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Should I rent or buy a vending machine?

 

Is it just a fling, or a forever machine?

A close-up shot of the chocolate bars in a vending machine rental

Ask a room of business owners whether to rent or buy a vending machine, and you’ll hear the same debate people have about cars. Owning feels sensible until something breaks. Renting feels flexible until you add up three years of payments.

Both sides have a point. Buying gives you an asset and every penny of the takings, while renting keeps cash in the bank and passes the repair bills to someone else. Which one suits you depends on how long you need the machine and how sure you are that people will use it.

Pure Foods Systems has supplied vending machines for over 30 years, and our rental specials include three-year deals with servicing built in. Below, we break down the costs and trade-offs so you can decide with your eyes open.

Buy a vending machine

Buying suits businesses that already know a machine will earn its keep. Perhaps you’re replacing a tired machine in a spot with proven demand, or you run a site where footfall barely changes from month to month, like a factory with fixed shifts or a busy leisure centre. If you’ve got the budget to pay upfront and plan to keep the machine for years, owning tends to work out cheaper in the long run.

When you buy a vending machine, the main choice is new or refurbished. New machines come with a full manufacturer warranty and the latest payment technology, and they’re generally more energy efficient. A refurbished machine costs less upfront and can be excellent value, provided it’s been properly tested and comes with some form of warranty. Either way, ask exactly what the warranty covers and whether delivery and installation are included in the quoted price.

Pure Foods Systems sells both, and we also buy and part-exchange used machines, so today’s purchase can help fund your next upgrade.

Pros

  • You keep all the takings: Once the machine is paid for, there are no weekly payments eating into your margin.
  • It’s a business asset: Equipment you own may qualify for the Annual Investment Allowance as per GOV’s Claim capital allowances guidelines, which can reduce your tax bill in the year you buy. Your accountant can confirm what applies to you.
  • No contract ties you in: You can move the machine to another site or sell it on whenever it suits you.
  • You call the shots: The product range and pricing are entirely up to you.

Cons

  • A higher upfront cost: A new machine typically costs a few thousand pounds, which is cash you can’t put into stock or anything else.
  • Repairs land on you: Without a service contract, every breakdown is your bill, and a refrigeration replacement alone can run to £900 plus VAT or more.
  • Technology moves on: Payment systems and screens improve every few years, and upgrading an owned machine means another purchase or a part-exchange.
  • The risk is all yours: If the location underperforms, you’re left with a machine you’ve already paid for.

Rent a vending machine

Renting suits businesses that want a machine without the lump sum, or that aren’t yet sure how a location will perform. It’s a natural fit for a growing business keeping a close eye on cash flow, and for anyone who’d rather not be the one calling an engineer when the compressor gives up on a Friday afternoon. It also suits event organisers, who need a machine for days rather than years.

Vending machine rental comes in two broad forms. Long-term rental means fixed weekly payments over an agreed term, and at Pure Foods Systems our rental specials run for three years with a comprehensive service contract included. Short-term rental is far more flexible, with vending machines to rent from a single day for events or site trials.

Pros

  • No high upfront cost: Weekly payments keep cash free for stock and the rest of your business.
  • Repairs can be covered: On our three-year rental specials, servicing is included for the full term, so a breakdown won’t blow your budget.
  • Predictable costs: A fixed weekly figure makes budgeting straightforward.
  • Newer machines within reach: Renting can put a touchscreen or smart model on your floor that would be hard to justify buying outright.
  • A low-risk way to test demand: Short-term hire lets you see whether people actually use a machine before you commit to anything bigger.
  • Flexible set-ups for events: Short-term machines can take payment by token, cash or contactless, or vend for free with the host covering the cost.

Cons

  • It can cost more over time: Over a long enough term, the weekly payments can add up to more than buying a comparable machine outright.
  • You don’t own anything at the end: There’s no asset on your books and no resale value once the term finishes.
  • You’re committed to the term: Long-term rentals are fixed agreements, so check what happens if your needs change before the end date.

To rent or buy a vending machine? Your options at a glance

Buy a vending machine

Rent a vending machine

Short-term hire
How you pay One upfront payment Fixed weekly payments Quoted per hire
Servicing Arranged separately Included on our three-year rental specials Check with your supplier
Ownership Yours Stays with the supplier Stays with the supplier
Commitment None once paid for Fixed term, e.g. three years From one day
Takings All yours Yours, minus rental costs Yours, or free vend for guests
Tax May qualify for capital allowances Payments are usually an allowable business expense Payments are usually an allowable business expense
Best for Proven sites you’ll run for years Predictable costs with repairs covered Events and site trials

Whichever route you take, some costs stay with you. On a standard arrangement, you’ll buy the stock, and the machine’s electricity comes off your bill whether you own it or not. Card readers often carry transaction fees as well, so ask about these before you sign anything. Build all of these costs into your sums, because the headline price or weekly rate is never the whole picture.

Questions about buying and renting vending machines

How much is a vending machine?

It depends on the machine and whether you buy or rent. A new snack or combination machine typically costs a few thousand pounds to buy outright, with touchscreen and smart models at the higher end. Renting spreads the cost instead. At Pure Foods Systems, the Crane Merchant 4 Media combination machine currently rents for £32.50 plus VAT per week on a three-year term, with servicing included.

Where can I purchase a vending machine?

You can buy from a specialist vending supplier, or second-hand through online marketplaces and auctions. A specialist supplier handles delivery and installation and can advise on the right machine for your site. Marketplace machines tend to be cheaper but are usually sold as seen, with no warranty and sometimes outdated payment systems. Our guide to buying a vending machine covers what to check.

Can I rent a vending machine for a day?

Yes. Our short-term hire starts from a single day, which suits exhibitions and corporate events. Machines can even be hired as props for film and TV sets. It’s also a low-risk way to trial a machine at your own site before deciding on a longer rental or a purchase.

Do I have to stock a rented vending machine myself?

Not necessarily. With a standard rental, stocking is usually your job, which also means you set the prices and keep the takings. If you’d rather someone else handled it, a fully managed service takes care of restocking and upkeep for you, though the commercial arrangement will be different.

Rent or buy a vending machine at Pure Foods Systems

If you know your site works and you’re planning for the long haul, it usually pays to buy a vending machine. You keep the takings, and it’s yours to trade in when you want something newer. If you’d rather spread the cost and have repairs covered, it makes more sense to rent a vending machine. Some businesses do both, renting first and buying once the numbers stack up.

Pure Foods Systems offers both routes. We sell new and used machines, and our rental options run from single-day hire right up to three-year deals with servicing included.

Tell us about your site and budget, and our team will help you find the right fit.

Ready to find the right solution for your business?

From vending machines and smart fridges to workplace coffee and self-service solutions, Pure Foods Systems can help you find an option that works for your space, your customers and your budget.

Talk to our team