Vending machine cost guide

The four ways to pay

Every deal on the market resolves to one of four commercial shapes. Understanding which one you're being sold is more important than the sticker price.

• •Revenue share (free-on-loan) — zero upfront, operator keeps most of sales
• •Rental / lease — fixed monthly, you keep sales
• •Purchase + full-service — you buy the machine, operator restocks for a fee
• •Purchase + self-fill — you buy and stock yourself (only worth it above ~£1k/mo turnover)

Sticker prices, 2026

Prices vary by manufacturer, telemetry package, and whether the machine is refurbished. Refurbs from tier-1 brands (Crane, Bianchi, Azkoyen, N&W/Evoca) are typically 40–55% cheaper than new and last 6–8 years with a service contract.

• •Snack / combi machine (new, cashless, telemetry): £3,800–£5,500
• •Coffee bean-to-cup (new, cashless): £3,200–£7,500
• •Refurbished tier-1 snack: £1,600–£2,800
• •Micro-market kiosk + fridges + shelves: £14,000–£28,000 depending on scale

Running costs to plan for

Sticker price isn't the total cost. Budget for electricity, connectivity, card-reader fees, and consumables.

• •Electricity: £150–£400/yr per machine
• •Card reader fees: 1.4–1.9% of transactions
• •Telemetry / SIM: often bundled; standalone £60–£120/yr
• •Servicing: £120–£300/yr for parts & preventative maintenance

When to buy vs lease vs revenue-share

The rough decision rule: buy if you turn over £1,500+/mo per machine and want the margin; lease if you want fixed cost with sales upside; revenue-share if the site is amenity-first and you don't want any operational overhead.

Finance options for buyers

Equipment finance and asset-backed lending are widely available in the UK & EU at 6.5–11% APR for 3–5 year terms. Multi-site operators can access route-backed lending against telemetry data.