How much does vending cost?
With a free-placement operator like Smart Market, the machine costs your site nothing. You provide the space. People pay per item, benchmarked against convenience store pricing.
Cost to the site
| Item | Cost to you |
|---|---|
| The machine | $0 |
| Delivery and installation | $0 |
| Stock | $0 |
| Restocking and cleaning | $0 |
| Maintenance and repairs | $0 |
| Removal of an existing machine | $0 |
| Space | Depends on the machine format, which we work out with you |
| Minimum spend or lock-in | None |
Cost to the people using it
Payment is per item, tap and go. Rather than publish a price list that goes stale, here is the principle we price to:
- Shelf prices are benchmarked against convenience store pricing.
- The machine on your site should not cost more than the shop down the road.
- Prices are inclusive, with nothing added at the terminal.
A ready meal is the most expensive thing in the range and still costs meaningfully less than lunch from a café.
What to compare against
Before deciding, price the alternatives honestly:
- Buying your own machine. Several thousand dollars, plus stock, plus somebody's time every week. The time is the part people underestimate.
- Renting. A fixed monthly fee whether it sells or not, and you still do the stocking.
- A catered fridge or snack service. Typically a per-head monthly cost. Better range, real ongoing expense.
- Keeping the coil machine you have. Free, and you keep the jams, the lost coins, the downtime and a range that cannot include anything refrigerated.
- Doing nothing. Free, except that people spend thirty to forty minutes leaving the site for food.
Can we subsidise it?
Some sites choose to cover part or all of the cost so their people pay a reduced price or nothing at all. It is entirely optional, and it makes a strong, low-cost amenity for hybrid teams, member retention or recruitment. Ask us and we will scope it.
Is your site a fit? Around 70 or more people on site on a typical day, whether that's staff, members or visitors, and nothing convenient to eat or drink close by. Machines come in a range of sizes and formats, so get in touch and we'll work out the right one for your space.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a vending machine cost a business in Australia?
Buying one outright typically runs into several thousand dollars plus stock and ongoing labour. Renting is a fixed monthly fee. Free placement, where the operator carries the cost and earns from sales, costs the site nothing.
Is there a monthly fee for a free vending machine?
Not with Smart Market. No rental, no service fee, no minimum spend and no lock-in.
What do people pay per item?
Shelf prices are benchmarked against convenience store pricing, with nothing added at the terminal.
Can we subsidise the machine for our people?
Yes. Some sites cover part or all of the cost as an amenity. It is optional and there is no cost either way to have the machine.
What happens to our old machine?
If you have an existing machine, we can handle the swap and the removal.