An ATM franchise in 2026 usually means ACFN, the ATM brand with a current FDD in Minnesota’s CARDS database: $37,561 to $58,211 for one to 3 ATMs. Most other ATM offers are equipment or business opportunity sales.
Key takeaways
- ACFN Franchised Inc. lists a total initial investment of $37,561 to $58,211 for one to 3 ATMs, of which $30,411 to $38,561 is paid to ACFN or its affiliates (ACFN FDD, cover page and Item 7).
- The ATM itself is sold only by ACFN at $4,075 per Genmega unit, and ACFN says that price leaves it a gross profit of about $1,395 per ATM (Item 8).
- ACFN ended its fiscal year on September 30, 2025 with 210 franchised businesses, down from 233 a year earlier, after 46 ceased operations and 26 opened (Item 20, Tables 1 and 3).
- An ATM seller that promises locations for your machines, and is not a franchise, owes a one-page disclosure at least 7 calendar days before you sign or pay (16 CFR 437.1(c)(3)(i) and 437.2).
- Every ATM operator that charges a fee must show the amount on the screen or on paper before the user is committed to pay (12 CFR 1005.16(c)), and ATMs in new or altered facilities follow section 707 of the 2010 ADA Standards.
| Key number | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ACFN initial franchise fee | $25,000, nonrefundable | ACFN FDD 2026, Item 5 |
| Price per ATM bought from ACFN | $4,075 (extra cash cassette $341) | ACFN FDD 2026, Items 5 and 8 |
| Cash you load per ATM | $5,000 estimated | ACFN FDD 2026, Item 7, note 4 |
| Franchise term | 10 years, renewable for 10-year periods | ACFN FDD 2026, Item 17 |
| Franchised businesses, Sept. 30, 2025 | 210 | ACFN FDD 2026, Item 20 |
| FDD delivery deadline | 14 calendar days before signing or paying | 16 CFR 436.2(a) |
| Business opportunity disclosure deadline | 7 calendar days before signing or paying | 16 CFR 437.2 |
| ADA reach range at the ATM | 15 inches minimum to 48 inches maximum | 2010 ADA Standards 308.2.1, 308.3.1 |
Who sells an ATM franchise in 2026, and who only sells machines?
As of November 2026, Minnesota’s CARDS franchise registration database holds a 2026 FDD for ACFN Franchised Inc., file number 4508, received on January 6, 2026, while a CARDS search for franchise names containing “ATM” returned no Clean FDD rows. Other companies that advertise ATM “franchises” sell machines, processing contracts or route packages, and they fall under a different federal rule or under none at all.
ACFN Franchised Inc. is a California corporation formed in December 2002 that has offered franchises since February 2003. Its model came from a former affiliate, A.F.F.A. Inc., which ran a company-owned ATM business from 1996 to 2011 (Item 1). Franchisees market ATM service to hotels, retail stores and travel or entertainment businesses, place each machine “at no cost to the host location,” and service it, while ACFN monitors the ATMs and processes the transactions.
| What the seller sells | What you get before paying | Who sets your fees later | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered franchise (ACFN) | FDD with 23 Items, 14 calendar days before signing | The franchise agreement and Item 6 schedule | 16 CFR 436.2(a); ACFN FDD cover |
| Machines plus a promise of locations | One-page disclosure form, 7 calendar days before signing | The seller’s contract; no Item 6 equivalent | 16 CFR 437.2, 437.3 |
| Machines only, no location promise and no trademark license | Nothing required by either FTC rule | Your processor and placement contracts | 16 CFR 436.1(h), 437.1(c) |
Which federal rule reaches an ATM placement deal?
An ATM offer is a franchise under 16 CFR 436.1(h) when you get the seller’s trademark, the seller exerts significant control or gives significant help, and you make a required payment. If there is no trademark license but the seller promises to “provide locations for the use or operation of equipment, displays, vending machines, or similar devices,” the Business Opportunity Rule in 16 CFR 437.1(c)(3)(i) applies instead.
