Vending commission explained
Commission is the share of sales a site asks for in return for hosting a machine. Published guides mostly put it between about 5% and 30%, and many small sites ask for none. It comes out before your profit, so it deserves its own sum.
Published ranges by site type
One US industry site gives these ranges. Rates vary, and they are a starting point rather than a rule.
| Site | Published rate |
|---|---|
| Malls and busy transit hubs | 20% to 30% of gross sales |
| Schools | 15% to 30%, often earmarked for programs |
| Office break rooms | 5% to 15%, or none if you solve a problem for them |
| Quiet or underserved sites | Often none |
| Flat fee option | $50 to $100 per machine per month |
Gross or net matters
Gross means all money taken. Net usually means after agreed deductions such as sales tax, refunds and card fees. Published guides differ on which is standard, so define it in the agreement. On the same sales, a percentage of gross costs you more than the same percentage of net.
A simple example
These figures are made up to show the sum, not to suggest what a machine will do. Say an item sells for $2.00 and costs you $0.90. Before fees you keep $1.10.
| Commission on $2.00 | Left per sale before other costs |
|---|---|
| 0% | $1.10 |
| 10% | $0.90 |
| 20% | $0.70 |
| 30% | $0.50 |
At 30%, you need more than twice as many sales as at 0% to cover the same monthly bills. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
When to offer, and when not to
- You do not have to open with an offer. Many sites want the service more than the money.
- If asked, work out what you can pay first, then answer.
- Offering more to win a site can leave a machine that never pays for itself. Walking away is a valid result.
- Consider a threshold, where commission starts only once monthly sales pass an agreed level.
What to put in the agreement
- The rate, the base (gross or net) and how often it is paid.
- What sales report the site receives.
- Who handles service, and how quickly.
- Who pays for power.
- Access hours and the exact machine spot.
- Whether you have exclusive rights to vending at the site.
- The term, often 12 to 36 months, renewal, and notice to end it.
- Who is liable for damage, theft and injury, and what insurance is needed.
- Signatures from someone with authority over the building.
Have a lawyer look at anything long or unusual, especially if the agreement sets penalties.
If you want the worked-out version
Vending Location Pitch PackLocation scorecard, emails, a walk-in note, a one-page proposal, objection answers and a placement terms checklist.
Vending Startup and Break-Even CalculatorA spreadsheet version of the sums, for comparing machines and sites side by side.
The Vending Operator's ManualThe full 35-page written guide to running machines.Sources
Checked November 2026. Several are sellers of machines or readers, so treat their prices as a starting point and get your own quotes.