How much work does owning an ATM route take?

An ATM route is often described as passive. In practice it is lighter than running a shop, and heavier than owning a share in something. The load depends on how many machines you have, how far apart they are and how much you hand off. Here is what a typical week holds.

Cash loading and reconciliation

Machines have to hold cash when customers arrive. Someone loads them on a schedule, records what went in and compares it with what the processor says came out. Reconciling carefully catches shortages early. This is the part of the job that cannot be left slack, and it is the first thing to ask a seller to show you.

Service calls and supplies

Machines run out of receipt paper, jam or show error codes. A site owner may call because a machine is down, and each hour down is lost income. Some owners do the fixes themselves. Others use a technician. Ask the seller who does it now, and what it costs when someone else does.

Relationships with sites and the processor

Site owners need to feel looked after, since the agreement may be renewed or ended by them. The processor handles disputes and reporting, and sometimes requires paperwork when something changes. Compare this with the work involved in a vending route, where restocking and spoilage take the time instead.

Questions to ask the seller

• How many hours a week does the route take in a normal week?
• What is hired out and what do you do yourself?
• What happens during holidays and busy seasons?
• Which sites cause the most calls?