ATM route sellers tend to trip the location clause. Section 437.1(m) counts furnishing locations, offering a list of them, or “requiring, recommending, or suggesting one or more locators or lead generating companies” as providing locations. A seller that says its placement partner will install your ATMs in signed hotels within a set number of days is making exactly the promise the rule lists.
ACFN files a full FDD, so Section 437.8 exempts it from Part 437. ACFN’s Item 12 also says it “may from time to time” send location leads to franchisees who stay “Active,” which means keeping one ATM in stock and ordering another each time you add an operating ATM. The low-payment edge of both rules, where 437.8(a) still prints “less than $500” while 436.8(a)(1) reads $735, is covered in our guide to vending offers under the two FTC rules.
What does ACFN collect before the first ATM is switched on?
Before the first ACFN ATM goes live, the 2026 FDD lists $30,411 to $38,561 in payments to ACFN: the $25,000 franchise fee, the $995 training fee, and $4,416 to $12,566 for one to 3 ATMs with one extra cash cassette. The full Item 7 range of $37,561 to $58,211 adds loaded cash, insurance, licenses and 3 months of funds (ACFN Franchise Disclosure Document, issued January 2, 2026).
| Item 7 line | Low | High | Paid to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial franchise fee | $25,000 | $25,000 | ACFN |
| Signs | $0 | $200 | Approved suppliers |
| ATMs, equipment and supplies | $4,416 | $12,566 | ACFN |
| Additional capital required for ATMs (cash inventory) | $5,000 | $15,000 | Loaded into your ATMs |
| Office equipment and supplies | $200 | $1,200 | Approved suppliers |
| Initial local marketing | $200 | $200 | Your direct marketing |
| Insurance, first-year premium | $700 | $900 | Insurers |
| Professional fees and licenses | $550 | $650 | Accountants, lawyers, agencies |
| Initial training fee | $995 | $995 | ACFN |
| Additional funds, 3 months | $500 | $1,500 | Operating expenses |
| Total | $37,561 | $58,211 | Assumes one to 3 ATMs |
Three lines, the $25,000 fee, $15,000 of loaded cash and $12,566 of ATMs, make up $52,566 of the $58,211 high estimate. Source: ACFN FDD issued January 2, 2026, Item 7.
How the low and high totals are built
The two ends of Item 7 differ by the number of ATMs. Our arithmetic below uses only the unit prices printed in Items 5, 7 and 10; the financed payment is our own calculation from the Item 10 terms, rounded to the cent, and the real note schedule could differ.
| Calculation | One ATM | Three ATMs | Source of inputs |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATMs at $4,075 each plus one $341 cassette | $4,075 + $341 = $4,416 | 3 x $4,075 + $341 = $12,566 | Item 5 |
| Cash inventory at $5,000 per ATM | $5,000 | $15,000 | Item 7, note 4 |
| Paid to ACFN: fee + training + equipment | $25,000 + $995 + $4,416 = $30,411 | $25,000 + $995 + $12,566 = $38,561 | Cover page, Item 5 |
| Cash due at signing if ACFN finances $10,000 of the fee | $15,000 of the fee | $15,000 of the fee | Item 10 |
| Payment on $10,000 at 9.9% APR over 36 months (our calculation) | about $322.20 a month | about $322.20 a month | Item 10 terms |
The fee note in Item 10 needs a personal guarantee from every partner or shareholder, carries an 18% per year late penalty, and lets ACFN deduct overdue installments from your ATM surcharge revenue. Our page on how franchise financing options compare covers bank and SBA routes for the remaining cash.
