Vending Machine Commission Agreements — What Site Owners Should Know
How vending commissions work in Australia — percentage vs fixed rent, GST treatment, and what a fair split looks like.
10 March 2026 · 6 min read · Reviewed and updated 13 September 2026
The three models 1. **Full-service (no cost, no commission)** — operator supplies, stocks, services. Site gets a free machine, no revenue share. Most common for small–medium sites. 2. **Commission split** — site gets 5–15% of gross sales. Common for high-traffic sites (universities, hospitals, large gyms) where volume justifies a cut. 3. **Rent model** — site charges a fixed monthly rent. Rare, but works for premium locations (airports, major shopping centres).
What's a fair split? - **Under $500/month gross:** no commission — the operator's margin doesn't support it. - **$500–$1,500/month:** 5–10% commission is reasonable. - **$1,500+/month:** 10–15%, sometimes tiered.
GST and invoicing Commission is GST-inclusive; the operator issues a Recipient-Created Tax Invoice (RCTI) monthly. Site owner must be GST-registered to claim.
Request a proposal via free vending machine placement or contact us.
What a fair Australian site agreement contains
Whether or not money changes hands, put it in writing. A workable agreement names:
- The parties, the site address and where exactly the machine sits.
- Who supplies power, and who supplies everything else.
- Service and restocking expectations, and a fault response time.
- Commission: the rate, whether it is on gross or net of GST, and when it is paid.
- Term, notice period and who pays to remove the machine at the end.
- Insurance: the operator should hold public liability and be able to produce a certificate of currency.
- Exclusivity, if any, and whether the site can add a competing machine.
Commission in practice
Small workplaces commonly take no commission — the value to them is a free amenity with no cost, no stocking and no staff time. Commission appears where the site has bargaining power: high-traffic public venues, clubs, large campuses and shopping centres. Rates are negotiated per site, and a high rate on a weak site is worth less than no commission on a strong one.
If you are a site host, the honest comparison is commission against service quality. A machine that is stocked, cold and working earns your staff's goodwill; a neglected machine with a higher commission rate does not.
Site hosts can apply through free vending machines; operators can register for site leads.
Frequently asked questions
- What commission do vending machine operators pay site owners?
- It varies by site type and volume, and is negotiated per site. Many small workplaces take no commission at all in exchange for a free, fully serviced machine.
- Should a vending agreement be in writing?
- Always. It should cover placement, power, servicing, fault response, commission terms, insurance, term and who pays to remove the machine.
- Can a site owner ask the operator for proof of insurance?
- Yes, and they should. A certificate of currency for public liability is a standard request before a machine is installed.