Finance Assets arranges hire purchase and leasing for UK businesses buying vending machines, from snack and drinks machines to bean-to-cup coffee and smart fridges, whether you run a vending route or want machines on your own premises.
Vending machine finance spreads the cost of new or refurbished machines over 2 to 5 years, so an operator can grow a route or a business can add refreshments without a large cash outlay. We are a broker, not a lender, so we compare quotes from our lender panel rather than offering one bank’s product.
Written by Marcus Wright, founder of Bolton Business Finance Ltd, in financial services since 2008 and a commercial finance broker since 2019. Last reviewed October 2026.
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The short version
- Vending machine finance lets a business spread the cost of machines over 2 to 5 years.
- With hire purchase, the business owns the machines after the final payment.
- Finance and operating leases keep upfront costs lower, but the machines stay with the lender.
- Operators can usually fund machines placed at customer sites, and lenders look at the site agreements behind them.
- Finance Assets arranges vending machine finance for limited companies and LLPs, and for sole traders and partnerships on agreements over £25,000.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Equipment covered | Snack, drinks and combination machines, hot drinks and bean-to-cup coffee machines, smart fridges and micro-markets, and cashless payment systems |
| Terms | Usually 2 to 5 years |
| Paid upfront | Hire purchase: often a 10% deposit plus VAT. Leases: usually 1 to 3 rentals in advance |
| New or used | Both. Refurbished machines from established dealers are widely funded |
| Extra costs | Card readers, telemetry, delivery and installation can often be included |
| Who we help | Limited companies and LLPs, plus sole traders and partnerships on business agreements over £25,000 |
Vending machines we finance
Lenders will fund most commercial vending equipment, as long as it comes from an identifiable supplier on a clear quote.
| Machine type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Snack and confectionery | Spiral snack machines, confectionery and healthy snack machines |
| Cold drinks | Can and bottle machines, glass-front drinks chillers and water dispensers |
| Combination machines | Machines selling snacks and chilled drinks from one cabinet |
| Hot drinks | Freestanding hot drinks machines and table-top bean-to-cup coffee machines |
| Fresh food and smart fridges | Chilled food machines, smart fridges with card unlock and micro-market kiosks |
| Specialist vending | PPE and tool vending for workplaces, and machines selling other products |
| Payments and telemetry | Contactless card readers, mobile payment systems and remote stock monitoring |
Finance for vending operators
Vending operators place machines at offices, factories, schools, gyms and hospitals, then stock and service them. The machines earn their money at sites the operator does not own, which shapes how lenders look at a deal.
- Site agreements. A written agreement with each site, setting out the term, any commission paid and who is responsible for the machine, gives a lender confidence the income will last.
- Machine income. Telemetry and cashless sales data show what each machine earns. Sharing it, even in summary, makes a strong case for funding more machines on similar sites.
- Batch purchases. Funding several machines on one agreement is usually more efficient than one at a time, and may get better terms.
- Refurbished machines. Many operators buy refurbished machines from established dealers. These are widely funded, usually over a shorter term than new.
- Your vans. Route vans can often be funded alongside the machines, or on a separate agreement.
Machines for your own premises
Businesses also buy vending machines and coffee machines for their own staff or customers, such as a factory canteen, a gym, a hotel or a car dealership showroom. Here the lender looks mainly at the strength of your business rather than the machine’s earnings.
The alternative is renting machines from an operator, often with a service and supplies package. Owning through hire purchase usually costs less over time if you are happy to arrange stocking and servicing yourself. A lease can suit you if you want fixed costs and plan to upgrade.
What lenders look at on vending machine finance
- Deal size. A single machine can fall below a lender’s minimum deal size. Grouping several machines, or adding them to other equipment, usually gives better terms.
- Brand and condition. Machines from established makers have a resale market. Lenders want to know if a machine is new or refurbished, and who refurbished it.
- Your trading. For operators, lenders look at how long you have run the route, how many machines you have and how stable your sites are.
- Site concentration. If most of your machines sit with one client, lenders may ask how secure that contract is.
Hire purchase, finance lease and operating lease compared
Hire purchase suits machines you will keep for their working life. A lease suits you better if you want to spread the VAT or plan to upgrade. Our types of asset finance guide covers each option in more depth.
| Option | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Hire purchase | You pay a deposit and fixed monthly payments, and own the machines after the final payment and any option fee | Operators building a route, and businesses keeping machines long term |
| Finance lease | You rent the machines for most of their working life. At the end you extend at a low rent, or sell them for the lender and keep most of the proceeds | Larger fleets where spreading the VAT helps cash flow |
| Operating lease | You rent the machines for part of their life, then hand them back or upgrade. Mostly available on new machines from major makers | Coffee and smart fridge technology you expect to replace |
Hire purchase for vending machines
Hire purchase is the usual choice for vending operators. You pay a deposit, usually 10% plus the VAT, then fixed monthly payments, and ownership passes to you after the final payment and a small option-to-purchase fee. As the owner for tax purposes, the business may be able to claim capital allowances on the machines.
