There are two good ways to get an ATM into your business, and the right one depends less on the machine than on you: how much cash you already handle, how much control you want and how much work you’re willing to take on.
The short version
- Free placement: the ATM company owns the machine, supplies the cash and handles everything. You provide an outlet. Cost to you: nothing.
- Merchant-owned: you own the machine and load it with your own cash, and the surcharge on each withdrawal is yours. You provide the cash, the loading and (unless you hand it off) the day-to-day.
Side by side
| Free placement | Merchant-owned | |
|---|---|---|
| Who owns the ATM | The ATM company | You |
| Who supplies the cash | The ATM company | You |
| Upfront cost | $0 | Machine purchase |
| Loading & balancing | Handled for you | You (or a loading service) |
| Repairs & maintenance | Included | Service plan or per call |
| Surcharge | Funds the service | Yours |
| Best for | Businesses that want zero work | Cash-heavy businesses that want control |
Who free placement suits
Most businesses. If you run a bar, restaurant, salon, laundromat, hotel or store and you don’t want an extra job, free placement gives you everything an ATM does for your customers — cash on the spot, fewer walk-outs, more spent in-store — with nothing to buy, fund or fix. It’s also the lowest-risk way to find out how much your customers use an ATM: there’s no minimum volume, so a quiet location costs you nothing.
Who merchant-owned suits
Owners who already handle plenty of cash and would rather put it to work. Think liquor stores, gas stations, busy bars and markets with a safe, a routine for counting the drawer and staff they trust. For them, the till becomes the vault: they load the machine from cash already on hand, and the surcharge on every withdrawal is theirs.
The trade-off is responsibility. Your cash sits in the machine, your team loads and balances it, and an empty machine is your problem. That’s manageable — and it’s why many merchant-owned operators add a professional cash loading or maintenance service to keep the upside without the chores.
Questions that decide it
- Do you already keep a meaningful amount of cash on site? If not, merchant-owned means finding it. Free placement doesn’t.
- Who would load the machine on a busy Saturday? If you don’t have a clear answer, choose free placement or add a loading service.
- Do you want to set the surcharge yourself? Merchant-owned lets you.
- How would you feel about a repair bill? With free placement, there isn’t one.
You don’t have to decide alone
BayTM offers both: free, full-service placement and a merchant-owned ATM program with new Hyosung and Genmega machines, processing and support. Tell us about your business and we’ll recommend the one that fits — honestly, even if it’s the one that’s less work for us. Request a free ATM or book a quick call.