Q: Why vending?
A: In 2007, projected vending machine sales exceeded $40 billion and are forecasted to grow. Consumers appreciate the high quality, fresh foods and snacks they can find in vending machines. They also appreciate the immediacy of product delivery and the convenience vending machines offer. Businesses want and need well stocked, convenient and easy-to-use vending machines on their premises, to provide their employees with a lower-cost option to eating out and to help maintain worker satisfaction and productivity.

Q: What products will I put in the Office Deli?
A: As a Planet Antares distributor, you have full control over the products you stock in the Office Deli. Using the Windows Vending Software, you'll quickly learn which products are in high demand. Depending upon your location, choose from among a wide variety of entrees, snacks and drinks.

You may place competitive drink, snack and entree brands in the same vending location. Sodas, canned energy drinks, like Red Bull, bottled brand name iced coffees, Gatorade, juices and bottled water are all popular choices among consumers.

Stock ready to heat entrees like turkey with gravy, chili, soups, and pasta dishes, among others. Some snack machine consumers will find candy, energy bars, popcorn, chips, nuts, and pretzels a more attractive option. Others will find healthier choices to be more attractive.

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 for the Office Deli. Our unique design enables multiple machines (Entree/Food, Snacks & Drink) to share the same circuit board, providing greater reliability in a small footprint. The control circuitry is expandable to service larger locations.

Q: How much electricity is used, and who pays the cost?
A: The Office Deli consumes a nominal amount of electricity. The average daily operating cost of the machine is about $0.41, which is about half of the cost of operating a large, glass-front vending machine. The service location pays the cost of electricity.

Q: How do I buy my product?
A: Your coach will provide a local list of wholesalers who stock vending products, which you can purchase at substantial discounts.

Q: Would I have to pay a location any commissions?
A: Most sales locations do not charge commissions to the vending machine distributors, largely because you are providing a free service that will allow the host's employees and customers to save time and cost while increasing their productivity. In the rare event that a good location does require a commission, distributors may provide a small commission to the location and increase their sales price commensurately.

Q: How can I find locations for my Office Deli machines?
A: There are two major approaches to placing your equipment at a sales location, both of which are fully supported by Planet Antares marketing materials.
1. Pre-Qualified Direct Mail: Upon completing an application, your business development advisor will ask for a specific number of zip codes. Prioritize your ZIP codes in order to indicate where you would most 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. When an interested location returns the postage-paid response card, your coach will call to 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 offers highly effective, full-color marketing brochures, including ancillary fact pieces, direct mailers and more. They are impressive, results-oriented and provide you with a professional branding program that inspires confidence in your service.

Q: What are some of the best locations?
A: More than 90% of all businesses in the United States and Canada have fewer than 100 employees – an ideal market for the Office Deli. 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, and small hotels are among the more than 2,000,000 potential locations!

Q: Does the Planet Antares Program limit the area that I can place my Office Delis?
A: Absolutely not! Our coaches assist their distributors to start up and then grow. We do not place new distributors in saturated areas. Established distributors tell us that word-of-mouth referrals are a rich resource of new business. If you serve a business that has multiple locations, you can secure those locations through your own referral.

Q: What is the cost of the Planet Antares Program?
A: Planet Antares offers several pricing options, which are based on the size of the plan you choose. Please see the Invitational Pricing sheet and the Future Reorder Pricing Program to determine which program meets both your financial ability and growth goals. Program prices include all Marketing and Business costs. You pay no continuing royalties or support payments to Planet Antares. Your income is yours!
As a distributor, you'll also receive substantial tax benefits associated with owning and running your own business. Consult with your accountant or tax adviser to determine the value of 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: Planet Antares offers a complete turnkey automatic merchandising business solution. In addition to elegant vending machines, each Planet Antares distributor receives the following:

