Updated October 2026
Owning ATMs is a popular small business idea: you buy machines, place them in busy locations, and earn a fee every time someone withdraws cash. It can be a steady income stream, but profit depends almost entirely on location and transaction volume. This guide covers what an ATM costs in 2026, how owners make money, and how to start an ATM business.
How much does an ATM cost?
Table of Contents
| Item | Typical 2026 cost |
|---|---|
| Standard new ATM | About $2,000 to $8,000 |
| Advanced models (more cash capacity, extra security, larger screens) | Can exceed $10,000 |
| Used or refurbished ATM | Less than new, but check compliance and parts availability |
| Cash to load the machine | About $2,000 to $10,000 per machine |
| Total startup per machine | Roughly $6,000 to $15,000 including cash |
Figures are from TRUiC’s ATM business guide. Your total depends on the machine, installation needs, and how much cash you keep in it.
New or used ATM?
| New | Used or refurbished | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Higher | Lower |
| Compliance | Current EMV and ADA standards | Must confirm; some older units can’t be upgraded |
| Warranty | Usually included | Limited or none, unless certified refurbished |
| Parts and software support | Available | May be ending for older models |
| Reliability | Highest | Depends on history and refurbishment quality |
Certified refurbished machines from reputable dealers can be a good middle ground, especially for your first few locations while you learn which ones perform.
Make sure the machine is compliant
Any ATM you buy should be EMV chip-card capable and meet ADA accessibility requirements. Older machines that can’t be upgraded may be cheap but are a liability. Also confirm that parts and software support are still available for the model.
Ongoing costs
| Cost | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Processing fees | The processor that connects your ATM to card networks charges a monthly fee or per-transaction fee |
| Connectivity | Phone line, internet or wireless connection |
| Location fee | Rent or a share of surcharges paid to the property owner |
| Cash loading | Your time, or an armored car or cash-loading service |
| Maintenance and repairs | Service calls, receipt paper, parts |
| Insurance | Theft, damage and liability coverage |
| Cash tied up | Money sitting in the machine that you can’t use elsewhere |
How do ATM owners make money?
The main revenue is the surcharge, the convenience fee a customer pays for each withdrawal, often a few dollars. Some owners also receive a small share of interchange fees paid by banks.
A simple way to estimate revenue:
Monthly fee revenue = withdrawals per month × surcharge you keep
For example, an ATM that handles 200 withdrawals a month at a $3.00 surcharge generates $600 a month in gross fee revenue. Then subtract your costs:
Monthly profit = surcharge revenue − processing fees − location rent or revenue share − maintenance − cash handling − other expenses
Estimating traffic at a location
Location is everything. BuyerZone suggests a rough rule of thumb: about 3% of the people who pass by or visit a location will use an ATM there on a given day. A location with 300 visitors a day might produce around 9 transactions a day, or roughly 270 a month. Treat this as a starting estimate and test real locations whenever you can.
Where ATMs do well
- Cash-heavy businesses: bars, nightclubs, restaurants, food trucks and events.
- Places without nearby bank ATMs: rural stores, gas stations, campgrounds.
- Venues with captive audiences: bowling alleys, arcades, sports venues, flea markets and festivals.
- Businesses that are cash-only or charge card fees, where customers prefer cash.
- Tourist areas with visitors from out of town.
Placement deals: who keeps what
| Deal type | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| You own and operate | You buy, load and maintain the ATM and pay the location rent or a share of surcharges | Owners who want the most income and control |
| Merchant-owned | The business buys the ATM and keeps the surcharge; you may provide service | Business owners who want an ATM in their own store |
| Revenue share | You split surcharges with the location owner | Locations with high traffic and bargaining power |
Put every placement deal in writing: term, revenue split, who loads cash, who pays for repairs, and what happens if either side wants to end it.
How to start an ATM business
- Research your area: find busy, cash-heavy locations without nearby ATMs.
- Form your business, often an LLC, and get an EIN. See the Start a Business A–Z guide.
- Choose a processor, the company that connects your ATM to the card networks and deposits surcharge revenue to your account.
- Buy compliant machines, new or certified refurbished.
- Secure placement agreements with location owners.
- Install and connect each machine, then load cash and test.
- Set up insurance and security, including a plan for cash handling.
- Track every machine’s transactions and profit, and move or remove underperforming ones.
Our startup cost calculator helps you total the machine, cash and setup costs, and the break-even calculator shows how many withdrawals each machine needs to cover its costs.
Cash management and security
Handling cash is the part of the business that most new owners underestimate:
- Load only what each machine needs. Track withdrawals by day and week so you don’t tie up more cash than necessary, but never let a busy machine run empty.
- Vary your loading schedule and routes, and avoid carrying large amounts of cash alone.
- Consider an armored car or cash-loading service once you run several machines; it costs money but reduces risk.
- Inspect machines regularly for skimming devices, tampering and damage.
- Insure the cash inside machines and in transit, not just the hardware.
Records and taxes
Keep monthly records for every machine: withdrawals, surcharge revenue, location payments, processing fees, cash-handling costs and repairs. That data tells you which locations to keep, renegotiate or drop. Surcharge revenue is business income, and machines are business equipment that may be depreciated, so work with an accountant. See small business taxes and bookkeeping.
Growing beyond your first machines
Once a few machines are profitable, growth usually comes from repeating what works:
- Look for more locations like your best ones, such as similar bars, venues or rural stores.
- Pitch businesses with data: show a prospective location how much revenue a machine earns at comparable sites.
- Rent ATMs for events such as festivals, fairs and sports tournaments, where demand spikes for a few days.
- Offer service to merchant-owned ATMs, earning fees for loading cash and repairs.
Risks to plan for
- Declining cash use. Fewer people carry cash, so pick locations where cash still matters.
- Theft and fraud. Use secure, bolted installations, monitor for skimming devices and limit cash on hand.
- Location changes. A business closing or changing hands can end your best placement overnight, so spread income across several locations.
- Cash flow. The cash inside your machines is money you can’t use elsewhere, so plan your working capital before adding machines.
Example: checking one location
A bar sees about 400 visitors a day on weekends and 150 on weekdays. Using the 3% rule, you’d estimate about 9 to 12 withdrawals on busy days and fewer during the week, perhaps 200 to 250 a month. At a $3 surcharge with a 30% share to the bar, you’d keep about $2.10 per withdrawal, or roughly $420 to $525 a month before processing, cash handling and maintenance. That’s a promising location; one with a third of the traffic probably isn’t.
This example is illustrative; test real transaction volumes where possible.
Frequently asked questions
Is an ATM business passive income? Partly. Revenue arrives automatically, but you still load cash, handle repairs and manage locations.
How many ATMs do I need to make a living? It depends on each machine’s profit. Many owners start with a few machines and expand to the best-performing types of locations.
What surcharge should I charge? Check nearby ATMs and stay competitive for the location. A slightly higher surcharge can work in captive locations like events, but a fee that’s too high pushes customers to cards or other machines.
Can I put an ATM in my own business? Yes. A merchant-owned ATM can earn surcharge income and may increase spending if your customers prefer cash.
Next steps
Browse other low-cost business ideas in the business idea finder, see how to validate a business idea, and plan with the break-even calculator.
Costs and examples are typical ranges as of October 2026. Surcharges, fees and rules vary by location and processor.
Sources
- TRUiC, How to start an ATM business
- Zenind, How profitable is an ATM machine for small businesses?
- BuyerZone, Calculating the cost of an ATM for your business
Last reviewed October 20, 2026. Startup costs are estimates; check local prices, licensing and tax rules before you commit money.
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