Electronics vending: 1 to 3 machines

Shoppers, students, patients' visitors, gym members and travellers who need a charger or cable right now. The venue owner takes a share of sales.

You earn the sale price minus stock cost, card fees and the venue's share of sales. Higher-margin items such as earbuds and cables help.

• Pitching to venue managers
• Simple stock tracking
• Basic mechanical and tech troubleshooting
• Reliable restocking routine

• Venue contract terms: sales share, length, who pays for power and who handles theft or damage
• Commercial general liability insurance, plus cover for the machines and stock; venues often ask for proof
• Check that chargers and power banks carry safety certification marks accepted in Canada (such as cUL or CSA), and whether any rules apply to selling them
• GST/HST or provincial sales tax on sales; check with the CRA and your province once you start
• Check with your municipality whether vending machines need a licence or permit
• A poor location can leave stock unsold and tie up cash; start small
• In Quebec, check French-language labelling and signage rules for the machine and products

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $4,000 to $15,000, depending on whether you buy or lease one to three machines and how much stock you load. A poor location can tie up cash, so start small.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $300 to $2,000, depending on your locations and stock. The venue owner takes a share of sales, and a poor location can leave stock unsold.

Check venue contract terms, insurance for the machines and stock, and safety certification marks such as cUL or CSA on chargers and power banks. Also check GST/HST, any municipal licence, and French-language rules in Quebec.