Coffee vending route with a small stockroom

Staff, students and visitors who buy coffee at each site, plus venues that may agree a revenue share.

Sales per cup across many locations. Larger sites with steady foot traffic carry the route, and bulk buying of beans, cups and milk powder lowers your cost per cup.

• Route planning and stock control
• Negotiating placement agreements with property managers
• Machine repair and cleaning
• Bookkeeping and tracking sales per machine

• Check with your public health unit about food permits and inspections for your storage space and machines
• Check municipal zoning and licence rules for a storage unit or workshop
• Commercial general liability and commercial vehicle insurance, plus cover for machines and stock
• Check WCB/WSIB coverage rules in your province before hiring a helper
• Machines are a big upfront cost, so check lease and financing terms carefully before committing
• Vandalism, breakdowns and lost locations can reduce income, so avoid relying on one or two big sites

Startup costs are typically around $40,000 to $120,000, depending on how many machines you buy or lease and how you set up your storage space. Machines are a big upfront cost, so check lease and financing terms carefully. These are estimates.

Monthly revenue is typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on the number of machines and how busy each site is. Vandalism, breakdowns and lost locations can reduce income, so avoid relying on one or two big sites. This is an estimate.

Things to check: food permits and inspections with your public health unit, municipal zoning and licence rules for a storage unit or workshop, insurance for liability, machines and stock, and WCB/WSIB coverage rules in your province before hiring a helper.