According to business broker Mike Kelner, the M&A market for convenience services is red hot. Valuations are higher than ever. It’s a good time to be a convenience services operator and with these market conditions, many operators are pondering their options for 2026.

Mike Kelner, owner of VBB Advisors, said he has learned over the years that selling a business is as much a psychological and life-planning decision as it is a financial and transactional one. In this episode of Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation, host Bob Tullio sat down with Kelner and asked him to talk about the key questions an operator needs to ask before finding the exit door.

The podcast discusses part 5 of Kelner’s M&A Best Practices series, written for Vending Market Watch.

The first four parts of his series, available at vendingmarketrwatch.com, were focused

• Preparation
• Valuation
• Marketing
• Negotiation
• Part 5 looks at the psychological side of a deal - Key questions to ask before you sell your business.

For any operator who is considering a sale in 2026 or beyond, it’s a thought provoking listen, as Kelner shares those questions and the answers he receives from operators.

At the coffee, Tea and Water event in November, podcast host Bob Tullio interviewed around 25 operators and suppliers, asking them about their impressions of the CTW. Every one of them was impressed by one thing in particular – keynote speaker Ethan King’s presentation about the power of AI.

In this episode of Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS nation – It’s part one of a two-part episode – you’ll be able to hear part two in January – Tullio is talking to Ethan King. If you attended the Coffee Tea and Water show in Miami last month – then you already know that Ethan King generated a firestorm of excitement about AI.

Ethan King is a bestselling author, and award-winning entrepreneur who helps business leaders simplify success through the power of AI and automation.

His client work has appeared on Oprah, 60 Minutes, and even the Grammys.

As the author of ChatGPT - To Double Your Business In 90 Days, Ethan teaches non-technical business owners how to save time, boost sales, and scale operations without stress. His workshops are known for being both inspiring and tactical. This is conversation worth listening to. Tullio was so impressed with King, he said he is hiring him for a new podcast project that is planning to launch next year. If you serious about the future success of your business – this is a conversation you will appreciate.

On the surface, taking over a family business would seem to be a dream scenario. But each time a new generation takes the reins, especially in a well-established operation, there are inherent stresses that come with the job. So far, Patrick and Michael Sheehan have been up to the task.

What kind of stress does the third generation of a family-owned business typically deal with? Patrick Sheehan of Sheehan Brothers Vending sits down with host Bob Tullio in this episode of Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation. During his many interviews with operators, Tullio has picked up some common examples.

• Will customers be happy to work with the next generation?
• How do we make it a smooth transition?
• As the new leadership, how do I establish authority with my employees (especially those who have been here for many years)?
• How do I ensure continued success? After all these years, I don’t want to be the one who screws things up!

Many successors feel the weight of preserving the family’s legacy. This aspiration can create pressure and lead to decisions rooted in tradition rather than what is best for the business’s future.

It is certainly a great opportunity – stepping into a family business – but it also comes with challenges. After nine years of leadership, Patrick and Michael are taking a well-established company to a new level and are having some fun along the way.