How to Make Money Buying Used Vending Machines in Australia
A realistic look at the numbers, the pitfalls and the sites where refurbished machines pay back fastest. Written for new Australian operators.
20 January 2026 · 9 min read · Reviewed and updated 13 September 2026
The refurbished-machine business model
A new snack machine in Australia costs $6,000–$10,000. A properly refurbished one costs $2,500–$4,500 — and if the site is right, it earns the same revenue. That's the whole business case for used vending machines: the machine is a depreciating asset, but the site is a cash-flow annuity.
The numbers on a good site - Refurbished snack + drink combo: **$4,000** all-in - Weekly gross revenue on a 20-staff office: **$180–$260** - Cost of goods (COGS): 45–50% - Gross profit per week: **$95–$145** - Payback: **7–10 months**
That's the ideal. Half of new operators overpay for machines or underestimate the site. Here are the six things to check before you buy.
Six checks before you pay 1. **Refrigeration deck age.** A deck has a 10–12 year working life. Ask when it was last replaced. 2. **Coin mech and note reader condition.** These get dirty and jam. Insist on a working test. 3. **Cashless-ready.** If it doesn't have an MDB port, walk away — you can't easily add a card reader. 4. **Motor test.** Every spiral, every drink stack. Ten minutes of testing saves a $400 callout. 5. **Bodywork and glass.** Rusty back panels or cracked glass kill resale value. 6. **Warranty.** Reputable refurbishers offer **3 months parts warranty** on used machines. If there's no warranty, discount hard.
Sites that pay back fastest Offices with 20+ staff, gyms (24-hour access = 24-hour sales), factories with shift workers, hospitals, apartment blocks, and student accommodation. Avoid low-traffic retail unless it's late-night.
See our used vending machines or read the buyer's guide.
What the same machine earns in different cities
Site quality moves the numbers far more than the machine does. These are indicative weekly gross figures we see quoted on comparable 20–40 staff sites, before cost of goods:
| Location type | Typical weekly gross | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney / Melbourne CBD office | Higher end of the range | Strong volume, but expect commission expectations and loading-dock access rules |
| Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide suburban office park | Mid range | Easier parking and servicing, lower commission pressure |
| Regional industrial (Newcastle, Geelong, Mackay, Gladstone) | Mid to high | Shift work spreads sales across 24 hours |
| Gyms and 24-hour access sites | High per machine | Recovery drinks and protein carry the margin |
| Low-traffic retail | Low | Usually not worth the servicing run |
Treat any number a seller gives you as a claim to verify, not a fact. Ask for the last three months of telemetry or cash-up records for that specific machine on that specific site.
Buying used in your state
Freight is the hidden cost. A refurbished machine bought in Sydney and delivered to Perth can add a four-figure line to the invoice once tail-lift delivery and interstate freight are counted. Buying within your own state, or from a supplier who quotes delivered-to-site pricing, is almost always cheaper than chasing a bargain interstate.
Before you commit, read the 12 pitfalls of buying second-hand and compare against new machine pricing. If cash flow is the constraint, finance and rent-to-own may beat a cheap used unit outright.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a used vending machine cost in Australia?
- Properly refurbished snack and drink machines generally land between $2,500 and $4,500 depending on age, cashless readiness and warranty. Anything much cheaper is usually sold untested or without a warranty.
- How long before a used vending machine pays for itself?
- On a good site — 20 or more staff, or 24-hour access — a 7 to 10 month payback is realistic. On a weak site the same machine may never pay back, which is why the site matters more than the price.
- Should I buy a used vending machine interstate?
- Only if the delivered price still beats local stock. Interstate freight with tail-lift delivery can add a significant amount, and warranty callbacks are harder to service across state lines.