The monthly fee stack taken out of surcharge revenue
ACFN collects its fees by direct debit from the surcharges it gathers on your behalf, so the Item 6 schedule works like a set of deductions rather than invoices. The recurring lines are a Brand Fee of 1.25% of Net Revenue, $12 per ATM per month, $0.15 per transaction, and a Virtual Office Fee that starts once your monthly share reaches $750 (ACFN FDD 2026, Item 6).
| Item 6 fee | Amount in the 2026 FDD | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Regional/National Brand Fee | 1.25% of Net Revenue; may change to up to 1% of Gross Revenue on notice | Monthly |
| ATM Administration Fee | $12 per ATM in operation; $200 per ATM per month if not processed through ACFN’s network | Monthly |
| Transaction Fee | $0.15 per transaction | Monthly |
| Interchange fees | $.15 to $.70 per transaction, most $.15 to $.45, paid to ACFN by card-issuing banks | As received |
| International transactions | About 0.40% of the amount dispensed, passed through | When assessed |
| Virtual Office Fee | $0 below a $750 monthly share; $50 at $750 to $850; $100 at $850 to $5,000; at least $150 above $5,000 | Monthly |
| Wireless connection | $8.95 to $13.50 per month | Wireless locations only |
| ATM Relocation Fee | $1,395 per ATM | If a site is lost through your service failure |
| Signing bonuses to host owners | Typically $500 to $2,000 | Where ACFN negotiated one |
| Transfer fee | $15,000 | On sale of the franchise |
| Successor franchise fee | $10,000 | At renewal |
Most fees in the schedule may rise, but by no more than 10% in any 12-month period. ACFN may not let you use an ATM older than 15 years at any location, so a 10-year term can include one machine replacement cycle. Item 8 adds that ACFN reserves the right to collect supplier rebates of “1% to 10% or more” of franchisee purchases, a practice our research on franchise supplier rebates measures across systems.
Who finds host locations, and what happens when one underperforms?
You find most locations, and ACFN approves each one. Item 12 gives a non-exclusive Area of Operation with no protected territory, and ACFN may grant other ATM franchises anywhere inside it. ACFN will take “reasonable steps” to stop other franchisees from soliciting accounts where you already operate ATMs, and it may offer leads only while you stay “Active” (Item 12).
Hotels and chains with many sites are pooled in the Multiple Location Accounts (MLA) program, which is mandatory if one of your ATMs sits in such an account. Strong ATMs above a monthly net revenue threshold, typically $250 to $350, subsidise weak ones up to a minimum payment, typically $150 to $250. ACFN states it does not contribute its own funds to cover shortfalls (Item 6, note 3).
- Propose or review a site; ACFN must approve it before installation (Item 1).
- Pay any host signing bonus ACFN negotiated, typically $500 to $2,000 (Item 6).
- Install an ATM no older than 15 years and load roughly $5,000 in cash (Items 6 and 7).
- Start operating within 90 days of signing or 60 days after training, or ACFN may terminate; it estimates 30 to 60 days after training (Item 11).
- If you lose a site through slow service, pay $1,395 to relocate the ATM (Item 6).
Machine-level law: ADA section 707 and the Regulation E fee screen
Two federal rules govern the ATM itself, whoever sold it. Regulation E at 12 CFR 1005.16 lets an ATM operator charge a fee only after showing the amount on the screen or on paper and only if the user then chooses to continue. Section 220.1 of the 2010 ADA Standards requires at least one ATM of each type at each location to meet section 707.
The Regulation E text was republished by the CFPB at 76 FR 81023 on December 27, 2011 and amended at 78 FR 18224 on March 26, 2013; the current text names only the screen or paper notice. ACFN’s Operations Manual, as of September 30, 2025, gives 1 of its 48 pages to “Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Requirements,” and Item 1 also names FACTA and state rules that may require “specific notices on your ATMs.”
