Ontario's general minimum wage rises from $17.60 to $17.95 per hour on October 1, 2026, and the student minimum wage for workers under 18 goes from $16.60 to $16.90. For a gym, clinic, car dealership or community centre that keeps someone behind a coffee counter, one staffed hour a day now costs $538.50 a month in wages. A self-service coffee bar from Fast Coffee costs the venue $0, adds no staff hours and pays the venue 15% of net revenue or a flat $150 a month.
Put the $17.95 math to work in your lobby. A free 15-minute site check, and both payout options in writing.
What changes on October 1, 2026
On October 1, 2026 every Ontario minimum wage rate goes up, and the new rates stay in force until September 30, 2027. The Ontario government ties the increase to the Ontario Consumer Price Index for 2026.
| Rate | Oct 1, 2024 – Sep 30, 2025 | Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026 | Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| General minimum wage | $17.20 / h | $17.60 / h | $17.95 / h |
| Student minimum wage | $16.20 / h | $16.60 / h | $16.90 / h |
Sources: ontario.ca, minimum wage rates chart; Littler, Canada minimum wage increases effective October 1, 2026 (September 16, 2026). The student rate applies to students under 18 who work 28 hours a week or less while school is in session, or during school breaks.
The math: one staffed coffee hour a day at $17.95
At the new general rate, one hour of staffed coffee service every day costs a venue $538.50 a month and $6,551.75 a year in wages. Over two years the same hour has gone up from $17.20 to $17.95, so a counter that runs one hour a day costs $273.75 more per year than it did in 2024–2025.
| Coffee service in the venue | Monthly wages at $17.60 | Monthly wages at $17.95 | Yearly at $17.95 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staffed counter, 1 hour a day | $528.00 | $538.50 | $6,551.75 |
| Staffed counter, 2 hours a day | $1,056.00 | $1,077.00 | $13,103.50 |
| Staffed counter, 4 hours a day | $2,112.00 | $2,154.00 | $26,207.00 |
| Fast Coffee self-serve station | $0 | $0 | $0 cost; venue receives 15% of net or $150/month |
Our calculation: 30-day month, 365-day year, wages only; vacation pay and payroll contributions come on top.
How a self-service coffee bar works for a venue
Fast Coffee places a bean-to-cup station in the venue, restocks it and services it, and visitors pay $2.50–3.85 per drink by card at the machine. The machine stays our property.
- Site check, 15 minutes: the spot, the outlet, the water and your real traffic.
- Terms in writing: 15% of net revenue or a flat $150 per month, plus placement and exit terms, in an agreement with INNOVA CONSULT LTD.
- Installation: we deliver, connect and test every drink with you.
- We run it: restocking, cleaning, service calls and card payments. You get a monthly sales statement with your share on it.
The coffee kiosk needs about 1 m² of indoor floor, a 120V/15A outlet and a cold water line or a tank that we refill. It makes espresso, americano, latte, cappuccino, mocha, hot chocolate and tea from beans ground for every cup.
Where a self-serve station fits
A self-serve station fits venues where visitors wait and a staffed counter would add wage hours:
- Gyms and fitness studios, where parents sit through kids' classes.
- Clinics and waiting rooms in Ottawa.
- Car dealership lounges, where a service appointment runs an hour or more.
- Kids' activity centres, rec centres and community buildings: see the venues page.
FAQ
What is Ontario's minimum wage from October 1, 2026?
The general minimum wage is $17.95 per hour and the student minimum wage (students under 18) is $16.90 per hour from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027, according to the Government of Ontario.
How much does a self-serve coffee station cost a venue in Ottawa?
$0. There is no purchase, lease, deposit or minimum volume. Visitors pay $2.50–3.85 per drink by card, and the venue receives 15% of net revenue or a flat $150 per month.
What does a coffee kiosk need on site?
About 1 m² of level indoor floor, a standard 120V/15A outlet and a cold water line or the built-in tank that we refill. We confirm all of it on a 15-minute site check.
Who refills and cleans the machine?
Fast Coffee does. Refilling, cleaning of the machine, supplies and card payments are ours; your team lets our technician in during opening hours.
Replace a paid coffee hour with a monthly payout. Send us the venue address; we book a 15-minute site check and put 15% of net or $150 a month in writing.
Book a site check +1 613-867-7767 · info@fastcoffee.ca · Contacts
