Question 1

Do you need permission to put a vending machine in a location?

Accepted Answer

Yes. In Australia a vending machine can only be installed with the written permission of whoever controls the premises — usually the business occupying the site, and in leased buildings sometimes the landlord or centre management as well. There is no right to place a machine in a workplace or public area without an agreement, and machines installed without one can be removed at any time.

Question 2

Who actually signs off on a placement?

Accepted Answer

For a single-site business it is normally the owner, site manager or operations manager. For a branch of a larger company the site manager may want it but the decision sits with head office, procurement or facilities. In shopping centres, clubs and licensed venues it is centre management or the venue manager. Your first call should identify the decision maker before you pitch anything.

Question 3

Do I need a council permit or a food licence?

Accepted Answer

Machines on private premises generally do not need a council permit, but machines on or visible from public land usually do, and requirements differ by council. Selling food and drink through a machine brings food-safety obligations under state food legislation, including labelling and temperature control for refrigerated product. Tobacco and any age-restricted product is separately regulated by state law and is prohibited in many settings. Always confirm the current rules with the relevant council and state health department for your own situation.

Question 4

Do vending machine operators pay for locations?

Accepted Answer

Usually not in cash up front. The standard Australian arrangement is that the operator supplies, installs, stocks and services the machine at their own cost, and the site provides the space and power. Payment to the site, where it happens at all, takes the form of a commission on sales rather than rent.

Question 5

What commission does a site normally expect?

Accepted Answer

Many workplace placements run on zero commission, because the machine is treated as a staff amenity rather than a revenue stream. Where commission is paid it is commonly a percentage of gross sales, and higher-footfall venues such as clubs, gyms and shopping centres negotiate harder than a factory break room. Rates vary widely by state, venue type and machine, so treat any figure you are quoted as a negotiation starting point, not a market rate.

Question 6

Who pays for the electricity?

Accepted Answer

In most agreements the site provides power as part of the placement, in the same way it provides the floor space. Where a site pushes back, operators either absorb it in the commission calculation or agree a fixed monthly contribution. Put whatever you agree in writing, because it is one of the most common sources of friction a year in.

Question 7

Can I buy vending machine locations outright?

Accepted Answer

Existing machines and their site agreements are bought and sold as routes, and location-finding services sell qualified leads or arrange placements for a fee. Be careful with anyone selling guaranteed locations: agreements are transferable only with the site's consent, and a lead is not a signed placement. SiteFinderAI sells the research layer — ranked, callable sites with evidence — not signed agreements.

Question 8

What should a vending location agreement cover?

Accepted Answer

At minimum: the parties, the exact machine and its position on site, who supplies power, service and restock frequency, commission if any and how it is calculated and paid, ownership of the machine and its cash and stock, insurance and liability, term length, renewal, and how either side ends the arrangement. Exclusivity — whether the site can bring in another operator — is worth spelling out.

Question 9

How long do location agreements usually run?

Accepted Answer

Short initial terms with rolling renewal are common, often twelve months, because sites rarely commit for long to something they can cancel. Many placements run on a simple rolling arrangement with a notice period of 30 to 60 days on either side. Longer terms are normally traded for something concrete such as a better machine, extra machines or a higher commission.

Question 10

What happens if the site wants the machine removed?

Accepted Answer

A clear agreement gives a notice period, a removal window and a statement that the machine, stock and cash remain the operator's property. Without one you are relying on goodwill. Always include how and when you get access to remove equipment, and who is responsible for damage or making good the floor and wall.

Question 11

Do I need my own insurance?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Public liability cover is expected by most sites and many will ask for a certificate of currency before install, along with product liability for anything consumable you sell. If you employ anyone, workers compensation is mandatory in every state and territory. Confirm your own obligations with your insurer and state regulator.

Question 12

How many staff does a site need for a vending machine to pay?

Accepted Answer

There is no universal number, but the practical guide operators use is headcount physically on site during trading hours, not total payroll. Under about 20 on site, a machine needs another advantage such as zero nearby competition, long or shift hours, or public footfall. Twenty to fifty is workable for a single machine. Fifty-plus with shift work is where combo machines and multi-machine banks earn.

Question 13

Why do hours matter as much as headcount?

Accepted Answer

Hours multiply headcount. A warehouse running 5am to 10pm creates three usage peaks — early start, lunch, and shift changeover — and two of them fall when nothing nearby is open. Twenty staff over two shifts frequently outsells fifty on a nine-to-five with a café next door.

Question 14

Are blue-collar sites really better than offices?

Accepted Answer

On average, yes, for staff vending. Factories, warehouses, distribution centres, workshops and depots tend to run longer hours, sit further from food outlets, and have crews who take breaks on site. Offices and call centres work when headcount is high and the building is self-contained. Clubs, pubs, cinemas and shopping centres are footfall plays and suit ATM, cigarette, ice and photo booth placements.

Question 15

What do I need to confirm about the space itself?

Accepted Answer

Roughly 80 cm of clear wall in a break room or corridor, a standard power point within reach, delivery access for a trolley, and who holds the keys or grants after-hours access. Confirming these on the first call avoids the most expensive mistake in the business: a signed site the machine cannot physically get into.

Vending machine location questions, answered

Permission and placement rules

Commission, rent and who pays

Location agreements

Staffing and site expectations

Read next