| Requirement | Rule text in brief | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Fee disclosure | Amount shown on screen or on paper before the user is committed; fee only if the user continues | 12 CFR 1005.16(c), (d) |
| Clear floor space | 30 inches minimum by 48 inches minimum (not required at drive-up only ATMs) | ADA 707.2, 305.3 |
| Reach to operable parts | 48 inches maximum high, 15 inches minimum low, unobstructed | ADA 308.2.1, 308.3.1 |
| Operating force | One hand, no tight grasping, 5 pounds (22.2 N) maximum | ADA 309.4 |
| Speech output | All displayed information spoken, via an industry standard connector or handset | ADA 707.5 |
| Keypad | 12-key telephone or descending layout; number five key tactilely distinct | ADA 707.6.2 |
| Screen | Visible from 40 inches above the floor; sans serif characters 3/16 inch (4.8 mm) minimum | ADA 707.7.1, 707.7.2 |
| Braille | Braille instructions for starting speech mode | ADA 707.8 |
| Compliance date | 2010 Standards for new construction and alterations on or after March 15, 2012 | 28 CFR 36.406(a)(3) |
The ADA advisory to section 220.1 treats a bank’s interior and exterior ATMs as separate locations, each needing a compliant unit. For a franchisee placing one machine in a hotel lobby, the practical check is the machine model’s 707 features plus the 30 by 48 inch floor space the host must leave clear in front of it.
Do state laws add ATM rules?
Some states add safety rules for outdoor machines. Texas Finance Code chapter 59, subchapter D, in effect since September 1, 1997, requires lighting from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise, at 10 candlefoot power at the ATM face, but section 59.302 exempts most machines inside a building. State franchise registration is a separate layer: ACFN’s FDD lists state administrators in Exhibit C.
| Texas rule | Requirement | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Machines covered | Outdoor or freestanding-enclosure ATMs; not ATMs inside a building or in an area the owner or operator does not control | Tex. Fin. Code 59.302 |
| Who lights it | Owner or operator, unless the site lessee controls the access area | 59.306 |
| At the machine face | 10 candlefoot power, extending 5 feet outward | 59.307(1) |
| Within 50 feet | 2 candlefoot power | 59.307(2) |
| Defined parking within 60 feet | 2 candlefoot power | 59.307(4) |
We read the Texas text from a Wayback Machine capture of the Texas statutes site dated June 26, 2023, because the live site returned no statute text to our request. Franchise registration states are mapped in our research on franchise registration states; ask the state administrator listed in Exhibit C whether ACFN’s registration is current before you sign.
Is the ACFN system growing, and what does Item 21 flag?
ACFN’s franchised count was flat at 227 through fiscal 2023, rose to 233 in fiscal 2024 and fell to 210 by September 30, 2025. In fiscal 2025, 26 businesses opened, 3 were terminated and 46 ceased operations or left for other reasons, while 43 changed hands through transfers (Item 20, Tables 1 to 3). ACFN projects 25 new franchised businesses in the next fiscal year.
In fiscal 2025, 46 ACFN businesses ceased operations and 3 were terminated against 26 openings, taking the count from 233 to 210. Source: ACFN FDD issued January 2, 2026, Item 20.
| Fiscal year (ends Sept. 30) | Start | Opened | Terminated | Ceased or other | End | Transfers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 227 | 16 | 0 | 16 | 227 | 16 |
| 2024 | 227 | 18 | 0 | 12 | 233 | 12 |
| 2025 | 233 | 26 | 3 | 46 | 210 | 43 |
The FDD’s “Special Risks” page states that ACFN’s “financial condition, as reflected in its financial statements (see Item 21), calls into question the franchisor’s financial ability to provide services and support to you.” The audited balance sheet in Exhibit B shows a total stockholders’ deficit of $1,257,290 as of September 30, 2025. Our study of franchisor financial health in FDDs explains how to read that line.
Item 19 is present. It shows three tables of “possible results” for a franchisee running 1, 5 or 10 ATMs, built from ACFN’s estimates and system averages and described as “not the actual results of any particular ACFN franchisee.” We do not reprint those figures; read them in Item 19 of the current FDD, and see our research on how Item 19 disclosures are built.
