Coffee machine reseller for cafés and offices

New café and restaurant owners, offices, clubs, hotels and small businesses wanting good coffee on site.

Margin on machine sales or lease and rental fees, plus ongoing income from servicing, parts, beans and cleaning supplies.

• Sales and relationship building
• Knowledge of espresso equipment
• Organising installs and suppliers
• Basic bookkeeping

• Plumbing and electrical connection usually needs a licensed tradesperson, so check your state's rules and use licensed partners
• Public liability and product liability insurance, and check supplier warranty terms
• Stock and demo machines tie up cash, so start with a small range
• Australian Consumer Law applies to what you sell, so check warranty and refund obligations
• Running from home may need council approval for a home-based business, so check with your local council
• Register for an ABN, and for GST once turnover reaches the threshold

Startup costs are typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on the demo machine, stock range and insurance. Stock ties up cash, so these estimates are best checked against a small starting range.

Monthly revenue is typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on how many machines you sell and the servicing and coffee supplies you add. The estimates assume at least about 20 hours a week.

Check that plumbing and electrical connections use licensed tradespeople under your state's rules, plus public liability and product liability insurance. Also check Australian Consumer Law warranty and refund duties, home-business council approval, and ABN and GST registration.