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Vending machines
A vending-machine business means finding a suitable site, buying or arranging a machine, and keeping it stocked and working. It can take substantial upfront money and regular visits, so test the location and costs carefully before committing.
Open the interactive guide (checklist, video, read-aloud) →In plain words
- Choose a machine and suitable products.
- Ask a site owner before buying anything.
- Check likely sales and all running costs.
- Keep the machine clean, working and stocked.
- Follow food and tax rules where you trade.
Who it suits
It may suit someone who can approach businesses about a site, compare suppliers, manage stock and make regular restocking and maintenance visits. It is less suitable if you need quick or guaranteed income.
People may pay for convenient snacks, drinks or hot drinks where they work or spend time. A machine can serve them when nearby shops or cafés are not convenient, but sales depend on the location and what people want.
Step by step
- Choose a machine type and small product range. Pick a clear starting point, such as snacks and cold drinks or hot drinks. Think about the people at possible sites and what they are likely to buy; avoid taking on more products than you can manage. About 1-2 hours.
- List possible sites and ask before buying. Make a shortlist of workplaces or community venues. Ask the site owner about access, electricity, security, sales reporting and how commission would work. Do not buy a machine until you have discussed whether the site is interested. About 1-3 days.
- Check demand at each possible site. Visit at different times if you can, and ask the site owner about typical footfall. Consider what people already have nearby and whether the site is open when your machine would be accessible. Treat seller or supplier earnings claims as claims, not a forecast for your location. About 1-2 days.
- Get written quotes and total the start-up costs. Ask for separate prices for the machine, delivery, installation, card reader, insurance and first stock order. One guide's worked first-machine budget totals £3,275, including a refurbished machine, delivery, card reader, stock, insurance and sundries; it also gives a broader opening budget of £2,500-£5,000. ReadOX About 2-5 days.
- Make a cautious sales and cost forecast. Estimate sales, then subtract product costs, card charges, site commission, electricity, travel and maintenance. One UK guide gives site commission of 10%-25% of gross sales and card charges of 2.5%-3.5% per sale; confirm the terms for your own site. ReadOX About 1-2 hours.
- Agree the site arrangement in writing. Write down how commission is calculated, who pays for electricity, who can access the machine and how either side can end the arrangement. Keep a copy of the agreement and any messages that clarify the terms. About 1-3 days.
- Complete the relevant food registration before trading. For UK food or drink vending, register the food business with your local council at least 28 days before trading; the guide says registration is free. ReadOX In Ireland, check which competent authority applies to your food and activities, and register before operating. FSAI About Allow at least 28 days in the UK; check timings in Ireland.
- Set up safe cleaning, stock and food information checks. Keep the machine clean, check stock dates and make allergen information visible before purchase. Chilled machines need working temperature control and a check log, according to the UK guide. ReadOX About 1-2 hours to set up; then check regularly.
- Install, test and review the machine. Test payment and product delivery before relying on the machine. Record sales, stock, costs and site payments; review them regularly and change products or visit frequency if actual demand differs from your estimate. About A few hours to install and test; then regular visits.
Your first 15 minutes
Make a shortlist of local sites and arrange conversations with their owners before spending money on a machine.
The money
Set each product price by adding its purchase cost to a share of site commission, card charges, travel, electricity, maintenance and other costs. Check what customers at that site are likely to pay, and confirm the commission and card terms in writing; one UK guide gives examples of 10%-25% site commission and 2.5%-3.5% card charges. <a href="https://readox.uk/vending-machine-business/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ReadOX</a>
Example only: not a forecast or promise. In one week, assume £100 gross sales and £70 total costs (stock £45 + site commission £10 + card charges £3 + travel and other costs £12): £100 - £70 = £30 before tax. In a separate euro example, assume €120 gross sales and €85 total costs (stock €55 + site commission €12 + card charges €4 + travel and other costs €14): €120 - €85 = €35 before tax.
The rules
You can generally sell food or drink from a vending machine in the UK and Ireland. You must follow the food-business, tax and other rules where you trade. Rules differ between the UK and Ireland, so check with the relevant council or food authority before you start.
UK and Northern Ireland
- Food registration. In Great Britain and Northern Ireland, register your food business with the relevant local council at least 28 days before you trade. Registration is free. ReadOX In Northern Ireland, you must register with the local authority at least 28 days before trading. This includes home-based businesses, and registration is free. If you operate from more than one location, register each premises with the local authority where it is located. Food Standards Agency Register a food business
- Food and chilled stock. Show allergen information before purchase. Chilled machines need temperature control and a check log. ReadOX
- Tax. The first £1,000 a year of your trading income is covered by the trading allowance. This is gross income before expenses. You must tell HMRC if you go above it. GOV.UK Tax Help for Hustles If you need to register for Self Assessment, do so by 5 October after the tax year ends. GOV.UK
- VAT. You generally need to register for VAT if your taxable turnover goes over £90,000. Business.gov.uk
- Advertising. If you publish an advert or affiliate post to promote your business, label it clearly, for example with “Ad”. ASA
- Customer information. If you collect customer details or use CCTV, check whether you need to pay the ICO data protection fee. Use its self-assessment tool. It depends on what you do. ICO
- Insurance and age. Consider insurance for your machine, stock and possible damage or claims. No vending-specific legal minimum age is confirmed here. If you're unsure, check with the relevant authority.
Ireland
- Food registration. You must register your food business with a competent authority before you start operating. The right authority depends on the food and activities. Check which authority applies before you start. FSAI
- Tax return. If you work under PAYE, register for self-assessment using Form 11 if your taxable non-PAYE income is over €5,000 or your gross non-PAYE income is over €30,000. Below those limits, declare it on Form 12 through myAccount. Revenue
- VAT. The VAT registration threshold for goods is €85,000. Revenue
- Business name. If you trade under a name other than your own, register the business name with the CRO. Online registration costs €20. CRO
- Advertising. If you publish commercial or influencer content to promote your business, label it clearly, for example with “#Ad”. CCPC
- Insurance and age. Consider insurance for your machine, stock and possible damage or claims. No vending-specific legal minimum age is confirmed here. If you're unsure, check with the relevant authority.
Checked against official sources: 22 October 2026. Not yet reviewed by a qualified tax or legal adviser. General guidance, not legal advice. Check the official link beside each point before you start.
Common mistakes
- Buying a machine before a site owner has agreed to the arrangement.
- Treating a busy-looking site or seller's earnings claim as proof of likely sales.
- Forgetting to include commission, card charges, travel, repairs and stock loss in the forecast.
- Choosing more products than you can keep stocked, fresh and correctly labelled.
- Agreeing access, electricity costs or commission without putting the terms in writing.
AI-made demonstration: this module has a 20-second street-chat video in the interactive guide. The presenter and the people in it are computer-generated, not real people.