Vending machine ROI calculator
Adjust the numbers for your site. Everything is in Australian dollars, excluding GST.
Your set-up cost
Your site
Payback period
4.2 months
Total up-front outlay $2,800 recovered from net profit.
- Monthly sales revenue
- $1,620
- Monthly gross profit
- $729
- Monthly net profit
- $669
- Year one profit after outlay
- $5,228
- First year return on investment
- 287%
- Break-even sales per day
- 1.5
A used machine on a busy site usually pays for itself in 6 to 14 months. If your payback is over 24 months, the site traffic is the problem, not the machine price.
Estimates only, for general guidance. Actual returns depend on site traffic, product mix, pricing and servicing. Figures exclude GST.
How vending machine ROI is calculated
Return on investment in vending is simple arithmetic once you separate the one-off outlay from the monthly trading numbers. The outlay is the machine, the payment system, transport to site and your opening stock. The monthly numbers are sales volume, average sale price, gross margin, any site commission and your running costs.
- Up-front cost = machine + payment system + transport + opening stock
- Monthly revenue = sales per day x 30 x average sale price
- Gross profit = revenue x gross margin (typically 40% to 55%)
- Net profit = gross profit - site commission - running costs
- Payback period in months = up-front cost / monthly net profit
Realistic Australian inputs to use
The most common mistake is optimism about sales per day. Count the people who actually walk past the machine, not the total head count on site, and assume roughly one sale a day for every three to five regular passers-by.
| Input | Typical Australian range |
|---|---|
| Used machine price | $1,650 – $5,950 + GST |
| New machine price | Quoted per model |
| Payment system | $295 coin, $350 note, $550 card reader installed |
| Transport | $150 – $600 depending on distance and access |
| Opening stock | $250 – $600 per machine |
| Average sale price | $2.50 – $4.50 |
| Gross margin | 40% – 55% |
| Site commission | 0% – 15% of sales |
Guide figures only. Machine prices are plus GST, plus payment system and plus transport.
New or used — which returns faster?
On the same site, a refurbished machine almost always shows a faster payback because the outlay is smaller. A used snack machine at $1,650 + GST needs roughly a third of the profit a top-end new machine needs to break even. New machines earn their place where appearance matters, where you want current-model warranty cover, or where you need features such as fresh food capability or high selection counts.
Run the calculator twice — once on a used price and once on a new price — and compare the payback months rather than the purchase price alone.
What lifts your return most
- Site traffic — the single biggest factor, ahead of machine choice
- Card acceptance — cashless sites commonly lift takings
- Product mix matched to the audience and reviewed on real sales data
- Keeping the machine full; an empty coil earns nothing
- Buying used to prove the site before committing to a new machine
Frequently asked questions
How long does a vending machine take to pay for itself in Australia?
On a reasonable site, a used machine typically pays back in 6 to 14 months and a new machine in 12 to 30 months. Payback is driven far more by sales per day than by the purchase price.
How much profit does one vending machine make per month?
A site doing 20 sales a day at $3.50 with a 45% gross margin returns about $2,100 in monthly revenue and roughly $945 gross profit, before site commission and running costs.
What gross margin should I use in the calculator?
Use 40% to 55%. Drinks usually sit at the lower end and confectionery and snacks at the higher end. If you are unsure, 45% is a safe planning figure.
Should I include GST in the figures?
No. Enter everything excluding GST so the return reflects the real trading position for a GST-registered business.
Is a used refurbished machine a good investment?
Yes, for most buyers. Machines are built for a decade of commercial duty, so a workshop-tested machine with a modern MDB controller has plenty of life left and needs far less capital to get trading.
How do you handle sites with restricted after-hours access?
Refills are scheduled inside your access window and the technician signs in through your normal visitor or contractor process. Sites with swipe-only access, inductions or police checks are common and are handled before the first visit, not on the day.
What if the machine takes money and does not vend?
Call the number on the machine and the transaction is refunded, either at the next visit or straight back to the card for a cashless sale. Repeat faults on the same selection mean the motor or spiral is replaced rather than reset.
Are there healthy or allergen-aware options available?
Yes. Selections can be weighted toward lower-sugar drinks, water, nuts, protein bars and baked snacks, and nut-free planograms are available for sites with an allergy policy. Product labels are kept visible so staff can check ingredients before buying.
Want us to sanity-check your numbers?
Send your site details and expected foot traffic and we will tell you honestly what a machine should return there — and which machine to buy.