Coffee and snack kiosk in a busy spot

Commuters, office workers, students, hospital visitors and shoppers who want something quick on the go.

Margin on each item sold. Coffee and cold drinks usually carry the best margin, and sales volume depends heavily on location and opening hours.

• Friendly customer service
• Making good coffee (or willingness to learn)
• Stock ordering and cash handling
• Early starts and long standing shifts

• Food business registration with your local council and any food safety supervisor or training requirements in your state
• Lease terms, rent increases and whether turnover-based rent applies, get the lease checked before signing
• Public liability insurance and stock or equipment cover
• Fit-out and equipment approvals, such as for coffee machines, fridges and handwashing facilities
• Fit-out, espresso machine, grinder, fridges, handwashing sink and any required shopfitting can be expensive, so get quotes early and consider taking over an existing kiosk or buying second-hand equipment
• Quiet periods and weather or foot-traffic changes that can swing weekly takings
• Workers compensation insurance and award wages if you hire staff

Startup costs are estimates, typically around $60,000 to $250,000, depending on fit-out, equipment and the lease. Getting quotes early and considering an existing kiosk or second-hand equipment may help keep costs down.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $8,000 to $35,000, depending on location, foot traffic, the season and weather. Quiet periods can swing weekly takings, so plan for uneven weeks.

Things to check: food business registration with your local council, any food safety supervisor or training requirements in your state, equipment and fit-out approvals, lease terms (get them checked before signing), and insurance.