ATM Business Side Hustle in 2027 – Is it Worth it?

ATM Business Side Hustle in 2027: Could This Be You?

Beautiful blue water, a mega yacht, and across the back of the boat a named ATM Fees.

Could starting an ATM business in 2027 really buy you a yacht? We’re certainly not going to promise that. But could owning ATMs become a profitable side hustle? Could one good ATM location turn into five, ten or twenty? Could a relatively small side business eventually become something that generates meaningful monthly income? Absolutely. That’s what makes the ATM business so interesting.

And here’s something that separates the ATM business from many of the side hustles being promoted today: this isn’t new. The independent ATM business model has been around for roughly 30+ years. Long before anyone was talking about side hustles, passive income or becoming an entrepreneur on social media, people were buying ATMs, finding locations and building routes. Some of those operators built very substantial businesses.

So why are we talking about the ATM business in 2027? Because while the business model isn’t new, the opportunity continues to evolve. Consumers don’t carry as much cash as they once did, yet many businesses owners still want cash. They pay employees in cash. They pay vendors in cash. They hoard onto cash whenever they can. Beyond that new businesses continue to open, existing businesses change hands, and many of the baby boomers who built ATM routes decades ago are exiting the industry. For someone willing to get out there and hustle, 2027 could be a very interesting time to start an ATM business.

Why Start an ATM Business in 2027?

For years we’ve heard that cash is going away. First credit cards were going to eliminate it. Then debit cards. Then smartphones, mobile wallets and contactless payments. Yet cash remains an important part of the economy, and there are plenty of businesses that would still rather have a customer hand them cash than a credit card.

There’s also an interesting contradiction happening. Consumers generally don’t carry as much cash as they used to, but that doesn’t necessarily eliminate the need for ATMs. In the right environment, it can make convenient access to cash even more important. If a customer walks into a cash-only or cash-preferred business without enough cash in their wallet, they need somewhere to get it. Put an ATM 10 feet away and you’ve solved that problem.

That’s the basic ATM business model. The customer gets convenient access to cash, the business potentially gets more cash transactions, and the ATM owner earns revenue from the surcharge. It’s remarkably simple, and it has been working for decades.

How Much Can an ATM Make in 2027?

Forget the screenshots on social media promising that you’re going to make $10,000 a month while sitting on a beach letting AI work for you. Be realistic.

In 2027, let’s assume an average ATM processes approximately 150 transactions per month and charges a $3 surcharge. That would produce approximately $450 per month in gross surcharge revenue.

Of course, you may have to share some of that revenue with the business where the ATM is located. Some locations don’t require a commission at all. Others may want 10%, 50% or somewhere in between. Generally, you shouldn’t be giving away more than 50% of the surcharge.

If you had a 50/50 arrangement with the location, your share of that $450 would be approximately $225 per month before other applicable expenses. If the business received 25%, you’d retain approximately $337.50. If the business didn’t require any surcharge commission, you’d retain the entire $450 in surcharge revenue before expenses.

One ATM generating a few hundred dollars per month probably isn’t changing your lifestyle. But that’s not really the point of an ATM side hustle. The interesting part is what happens when ATM number one becomes ATM number two, and eventually ATM number ten.

What Could 10 or 20 ATMs Look Like?

Using that same average of 150 transactions per month at a $3 surcharge, five ATMs would produce approximately $2,250 per month in gross surcharge revenue. Ten would produce about $4,500 per month, twenty would produce approximately $9,000 per month, and fifty would produce approximately $22,500 per month before commissions and other expenses.

Those aren’t promises of profit. They’re simply examples of what the transaction math looks like. Real ATM routes aren’t perfectly uniform. Some locations might do 50 or 75 transactions per month. Others might do 150. Then you’ll occasionally find one that does 300, 400 or even 1,000+!

Those are the locations you’re looking for.

A great ATM location can sometimes be worth several mediocre ones. That’s why successful ATM operators aren’t simply trying to accumulate machines. They’re trying to accumulate good locations.

The ATM Business Is About Locations, Not ATMs

One of the biggest misconceptions about starting an ATM business is that the machine itself is the business. It isn’t. You can buy the best ATM available, put it in a terrible location and make virtually nothing. You can put that same ATM in a fantastic location and have an entirely different experience.

The location is the business.

This is also where the hustle comes in. Once you get into the ATM business, you start looking at businesses differently. You drive past a new convenience store and wonder who’s providing their ATM. You walk into a busy bar and notice their ATM is ancient. You see a “Coming Soon” sign on a new business and start thinking about contacting the owner before they open. You notice a busy cash-preferred business without an ATM and see an opportunity that everyone else is walking past.

You become a location hunter.

And the better you become at finding locations, the more valuable your ATM business can become.

Want to Make More Money? Hustle More.

This may be the single most important thing someone considering the ATM business needs to understand: nobody is going to build your ATM route for you.

