Average revenue by village size.
| Village | Annual revenue | Annual profit | Hours / week (team) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 homes | $680 | $285 | 0.5 hr / week |
| 200 homes | $1,360 | $565 | 1 hr / week |
| 300 homes | $2,040 | $850 | 1–2 hrs / week |
Figures reflect a single beverage fridge with pre-packaged stock. Adding a snack pantry or a second fridge typically lifts revenue 1.5–2×.
Benefits to the village.
After-hours convenience that residents quietly value. Captures revenue that would otherwise leak to outside shops.
A foundation for bigger F&B. Proof of concept en route to a volunteer café.
A small daily signal to visitors and prospective buyers that the village runs itself well.
Builds the resident habit of using the clubhouse. Supports attendance at other revenue activities.
Setup actions.
Pick a high-traffic, well-lit location
Clubhouse foyer, BBQ area, or near the mailbox area — passive surveillance helps.
Source a commercial beverage fridge
Buy used ($500–$800) or repurpose an existing one. Add a shelf alongside for snacks.
Stock pre-packaged shelf-stable items only
Canned drinks, bottled water, sealed snacks. Keeps you outside the QLD Food Act 2006 licensing requirements for handled food.
Set up a Square Reader
$65 hardware, linked to the association's bank account. Tap fee 1.6% per transaction.
Print clear price labels
Whole-dollar amounts and a Tap-to-Pay sign above the terminal. Keeps purchases fast and the till accurate.
Recruit 1–2 volunteers
Weekly restock and a monthly treasurer reconciliation.
Operating model.
Where BillabongLife fits.
Volunteer roster, polls and Square integration.
The volunteer rostering keeps the weekly restock rotation honest. Notifications announce fresh stock; polls let residents vote on next month's lines. Square integration captures takings without the treasurer manually entering anything.