1. Personal coaching from an entire team of knowledgeable professionals.
2. Marketing assistance and direct communication materials.
3. Step-by-step guides in both written and DVD formats.
4. The Planet Antares Newsletter.
5. Beautiful, professional, productive direct mail materials.
6. Location development packages and brochures.
7. Bookkeeping records.
8. Route and inventory forms.
9. A six-year warranty, the longest in the vending industry!
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 want to finance my new business. How can Planet Antares help?
A: EEvery Planet Antares business development advisor has extensive training in financial services and will explain your options for securing the most cost-effective and rapid sources 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 (ROI)?
A: Planet Antares has helped thousands of entrepreneurs their own businesses. A distributor's success depends upon his or her own personal goals. We have distributors who have established smaller part-time route, large "Empire Builders" who run several hundred locations a week and everything in between. Your success and the growth of your business are really up to you.

Q: How does the "50-50 Financing" work?
A: New distributors can take advantage of "50-50 financing" to help them grow their business. Depending on the size of the plan you start with - 50-50 Financing can be used to help finance additional Office Deli machines. The program is simple: you put 50% down on the purchase of additional machines and finance the remaining 50% for 24 monthly payments (2 years) interest-free! You can purchase up to 20 machines using this program.

Q: What are some of the tax benefits of owning my own vending business?
A: Tax laws are always changing, so consult with a tax professional or your accountant for the latest information, however current tax laws allow:
1. A write off of up to $134,000 in equipment purchases against your net income for the year in which the equipment was placed in service. Purchases that exceed the write-off limit can be deducted as depreciation over seven years!)
2. The establishment of Qualified Retirement Accounts, which enable you to contribute 20% of your business' income each year, up to $49,000 for each person! Your contributions will compound tax-deferred until you are ready to withdraw it or reach retirement age. A distributorship is a great way to finance your retirement!
3. Tax Deductions! You can also write off all expenses from your operating costs. Typical expenses include automobiles, gas, maintenance, insurance, meals, computers, and office supplies. Seminars and conventions that relate to your business are held in many different locations and may qualify for special tax treatment as well.
*Have your accountant detail all appropriate individual tax issues.

Q: Do I need an office?
A: No. Our system is designed to provide all the benefits of a franchise, without the costs.
With a Planet Antares distributorship, you pay no franchise fees, ongoing royalties, monthly payments or building and construction costs. Our business model eliminates dealing with employee payrolls, workers' compensation, and local zoning and permits. Your Planet Antares distributorship saves you from the cost of marketing and locating your own service location. We also provide educational support while you learn the ropes.
Planet Antares distributors have immediate access to more than 20 years of experience from the day they open their new businesses. Ongoing support, assistance and step-by-step proven techniques provide our distributors a time-tested system that truly works.
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 independently.

Q: Is the Planet Antares Program a franchise?
A: No. Our system is designed to provide all the benefits of a franchise, without the costs.
With a Planet Antares distributorship, you pay no franchise fees, ongoing royalties, monthly payments or building and construction costs. Our business model eliminates dealing with employee payrolls, workers' compensation, and local zoning and permits. Your Planet Antares distributorship saves you from the cost of marketing and locating your own service location. We also provide educational support while you learn the ropes.
Planet Antares distributors have immediate access to more than 20 years of experience from the day they open their new businesses. Ongoing support, assistance and step-by-step proven techniques provide our distributors a time-tested system that truly works.
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 independently.

Q: How long have you been in business?
A: Since 1987. With thousands of distributorships and more than $500,000,000 in equipment and services sold in the United States and Canada, Planet Antares is the largest and most successful business opportunities. Our outstanding Dun & Bradstreet ratings demonstrate that 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 use them as references. Ask them any question you wish about their business, keeping in mind that they are volunteering their time as busy business owners!

Q: Are there any restrictions to my growth?
A: Absolutely not! Planet Antares provides a systematic approach to growing your business to meet your individual goals. Whether you are interested in a part-time side business or a full-time "empire," you control your business. Initially, you should consider your goals and how large you want your business to be.