There’s always somebody on the internet willing to sell a course, a list, a “guaranteed location” or some secret formula for passive income. There are brokers and people online who will make the ATM business sound incredibly easy. Buy a machine, pay somebody to find a location and wait for the money to roll in.

That’s not how we would approach it.

If you want to build a successful ATM business, get out on the street and find locations. Walk into businesses. Introduce yourself to owners. Look for businesses that already have ATMs. Pay attention to new businesses being built. Leave your card. Follow up. Then follow up again.

You will hear no. Probably a lot.

That’s okay.

If you talk to enough businesses, eventually somebody says yes. If you keep doing it, you’ll eventually find locations. And if you’re persistent enough, sooner or later you may find a home run.

The ATM business rewards hustle. The harder you hustle, the more opportunities you’re likely to create.

Don’t Ignore Businesses That Already Have ATMs

A lot of new ATM operators drive around looking exclusively for businesses that don’t have an ATM. That’s a mistake. Some of your best prospects may already have one.

Every ATM you see inside a convenience store, bar, restaurant, hotel or other business belongs to somebody. Maybe the business owns it. Maybe another ATM company owns it. Either way, there’s no reason that arrangement has to last forever.

The business owner might be unhappy with the service. The machine might constantly break. The ATM could be old. The current provider might be difficult to reach. The business owner may not be receiving a competitive share of the surcharge. Their existing agreement could be coming to an end.

Talk to them.

You don’t have to walk in and demand that they throw the other ATM company out tomorrow. Introduce yourself. Ask whether they’re happy. Leave your information. Find out when their current agreement expires. Check back periodically.

Six months later, that ATM might be yours. Create an “opportunities list”, prioritize good locations, follow up, follow up, and follow up again.

New Businesses Can Be Some of the Best Opportunities

New businesses should also constantly be on your radar. If you see a convenience store, restaurant, bar, smoke shop, liquor store, entertainment business or another cash-friendly location getting ready to open, don’t necessarily wait until opening day.

Start doing your homework.

Find out who’s opening it. Try to contact the owner. Introduce yourself before every other ATM operator in town walks through the door.

The “Coming Soon” sign can be one of the best prospecting tools in the ATM business.

And this is exactly why there isn’t an internet guru who can magically build the perfect route for you. You know your area. You’re driving through it. You’re talking to people. You’re seeing what’s being built. You’re developing relationships.

That local hustle can become a real competitive advantage.

Baby Boomers Are Exiting the ATM Business

There’s another reason we think the ATM business in 2027 is particularly interesting.

Independent ATM ownership isn’t new. Many people entered this business in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Some of those operators have now been running ATM routes for 20 or 30 years. Naturally, many are reaching an age where retirement starts looking pretty good.

That can create opportunities for the next generation of ATM operators.

You may start by placing one ATM yourself. Then you find another location and eventually build a five-machine route. A few years later, you hear about a local operator who wants to retire and sell ten established ATM locations. Suddenly five machines could become fifteen.

Later another opportunity might appear.

This is one reason learning to find your own locations is so important, even if you eventually want to acquire ATM routes. If you’ve personally built locations and operated ATMs, you’ll have a much better understanding of what you’re buying. You’ll know that a machine doing 150 transactions isn’t the same as one doing 40. You’ll understand the importance of surcharge amounts, commissions, contracts, equipment age and the stability of the underlying business.

A retiring ATM operator may have spent decades building something valuable. For the right buyer, purchasing that route can be a way to accelerate growth.

Is an ATM Business Really Passive Income?

Yes and no.

Once an ATM is installed in a successful location, operating properly and supplied with cash, it can generate revenue while you’re doing something else. You could be working your regular job while customers use your ATM. You could be home eating dinner. You could be asleep. You could even be sitting on a boat while customers are paying ATM fees.

That’s the attractive part.

But building the route isn’t passive. Someone needs to find locations, manage relationships, keep the machines loaded with cash and handle service issues. If you want to grow from two ATMs to ten, those eight additional locations aren’t likely to magically find you.

That’s why we think “passive income” can be a misleading description of the ATM business.

The income can become relatively passive. The hustle that creates the income isn’t.

That’s an important distinction.

Start With One ATM

You don’t need 50 ATMs to start an ATM business. You don’t even need ten.

You need number one.

Find one good location and learn the business. Learn how ATM processing works. Learn how settlements work. Learn how to load the machine. Learn what happens when there’s a problem. Learn what business owners care about. Most importantly, learn what makes customers actually use an ATM.

Then find number two.

The beauty of starting an ATM business as a side hustle is that you don’t necessarily need to quit your job or completely change your life. You can start small. Look for locations before work, after work or on weekends. Keep your eyes open when you’re already driving around. Talk to people. Build relationships and reinvest some of what you’re earning into your next ATM.

There isn’t anything glamorous about knocking on doors and asking business owners if they’re interested in a better ATM program. But that’s how businesses are built.

