A vending machine sounds like a simple addition to an office - until you're standing in the kitchen, tape measure in hand, wondering whether the thing will fit, whether the power point is right, and whether your team will actually use it enough to justify the operator showing up.

Here's what we'd want you to know before signing anything, based on installing combination vending machines into Sydney offices for over three decades.

1. Have you got the space?

• A standard combination vending machine (one that sells drinks, snacks, chocolates and light meals together) needs:
• Floor footprint: roughly 800–900mm wide and 850–950mm deep.
• Height clearance: about 1.9 metres.
• Front clearance: at least 1 metre clear in front so the door can open fully for restocking.
• Ventilation: 50–100mm clearance at the back for the cooling unit to breathe.

If you're slotting it into a kitchen, a breakout area, or a corridor, measure twice. We do site visits in Sydney before installation specifically to catch the "it looked fine on paper but the doorframe is 5mm too narrow" problem.

2. Have you got the right power?

A combination vending machine plugs into a standard Australian 10 amp power point. It draws roughly the same as a household fridge. A couple of things to watch:

• The power point needs to be on its own circuit or sharing only with low-draw devices - sharing with a kettle, microwave, or sandwich press regularly trips the breaker.
• The machine needs to stay on 24/7. Don't install it on a circuit that gets switched off at the wall overnight or on weekends - refrigerated stock will spoil.
• Estimated running cost is $5–$15 a month in electricity.

3. Will your team actually use it?

A vending machine works on volume. Operators (us included) will be honest with you up front: if the foot traffic isn't there, the machine won't be profitable to service, and you'll end up with stale stock and slow refills.

General rules of thumb for the free-supply model:

• 40+ regular staff is the usual minimum for a combination machine.
• 25–40 staff can work if you also get visitor or client traffic through the space.
• Under 25 staff is usually better served by a paid-supply model, a coffee machine, or a smaller-format snack-only unit.

The shape of your workday matters too. A 9-to-5 office with everyone leaving for lunch at the cafe downstairs uses a machine less than a manufacturing site with staggered shifts and limited nearby options.

4. What product mix do you want?

Modern combination machines can carry 30–50 product lines across drinks, snacks, chocolates, chips, healthy options and light meals. Before you install, think about:

• Healthy vs treat balance - most workplaces ask for a mix, often 30–40% healthier options.
• Drinks vs snacks ratio - depends on whether you already have a fridge with drinks, a coffee machine, or a kitchen tap that no one wants to use.
• Dietary needs - vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal. Worth checking with your team.
• Branded vs generic - most staff prefer recognisable brands at sensible prices over no-name product, even at a slight markup.

A good operator will tweak the mix in the first month or two based on what actually sells in your machine.

5. How will people pay?

Any vending machine installed in 2026 should accept all of the following without you having to think about it:

• Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay.
• Contactless Visa, Mastercard, Amex.
• Coins and notes (still preferred by some).
• Automatic refunds direct to the card if something goes wrong.

The Nayax cashless payment system is the standard across most modern Australian vending machines, including ours. If a supplier is offering you a machine that only takes cash, walk away - it's either ancient or destined to be ancient very soon.

6. Who handles servicing and how fast?

Ask the supplier directly:

• How often do you restock?
• Do your own staff service the machine, or do you use subcontractors?
• What's your response time for a fault?
• How do customers get refunds if the machine fails to dispense?

The honest answers here separate good operators from bad ones much more reliably than any sales brochure.

7. What contract are you signing?

Read the fine print. The things that matter:

• Contract length - 24 months is reasonable. 
• Exit clause - what happens if the machine doesn't suit, or your office moves?
• Exclusivity - does the contract prevent you from having a coffee machine, fridge or other amenity?
• Service standards - are response times committed in writing?

Ready to talk?

Custom Vending does free site assessments across Sydney before installing anything. We'll tell you honestly whether a combination vending machine suits your space, your team and your foot traffic. Call 02 9542 7522 or use our contact form.