Square Fees vs ATM Revenue: The True Cost for Small Business
Square is an excellent tool for modern businesses. It is sleek, easy to use, and reliable. However, when you compare Square fees vs ATM revenue potential, many business owners realize they are leaving money on the table. For businesses with high transaction volumes and lower ticket prices (like coffee shops, barbers, and food trucks), processing fees can silently destroy profit margins.
The “Convenience Tax” Case Study
Let’s look at the math for a standard user profile in Yuma or San Luis using the default Square pricing model (Outbound link for SEO reliability).
📊 The Scenario:
- Business: Coffee Shop / Fast Casual
- Monthly Revenue: $20,000
- Average Ticket: $20.00
- Total Transactions: 1,000 per month
The Math: Square Fees vs ATM Revenue
Square currently charges 2.6% + 10¢ per dip, tap, or swipe. Here is exactly how that compares to offsetting those costs with a Fort Yuma ATM.
| Metric | Square POS (Card) | Fort Yuma ATM (Cash) |
|---|---|---|
| Fee Per Transaction | You Pay: 2.6% + $0.10 | You Pay: $0.00 |
| Loss on a $20 Sale | -$0.62 lost per customer | $0.00 lost |
| Monthly Impact | -$620.00 Expense | +$300.00 Profit* |
| Hardware Cost | $799+ (Square Register) | $0.00 (With Free Placement) |
| Yearly Totals | -$7,440.00 Lost | +$3,600.00 Gained |
*ATM profit estimates based on average surcharge volume. Individual results vary based on foot traffic.
Why You Need Both (The Hybrid Model)
We aren’t suggesting you remove your POS. We are suggesting you provide a Cash Option to stop the bleeding. Many business owners forget about the hidden costs of digital-only payments, such as internet outages or chargeback disputes. Cash is instant, final, and has zero processing fees for you.
If just 20% of your daily customers switch to cash because an ATM is visible in your store, look at what happens:
-
✅
You save $124/month in Square fees immediately. -
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You earn approx $300/month in Surcharge Revenue. -
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Total Positive Swing: $424/month ($5,000+ per year).
When analyzing Square fees vs ATM income, the choice is clear: You keep the Square for convenience, but you get the ATM for profit.
Stop paying the bank. Start getting paid.
See if your business qualifies for our Free ATM Placement program.
