allowing for more reliability and requiring much less space. In addition, distributors may add additional machines to the same circuitry so that larger locations can be serviced.

Q: How much electricity is used, and who pays the cost?
A: Approximately 41 cents per day is the total cost to run the Office Deli. This is paid by the location. Compare to the large glass-front electronic machines that can cost over $300 per year to run! Add to that the business benefits of not having their employees leave the premises to conduct “food runs” to the local convenience store, which reduces productivity.

Q: Where do I receive my product?
A: Your coach will provide a local list of wholesalers where you may purchase your products. Some wholesalers are household names, and others are little-known, where you can find all products at substantial discounts.

Q: Would I have to pay a location any commissions?
A: The vast majority of distributors do not pay any form of commission to their location. The reasoning is simple: you are providing a free service that will allow the location to save time and cost while increasing productivity. From a business owner’s viewpoint, what is the cost of employees taking numerous breaks, which may include going to a local convenience store or market?
In the rare event that a good location does require a commission, distributors may provide a nickel per vend, and in turn, increase the prices 5 cents per product.

Q: How would I get my Office Delis placed in locations?
A: There are two methods – both are part of the Planet Antares Marketing Program:
1. Pre-Qualified Direct Mail: Upon completing an application, your business development advisor will ask for a specific number of zip codes. You will present these zip codes in the priority order in which you would like to have your machines located. Planet Antares will provide you a minimum of 225 pre-qualified business listings in the form of pre-printed mailing labels. These potential locations will be sent a time-proven direct mail piece that will detail the benefits of your Office Deli. The location will return the postage-paid card, and your coach will call and introduce your company, and set up a time for you to go to the location to meet and place your equipment.
2. Self-Promotion: The Planet Antares Marketing Program includes the highly effective, full-color marketing brochures, including ancillary fact pieces, direct mailers and more. They are impressive, time-tested and provide you with a readymade, professional looking branding program. Your potential locations will have immediate confidence in you.

Q: What are some of the best locations?
A: There are over 2,000,000 potential locations! More than 90% of all businesses in the United States and Canada have less than 100 employees, and that’s the market for the Office Deli. A small sampling would include insurance offices, real estate offices (which are open 7 days a week, evenings and weekends), banks, law offices, mortgage companies, lunchrooms in teachers’ lounges, nurses’ lounges in hospitals, car dealerships, tire shops, warehouses, beauty shops, small hotels and much more. The list is almost endless!

Q: Does the Planet Antares Program limit the area that I can place my Office Delis?
A: Absolutely not! The goal of each coach is to assist their distributors to get up and running and then grow. We will not place a new distributor in an area already saturated with distributors. Once a distributor is up and running, they often find that word-of-mouth referrals are a rich resource of new business. For example, you may have a location (such as a bank) that has 4 other locations available around your town. You are welcome to secure those locations through YOUR referral. It is your business, and you can decide if you want to service the locations.

Q: What is the cost of the Planet Antares Program?
A: The price is based on the size of the plan you start with. Please see the Invitational Pricing sheet and the Future Reorder Pricing Program to determine which program meets both your financial ability and growth goals. Keep in mind, the price of the program includes the entire Marketing and Business costs. There are no ongoing royalties or payments to Planet Antares. Your income is yours!
In addition, keep in mind the tremendous tax benefits of owning and running your own business. After speaking with your Accountant, you will begin to see the advantages to having your own business and what that can mean to your bottom line!

Q: What does the cost of the Planet Antares Program cover?
A: The Planet Antares Program is not about simply purchasing machines. Although these state-of-the-art machines are outstanding, Planet Antares is very proud of the business start-up program that allows each new distributor to get up and running, right from the start. Each distributor receives the following:

1. Your own personal coach, backed by an entire team of knowledgeable professionals.
2. Marketing assistance and direct communication with your locations.
3. Step-by-step guides in both written and DVD formats to make you an expert.
4. The Planet Antares Newsletter to keep you in touch with the latest industry trends.
5. Beautiful response-generating direct mail materials
6. Location development packages and brochures
7. Bookkeeping records
8. Route and inventory forms
9. The longest warranty in the vending industry (6 years!)
10. Fire and Theft protection
11. Exclusive access to the distributor-only website where you can download newsletters and software, order parts and communicate with your personal coach.
12. Exclusive re-order pricing on new Office Delis.
13. And much, much more!

