Snack and drinks kiosk on a fixed pitch

Commuters, visitors, workers on a break, families and anyone passing by who wants something quick.

You buy stock at wholesale prices and sell at a margin. Takings depend on footfall, opening hours and how well your range suits the location. Hot drinks and snacks usually carry better margins.

• Friendly, quick customer service
• Stock ordering and cash handling
• Choosing a range that suits the location

• Rent, service charges and lease terms, including break clauses and length of commitment
• Food hygiene: if you sell food or hot drinks, check registration with your local council and food hygiene training
• Selling tobacco, vapes, alcohol or lottery products has extra rules, so check what applies before stocking them
• Public liability insurance, plus cover for stock and the kiosk itself
• Long opening hours and quiet winter weeks can squeeze takings, so test your sums with cautious figures

Startup costs are typically estimated at around £5,000 to £25,000, depending on the kiosk and pitch, equipment, opening stock and insurance. Check rent, service charges and lease length before you commit.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £3,000 to £12,000, depending on footfall, location, opening hours, your range and the season. This is revenue before costs, not profit, so test your sums cautiously.

Check lease terms including break clauses, and food hygiene registration and training with your local council if you sell food or hot drinks. Selling tobacco, vapes, alcohol or lottery products has extra rules, so check before stocking them.