Electronics Accessories Vending Machine Side Hustle

Travellers, students, shoppers and visitors who need a charger or cable in a hurry. The venue usually takes a share of sales.

You earn the margin between what you pay for stock and the price at the machine, minus the venue's share and your running costs. Impulse, urgent-need items usually sell at a higher mark-up.

• Approaching venues and negotiating a deal
• Stock control and ordering
• Reliable, regular restocking visits

• Get a written agreement with each venue covering the revenue share, how long it runs, who pays for electricity and what happens if either side ends it
• Public liability insurance, plus cover for the machine and stock against theft and vandalism
• Check that products carry UKCA or CE safety marks and are not cheap counterfeits; unsafe chargers and power banks are a real risk
• Many venues, such as stations and shopping centres, are managed by large firms with slow approval processes or exclusive deals
• Card reader fees and the cost of keeping a mobile data connection for payments

Startup costs are typically around £1,500 to £6,000, depending on whether you buy or lease the machine and how much stock you hold. Also allow for card reader fees and a mobile data connection for payments. These are estimates only.

Monthly revenue is typically around £200 to £1,000, depending on the venues you secure, how busy they are and what you stock. This is revenue before stock, fees and costs, so treat it as an estimate rather than a promise.

Get a written agreement with each venue covering the revenue share, length of deal, electricity costs and how either side can end it. Check products carry UKCA or CE marks and aren't counterfeit, and arrange public liability and machine cover.