ATM franchise figures in circulation vs the 2026 FDD
| Claim in a top-ranking guide | What the 2026 FDD says | Item |
|---|---|---|
| Total investment $39,234 to $63,817 | $37,561 to $58,211 for one to 3 ATMs | Item 7 |
| A 1% royalty | No royalty line; Brand Fee of 1.25% of Net Revenue, plus per-ATM and per-transaction fees | Item 6 |
| 233 U.S. franchised locations | 233 was the count on September 30, 2024; 210 on September 30, 2025 | Item 20 |
What did the FTC allege against ATM sellers?
Two FTC matters name ATM sellers directly. In February 2005, Project Biz Opp Flop (16 FTC cases, more than 200 actions, 14 states) included American Merchant Technologies, which sold “Internet kiosk and automatic teller machine terminal business ventures.” In December 2006, the FTC sued Fidelity ATM, Inc., alleging promises that ATMs would be running at secured locations within 45 days (FTC, December 12, 2006).
| Matter | What was sold | Alleged violation | Outcome | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Merchant Technologies, Inc. (S.D. Fla.) | Cashless ATM and Internet kiosk franchises | No complete and accurate basic disclosure document under the Franchise Rule | $11,000 civil penalty, September 19, 2005 | FTC release; sweep release |
| Fidelity ATM, Inc. and Steinberg Group, Inc. (S.D. Fla., No. 06-81101) | ATM business opportunities costing “at least $30,000” | Franchise Rule disclosure failures; location and assistance misrepresentations | $4.25 million judgment, mostly suspended; about $713,000 in frozen assets for redress; ban on selling business ventures for the principal and his two companies | FTC release; case page |
Both cases predate the Business Opportunity Rule, published at 76 FR 76860 on December 8, 2011, so the FTC charged them under the Franchise Rule then in force. Today a non-franchise seller making the Fidelity ATM-style 45-day location promise would owe the Part 437 one-page form; our franchise fraud research tracks how such cases are counted.
Matching an ATM offer to your cash and time: a decision table
The right path depends on three numbers: how many machines you can fund at $4,075 each plus $5,000 of loaded cash, whether you can answer service calls fast enough to avoid the $1,395 relocation fee, and whether the seller gives you an FDD or a one-page form. The table maps each situation to the document or rule to check first.
| If this is your situation | Then do this | Rule or item |
|---|---|---|
| You have under $37,561 in cash and credit | The ACFN franchise is out of range; machine-only purchases avoid franchise fees but give no FDD | ACFN Item 7; 16 CFR 436.1(h) |
| You can fund $37,561 to $58,211 and want brand processing and support | Get the current ACFN FDD, wait the full 14 days, and call former franchisees from the Item 20 list | 16 CFR 436.2(a); Item 20 |
| A seller promises signed locations but hands you no FDD | Ask for the Part 437 one-page form and wait 7 calendar days before paying | 16 CFR 437.1(c)(3)(i), 437.2 |
| You want existing ATMs rather than new placements | Ask ACFN for the Corporate ATM Acquisition Fee terms (deposit up to 25%) or buy a franchise by transfer ($15,000 transfer fee) | Items 5 and 6 |
| Your machine will sit outdoors in Texas | Budget lighting of 10 candlefoot at the face and 2 within 50 feet | Tex. Fin. Code 59.307 |
| The host site is new or being altered | Confirm the model meets section 707 and the host leaves 30 by 48 inches of clear floor | ADA 707, 305.3 |
| Your ATM sits in a hotel chain account | Expect MLA pooling: net revenue above a threshold of roughly $250 to $350 a month subsidises weaker sites | Item 6, note 3 |
Buyers comparing entry costs across brands can start with our list of franchises under $100,000, and the explainer on the 23 FDD Items shows where each ACFN figure on this page sits. Nothing here is legal, tax or investment advice; an ATM contract and FDD are worth a review by a franchise lawyer before you pay ACFN or any ATM seller.
