Small vending machine route

Workers, students, visitors and customers buying snacks and drinks, plus the site owner who agrees to host the machine.

You keep the margin between what you pay for stock and the price on the machine, after any commission or rent paid to the host site.

• Negotiating with site owners
• Organised stock and route planning
• Basic machine fixing and cleaning

• Public liability and product liability insurance
• Check whether your local council requires food business registration for packaged or chilled items
• Get a written site agreement covering power, location, commission and removal
• Theft, vandalism and machine breakdowns that cost you time

Startup costs for a small route are typically around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on whether you buy or lease machines and how many you place. These are estimates, so get quotes for machines and stock before committing.

Monthly revenue is typically around $500 to $2,500, depending on your sites, machine count and products. That is revenue, not profit, so allow for stock, commissions and repairs. The estimate assumes at least about 5 hours a week.

Check public liability and product liability insurance, and whether your local council requires food business registration for packaged or chilled items. Get a written site agreement covering power, location, commission and removal.