Your First ATM Probably Won’t Buy You a Yacht

Let’s get back to that cover photo.

A beautiful yacht named ATM Fees.

No, we’re not suggesting you purchase a $2,500 ATM today and start browsing yacht listings tomorrow. That’s not what this business is about.

But there’s something about that picture that captures why entrepreneurship is exciting.

What could you build?

Your first ATM could become your second. Two could become five. Five could become ten. Ten could turn into a real route. Maybe you eventually buy another operator’s route. Maybe you keep your regular career and build a nice side income. Maybe you discover that you’re really good at finding locations and decide to take the business much further.

That’s up to you.

The independent ATM business has been around for approximately three decades. People have predicted the death of cash for years, yet businesses still want cash and consumers still need access to it. At the same time, longtime ATM operators are beginning to retire and a new generation of entrepreneurs has an opportunity to take their place.

But don’t wait around for somebody to hand you the perfect location.

Get out there.

Talk to people. Find existing ATMs. Find new businesses. Knock on doors. Follow up. Build relationships. Look for the home runs.

Hustle, hustle, hustle.

And if things go really well, maybe someday you’ll have to decide what to name the boat.

We already have a suggestion.

ATM Fees.

Frequently Asked Questions About Starting an ATM Business in 2027

Is owning an ATM a good side hustle in 2027?

It can be. One of the biggest advantages of an ATM business is that you can start with a single machine while continuing to work your regular job. Once an ATM is operating in a good location, it can continue generating transactions throughout the day without you physically being there. However, finding good locations and building a route requires real effort.

How much money can an ATM make per month?

ATM income varies significantly by location. Using an example of 150 transactions per month with a $3 surcharge, an ATM would generate approximately $450 per month in gross surcharge revenue. The ATM owner may then share anywhere from zero to 50% of the surcharge with the location, and there can be additional operating expenses.

How much could 10 ATMs make?

At 150 transactions per month and a $3 surcharge, ten ATMs would generate approximately $4,500 per month in gross surcharge revenue before location commissions and other expenses. Actual performance will vary considerably from one location to another.

Is owning ATMs passive income?

ATM revenue can become relatively passive, but running an ATM business isn’t completely passive. Machines need cash, monitoring and occasional service. Locations also need to be managed. Most importantly, building a larger route requires finding additional locations. The income may become relatively passive; building the business isn’t.

How do I find locations for an ATM?

Get out and talk to business owners. Look at convenience stores, bars, restaurants, hotels, liquor stores, smoke shops, entertainment businesses and other locations where customers may need cash. Don’t overlook businesses that already have an ATM, and pay particular attention to new businesses that haven’t opened yet.

Should I pay someone to find ATM locations for me?

We believe one of the most valuable skills an ATM operator can develop is learning how to find locations independently. Brokers and location services exist, but nobody has as much incentive to find great locations for your business as you do. Getting out into your market, talking to owners and developing relationships can also help you uncover opportunities that never appear on an online list.

Can I replace an ATM that’s already inside a business?

Potentially. Existing ATM locations change providers for many reasons, including poor service, aging equipment, unfavorable financial arrangements or expiring agreements. Respect any existing contract, but don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to a business that already has an ATM and ask whether they’re happy with their current provider.

Can I buy an existing ATM route?

Yes. ATM routes are bought and sold, and the retirement of longtime operators can create acquisition opportunities. Before buying a route, it’s important to evaluate transaction history, contracts, surcharge amounts, commissions, equipment, location stability and other factors rather than simply looking at the number of machines.

Do I need to quit my job to start an ATM business?

No. That’s one of the reasons ATMs can work well as a side hustle. Many people can begin with one or a few machines while maintaining their primary career or business. How large you eventually build the route depends on your goals, available capital, time and ability to find profitable locations.

What’s the most important part of starting an ATM business?

Finding good locations. The ATM itself is simply the equipment that processes the transactions. A great machine in a terrible location isn’t likely to produce great results. Learn to identify good locations, talk to business owners and keep prospecting.

What’s the most challenging things to a small ATM business?

Finding a bank to work with is one of the most difficult things. Be honest with what you are doing with them. Find a small regional bank or credit union. Expect to pay small fees for the privilege of banking with them.

What’s the secret to becoming successful in the ATM business?

There isn’t a secret formula. Learn the business, make good decisions, treat your locations well and keep looking for opportunities. The people who are willing to get out on the street, talk to business owners, hear “no” and keep going give themselves more chances to find those home-run locations.

Hustle, hustle, hustle.

Ready to Get Started?

If you’re thinking about adding an ATM to your store—or you want one from a team that’s been in the industry since 1998—we’re here to help.

We’ll walk you through:

• What to buy
• Where to place it
• How to set it up
• What it should earn
• And how to avoid every mistake new buyers make

Contact Us when you are ready to get started!

Whenever you’re ready, we’re only a call or message away.