Q: I am possibly interested in financing my new business. How would that work?
A: Each business development advisor has a background and extensive training in Financial Services. Their expertise can show you the many options for securing the most cost-effective and rapid source of financing for your new business. As an additional incentive, tell your business development advisor “Vending is a $40 Billion a year Industry,” and you will receive the valuable You Can Get the Financing book absolutely free.

Q: What is the return on investment?
A: Each distributor’s success is relative to their goals and needs. Planet Antares has placed literally thousands of families in their own business, with levels of success ranging from smaller part-time routes to large “Empire Builders” that run several hundred locations a week. This is up to you. The question really is… Where do you see yourself in one year? How large do you wish to grow? Why?

Q: How does the “50-50 Financing” work?
A: To assist new distributors in growing their business – and depending on the size of the plan you start with – 50-50 Financing can be utilized on re-ordered equipment up to the 15th Office Deli. The program is simple: you put 50% down and the remaining 50% can be financed for 24 monthly payments (2 years) at 0% interest! You can purchase as many machines as you like on this program up until your 20th machine.

Q: What are some of the tax benefits of owning my own vending business?
A: Under current tax laws, there are many benefits*:
1. Write off up to $134,000 in equipment purchases! (Against your net income for that year. Purchases over that amount can be deducted as depreciation over seven years!)
2. Qualified Retirement Accounts can be established, and you can contribute 20% of your business’ income each year, up to $49,000 for each person! (This will compound tax-deferred until you are ready to withdraw it or reach retirement age.)
3. Tax Deductions! You can also write off all expenses from your operating costs. Typical expenses include automobiles, gas, maintenance, insurance, meals, computers, office supplies… the list goes on and on! There are also a multitude of seminars and conventions that relate to your business that are held in many different locations.
*Have your accountant detail all appropriate individual tax issues.

Q: Do I need an office?
A: Absolutely not! In fact, even our distributors with larger routes operate from their own homes. Many distributors use their garage for a storage area and run their business from a kitchen table. A computer is helpful, but not necessary. Basically, all that is needed is a phone, a car or truck and a determination to be successful.

Q: Is the Planet Antares Program a franchise?
A: No. The program has been purposefully designed to provide all the benefits of a franchise, without the costs.
If you were to purchase a franchise, you would have to invest in many costs: franchise fees, building and construction, employees and payroll, workers’ compensation, local zoning and permit restrictions, and of course, ongoing royalties and payments every month… all out of your pocket! And with a franchise, it’s more than just your out-of-pocket capital; you would also have to invest in marketing and locating costs. Not to mention the cost of a substantial learning curve from all the challenges common to starting a business without a mentor or assistance
With 20+ years of experience, Planet Antares has this knowledge and support, and we provide it to each new distributor. Without it, it could cost hundreds of thousand of dollars and many months and years of unnecessary mistakes and heartache.

Planet Antares distributors have an immediate 20+ years of experience from the day they open their new business. Ongoing support, assistance and step-by-step proven techniques are truly invaluable and provide our distributors a time-tested system that truly works. Planet Antares distributors not only learn what works, but what doesn’t work.
The Planet Antares program requires a one-time payment which not only includes the selected number of Office Delis, but all the ongoing support, assistance and materials necessary to get your business up and running, without any ongoing costs or royalties!

Q: How long have you been in business?
A: Since 1987. Over the past 21 years, thousands of distributors have been placed in the United States and Canada. We are one of the largest and most successful business opportunities in the United States and Canada with over $500,000,000 in equipment and services sold. With outstanding ratings from Dunn & Bradstreet, Planet Antares is a world-class organization.

Q: Can I speak with existing distributors about their experience?
A:Yes! In fact, we recommend it! We can provide you with a list of current distributors that have given us permission to publicize their names and phone numbers. Ask them any question you wish about their business, keeping in mind that they are volunteering their time as busy business owners! So, if you leave a message for them, please be patient for their return call.

Q: Are there any restrictions to my growth?
A: Absolutely not! Planet Antares provides a systemized approach to growing your business to the level that meets your individual goals. Whether you are interested in a part-time side business or a full-time “empire,” your growth is up to you. At this stage, you may wish to think about your goals and how small or large you wish to grow your business. What are your goals? Why?