Electronics Vending Machine Route

Customers buying chargers, cables, earphones and similar items on impulse. Venue hosts take a share of sales or a fixed fee.

Margin on each item sold across all machines, less venue shares, stock, payment fees and travel. More machines spread the cost of each restocking trip.

• Route planning and time management
• Negotiating with venue managers
• Tracking sales and spotting which products sell

• Public liability insurance, plus insurance for machines, stock and your van or car if used for business
• Check the electrical safety and product safety marking of everything you sell, and keep supplier records
• Machines can be vandalised or broken into, so choose well-lit, supervised places
• Larger venues may want exclusivity or long contracts, so read terms carefully before signing
• Check whether you need to register for VAT as turnover grows
• Money tied up in machines and stock before sales build up

Startup costs are typically around £8,000 to £30,000, depending on how many machines you buy, how much stock you carry and what vehicle you use. Money is tied up in machines and stock before sales build up. These are estimates.

Monthly revenue is typically around £1,500 to £7,000, depending on the number of machines, the quality of your venues and the products you stock. This is revenue, not profit, so allow for host payments, stock and running costs.

Check you have public liability insurance and cover for machines, stock and any vehicle used for business. Check electrical and product safety marking and keep supplier records. Read exclusivity or long contract terms carefully, and check VAT registration as turnover grows.