How we compiled this
We read the full 187-page ACFN FDD issued January 2, 2026, downloaded from Minnesota CARDS on November 8, 2026, and the federal rule texts in eCFR as of October 1, 2026. We also opened the 2010 ADA Standards on ada.gov, a Wayback capture of Texas Finance Code chapter 59, and 5 FTC case pages and releases. We excluded Item 19 figures and any earnings claims quoted in FTC records under this site’s rules.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an ATM franchise cost?
The ACFN Franchise Disclosure Document issued January 2, 2026 lists a total initial investment of $37,561 to $58,211 for one to 3 ATMs (Item 7). That includes the $25,000 franchise fee, the $995 training fee, $4,075 per ATM, and about $5,000 of cash loaded into each machine. Up to $10,000 of the fee may be financed at 9.9% over 36 months (Item 10).
Is ACFN a franchise or a business opportunity?
ACFN is a franchise. It files a full Franchise Disclosure Document, registered in Minnesota under file number 4508, and must deliver it 14 calendar days before you sign or pay under 16 CFR 436.2(a). Because it is a franchise covered by Part 436, Section 437.8 exempts it from the Business Opportunity Rule. ATM sellers without a trademark license that promise locations fall under Part 437.
How much does an ATM franchise make?
This site does not publish earnings figures. Owner results depend on Item 6 deductions (1.25% Brand Fee, $12 per ATM monthly, $0.15 per transaction), the host’s share of each surcharge, MLA pooling and transaction volume at each site. ACFN’s Item 19 contains estimated tables for 1, 5 and 10 ATMs; read them in the current FDD and ask former franchisees from the Item 20 list.
Can I buy an existing ATM franchise for sale?
Yes, two routes exist in the 2026 ACFN FDD. You can buy a franchise from a current owner by transfer, which carries a $15,000 transfer fee (Item 6); Item 20 shows 43 transfers in fiscal 2025. Or ACFN may sell you corporate ATMs and locations for a Corporate ATM Acquisition Fee, with a refundable deposit of up to 25% (Item 5).
Do I need a license to own an ATM?
ACFN’s Item 7 budgets $550 to $650 for professional fees and business licenses, and Item 1 says state or local rules may require specific notices on ATMs. Federally, 12 CFR 1005.16 requires any fee to be shown before the user commits. Outdoor ATMs in Texas must meet lighting rules in Finance Code 59.307. Check your city and state business licensing office as well.
What surcharge can an ATM owner charge?
Federal law sets no dollar cap; 12 CFR 1005.16 requires the amount to be disclosed on the screen or on paper before the user is committed, and the fee may be charged only if the user continues. In the ACFN system, if interchange income disappears, ACFN may charge you $0.35 per transaction minus any interchange it receives, plus about $0.10 processing (Item 6).
Sources
- ACFN Franchise Disclosure Document, issued January 2, 2026, Minnesota Department of Commerce CARDS, accessed November 8, 2026.
- 16 CFR Part 436, Franchise Rule, eCFR, accessed November 8, 2026.
- 16 CFR Part 437, Business Opportunity Rule, eCFR, accessed November 8, 2026.
- 12 CFR 1005.16, Disclosures at automated teller machines, eCFR, accessed November 8, 2026.
- 28 CFR 36.406, Standards for new construction and alterations, eCFR, accessed November 8, 2026.
- 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, U.S. Department of Justice, accessed November 8, 2026.
- Texas Finance Code chapter 59, subchapter D, Wayback capture of June 26, 2023, accessed November 8, 2026.
- Project Biz Opp Flop release, FTC, February 22, 2005, accessed November 8, 2026.
- Defendants to Pay Civil Penalty for Franchise Rule Violations, FTC, September 19, 2005, accessed November 8, 2026.
- Project FAL$E HOPE$ release, FTC, December 12, 2006, accessed November 8, 2026.
- Fidelity ATM, Inc., et al. case page, FTC, accessed November 8, 2026.
- Scammers Accused of Deceptively Selling ATMs Give Up Frozen Assets, FTC, December 2007, accessed November 8, 2026.