What does a free office drink vending machine actually cost the business?
Nothing. The operator owns the machine and earns from the drinks sold, so there is no rental fee, no installation charge, no service fee and no minimum spend for your business. Your site supplies about one square metre of floor space and a standard 10-amp power point. If the arrangement stops working for either side, the machine is removed free of charge.
Who restocks the machine and how often?
The operator restocks it on their scheduled run for your area. Busy offices are typically serviced weekly or fortnightly, and the schedule is adjusted after the first month once real sales patterns are known. Many machines report sales data remotely, so low stock triggers an earlier visit. Nobody on your staff handles stock, cash or cleaning.
Who pays for repairs and electricity?
Repairs, parts and routine maintenance are the operator's cost. The only expense your site carries is the power the machine draws — a modern chilled drink machine with LED lighting and a variable-speed compressor typically uses in the range of 2 to 4 kWh a day depending on ambient temperature, door openings and model.
How many staff do we need to qualify?
As a guide, around 20 or more regular staff, or equivalent daily foot traffic from visitors, students, gym members or shift workers. Smaller sites can still apply — a compact machine or a shared placement across neighbouring tenancies often works where a full-size unit would not.
Can we choose what goes in it, and can it be sugar-free only?
Yes. The planogram is set with you before install and reviewed after the first few services. Typical office lineups now run well beyond classic soft drinks: still and sparkling water, zero-sugar ranges, iced coffee and cold brew, iced teas, kombucha, electrolyte and hydration drinks, juices and flavoured milks. You can ask for an all-sugar-free or predominantly water and functional-drink planogram.
Is it cashless?
Yes. Machines are fitted with tap-and-go card readers supporting Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay and Google Pay as standard, with coin and note acceptance optional. Cashless is now the majority of vends in Australian offices, and it removes cash handling from your site entirely.
How long does installation take?
Applications are read by a person and answered within 8 business hours. After a short site check — access, door widths, lift, power point location — metro installs are commonly scheduled within one to two weeks, and regional installs are fitted to the next run through the area.
Are there any contracts or lock-ins?
There is a simple placement agreement covering access, power, safety and who owns the machine. There is no lock-in term, no exclusivity requirement on your other suppliers and no exit fee. Give notice and the machine is collected at no cost.
Can we get a machine for a warehouse, workshop or outdoor crib room?
Yes, with the right unit. Hot sheds, unconditioned warehouses and covered outdoor areas need a high-capacity, heavy-duty or outdoor-rated machine rather than a slim office cooler — the refrigeration duty, glass type and cabinet rating are different. Tell us the environment on the application and the machine is matched to it.
Do you offer commission on sales?
On higher-volume sites, some operators offer a commission or a discounted staff price list instead. It depends on the location's sales volume. Ask on the application and we will tell you honestly whether your site is likely to qualify rather than promise it upfront.
