Small coffee vending route

Staff, visitors and customers at sites such as small offices, workshops, warehouses, gyms and waiting rooms. They pay per cup by card or coins.

You earn from the margin between the price per cup and your ingredient costs. Some site owners may ask for a small commission or free coffee in return for hosting the machine.

• Approaching businesses and negotiating placements
• Reliable weekly routine
• Basic cleaning and machine troubleshooting

• Commercial bean-to-cup machines with card readers can be expensive to buy new, so leasing or buying second-hand lowers the upfront cost but adds ongoing payments or repair risk
• Check with your local council whether you need to register as a food business and what hygiene rules apply
• Check whether your state requires a food safety supervisor or training
• Public liability and product liability insurance
• Electrical safety checks (such as test and tag) on machines placed in other people's premises
• Put placement terms in writing, including who pays for power and water and how either side can end the deal
• Theft, vandalism and slow sites: choose locations with steady foot traffic

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on whether you buy new, buy second-hand or lease machines. Leasing or buying second-hand lowers the upfront cost but can add ongoing payments or repair risk.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $500 to $3,000, depending on how many machines you run and how much foot traffic each site gets. Estimated time starts at about 5 hours a week for restocking and cleaning.

Check with your local council whether you need to register as a food business and what hygiene rules apply, and whether your state requires a food safety supervisor or training. Also check insurance and electrical safety checks on machines.