Finance lease for vending machines
A finance lease keeps the upfront cost to a few rentals, and VAT is spread across the rentals rather than paid at the start. The lender owns the machines throughout. At the end of the main term you can keep using them for a low secondary rent, or sell them on the lender’s behalf and receive most of the sale proceeds.
Operating lease for vending machines
An operating lease sets the rentals against what the machines are expected to be worth at the end of the term, so the lender carries the resale risk. It is most often available on new bean-to-cup coffee machines, smart fridges and machines from major makers. At the end you hand them back, extend the lease or upgrade to newer models.
Vending machine finance costs: a worked example
A £50,000 order for 10 new combination machines with contactless card readers costs about £1,431 a month on a 3-year hire purchase, or about £1,120 a month over 4 years.
| Item | 3 years | 4 years |
|---|---|---|
| Price (excl. VAT) | £50,000 | £50,000 |
| Deposit (10%) | £5,000 | £5,000 |
| VAT paid upfront | £10,000 | £10,000 |
| Monthly payment | £1,430.99 | £1,119.83 |
| Total interest | £6,516 | £8,752 |
That works out at about £143 or £112 a month per machine. The longer term lowers the monthly payment by about £311 but adds around £2,236 of interest. Many lenders will also defer the VAT for a few months.
Illustration calculated in October 2026, assuming an interest rate of 9% a year. It is not a quote. Your rate depends on your trading history, credit profile and the equipment.
VAT and tax on vending machine finance
| Option | VAT | Usual tax treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Hire purchase | Paid on the full price at the start, reclaimable if you are VAT registered | You may be able to claim capital allowances, such as the Annual Investment Allowance, and the interest is deductible |
| Finance lease | Added to each rental | Rentals are usually deductible |
| Operating lease | Added to each rental | Rentals are usually deductible |
Tax depends on your circumstances, so check the treatment with your accountant.
What lenders ask for
Most vending machine finance applications need the following.
- Your last 2 years of filed accounts, or management accounts and a forecast if you are newer
- Your last 3 to 6 months of business bank statements
- A quote from the supplier, listing each machine, whether it is new or refurbished, and any card readers or telemetry
- For operators, a summary of your sites, site agreements and machine numbers
- Photo ID and address history for each director, and details of any existing finance agreements
Related guides
Who we can help
We arrange vending machine finance for UK limited companies and LLPs, and for sole traders and partnerships on agreements over £25,000 that are for business purposes. We are not authorised by the FCA, so we cannot arrange agreements of £25,000 or less for sole traders or partnerships of two or three partners, or finance for personal use.
Vending machine finance FAQs
Can I finance vending machines placed at other businesses’ sites?
Yes. Vending operators regularly fund machines that sit at customer sites. Lenders will want to know where the machines will go and may ask to see your site agreements, as these show the income is likely to last.
How much does vending machine finance cost?
It depends on the machines, the term and your business. As an illustration, a £50,000 order for 10 combination machines costs about £1,431 a month over 3 years on hire purchase at 9%, after a 10% deposit and the VAT paid upfront, or about £1,120 a month over 4 years.
Can I finance refurbished vending machines?
Yes. Refurbished machines from established dealers are widely funded, usually over a shorter term than new machines. Lenders will want the dealer’s quote showing the make, model and condition of each machine.
Can I start a vending business with finance?
It is possible, but harder. Lenders look more closely at new businesses and may ask for a larger deposit, a personal guarantee or signed site agreements before funding. As a broker without FCA authorisation, we can only help sole traders and partnerships on agreements over £25,000.
Is it better to lease or rent a coffee machine for the office?
Renting from an operator often includes servicing and supplies, which is simple but usually costs more over time. Financing the machine yourself is cheaper if you arrange servicing and supplies separately. An operating lease sits between the two, with fixed rentals and an upgrade at the end.
Can card readers and telemetry be included?
Usually, yes. Contactless card readers, telemetry units, delivery and installation can normally go on the same agreement as the machines.
Get a vending machine finance quote
Tell us what you want to finance
Send us the machines, the price and a few details about your business. We will come back with the options that are realistic and what they are likely to cost.
About the author
Marcus Wright is the owner and founder of Bolton Business Finance Ltd, which trades as Finance Assets. He has worked in financial services since 2008, beginning his career at Santander, and has been a commercial finance broker since March 2019.
He founded Bolton Business Finance in 2020 to give businesses access to the whole lending market rather than one bank’s own product range. The firm is a member of the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers and works with a panel of 135+ lenders. Call 0161 546 9128.
Finance Assets is a trading name of Bolton Business Finance Ltd, an independent commercial finance brokerage, not a lender. We are not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and can only complete non-regulated introductions. All lending is for business purposes only. Registered address: Westgate House, 1 Westgate Avenue, Bolton, Greater Manchester, BL1 4RF. Company number 12495909.