The short answer
Before you sign, ask any ATM company who owns the machine and cash, who loads it, how they know it's low, how and when you get paid, who answers when it breaks, how the agreement renews and ends, what happens if they sell the route, and who takes the loss if it's stolen. Get the important answers in writing.
In this article
If you've had an ATM in your business before, you might already know how this goes.
The machine runs out of cash on your busiest night. It shows an error, and you can't reach anyone. Your monthly check gets smaller, and nobody explains why. Then you try to get out of the deal and find out it renewed itself last month.
That's not bad luck. Almost every one of those problems could have been spotted before the machine showed up, if the right questions had been asked.
Here are the 12 questions we'd ask if we were in your shoes. We've included our own answers, too. You should hold us to the same standard as anyone else.
Questions about the money
1. Who owns the machine, and who owns the cash inside it?
Why it matters: ownership decides who pays when something goes wrong. If you own the cash, a shortage or theft could come out of your pocket.
A good answer: clear and simple. "We own the machine. We own the cash."
Our answer: with free placement, we own both. You provide the space and an outlet.
2. How and when will I get paid?
Why it matters: this is where many owners have been burned. Late payments. Shrinking checks. No explanation.
A good answer: a specific schedule and a specific method. "Paid by direct deposit on this date, every month."
Our answer: your share is deposited by ACH at the start of each month. The money comes straight from the payment networks.
3. Will I get a statement I can actually read?
Why it matters: if you can't see how many transactions your machine did, you can't check your payment.
A good answer: a monthly statement showing transaction count and your earnings.
Our answer: yes. Every month you get an email statement showing how many transactions your machine did and how much you made.
4. Will you put my share in writing before you install?
Why it matters: a verbal promise is worth nothing when the checks shrink.
A good answer: "Yes. It's in your agreement."
Our answer: yes. Splits vary by location, volume, and history, so we don't post one standard number. But yours is written down before anything is installed. Learn more in how much a business can make from a free ATM.
Questions about service
5. Who loads the cash, and how do you know when it's running low?
Why it matters: an empty ATM is the fastest way to annoy your customers. It also trains them not to count on your machine.
A good answer: the company loads it, and it watches cash levels remotely instead of waiting for you to call.
Our answer: we load it. We monitor every machine remotely, so we know when cash is getting low before it runs out.
6. When it breaks, who do I call, and will a real person answer?
Why it matters: this is the number one complaint in the industry. One store owner told a UK trade magazine that his ATM was down for days and it was "impossible" to reach anyone who could fix it.
A good answer: a real phone number and a real person.
Our answer: call or text (205) 210-8121. You reach us, not a call center.
7. How reliable is your connection, and what is your uptime?
Why it matters: many ATM breakdowns aren't the machine. They're the connection. Old phone lines drop. Weak cellular signals fail.
A good answer: a specific uptime number and a specific plan for connection.
Our answer: our machines run at 98% uptime, documented in our remote monitoring system. We connect them through DPL Wireless, using the Hercules 4G LTE cellular modem, which we consider the most reliable wireless cellular system in the ATM industry. In a documented field trial, it had a 0.5% communication failure rate, compared to 4.5% for competing modems.
8. Is the machine up to date?
Why it matters: old machines break more, handle chip cards poorly, and can create problems with accessibility and data security rules.
A good answer: a modern machine that meets chip card (EMV), accessibility (ADA), and data security (PCI) standards.
Our answer: we place state-of-the-art machines that meet all three. Tap-to-pay is available for qualifying locations.
Questions about the contract
9. How long is the agreement, how does it renew, and how does it end?
Why it matters: many service agreements renew on their own. In the card processing world, it's common to require written notice 30 to 60 days before the renewal date. Miss that window, and you can be locked in for another full term.
A good answer: plain answers to all three parts, in the agreement itself, not just from the salesman.
Our answer: you get a simple, standard placement agreement. It protects you by putting every promise we make in writing, including how long it runs and how it ends. Read it before you sign, and ask Landon directly about anything that isn't clear.
10. What happens to my agreement if you sell your company or your route?
Why it matters: ATM routes get bought and sold. When that happens, your agreement may go with it, and you may end up working with a company you never chose.
A good answer: a clear explanation of what the agreement says about this.
What to look for: the section of your agreement that covers "assignment" or "transfer." Read it, and ask what it means in plain words.
11. If the machine is stolen or damaged, who pays?
Why it matters: ATM thefts happen, including in the Birmingham area. You want to know before it happens, not after.
A good answer: a direct answer, written in the agreement.
Our answer: the machine and the cash are ours, so if they're stolen, that loss falls on us. Damage to your building is normally handled by your own property insurance. Our agreement puts this in writing.
The trust question
12. Are you actually local? Who shows up when I need you?
Why it matters: plenty of companies publish pages for Birmingham, Montgomery, or Tuscaloosa without having anyone nearby. When your machine is down on a Friday night, distance matters.
A good answer: a local address, a local phone number, and someone who can get to you.
Our answer: Ford Frontier Investments is Alabama-owned and operated, based in Birmingham. We serve businesses within about 30 minutes of Birmingham, Montgomery, and Tuscaloosa.
One more question to ask yourself
After you've asked all 12, ask yourself this: did they answer, or did they sell?
A good ATM company answers plainly, even when the answer isn't what you hoped for. It puts the important things in writing. And it doesn't rush you.
If a company dodges more than one of these questions, that tells you what the next few years will look like.
What if you already have an ATM company and the answers are bad?
You're not stuck forever. Start by pulling out your current agreement and finding the sections on the term, renewal, and termination. Note any deadlines for giving notice.
Then give us a call. We can walk through your options, whether that's a free placement when your current deal ends, a processing switch if you own your machine, or selling us your ATM.
Common questions
Ask who owns the machine and cash, who loads it, how they know it's running low, how and when you get paid, who answers when it breaks, how reliable the connection is, how the agreement renews and ends, what happens if they sell their route, who covers theft, and whether they're actually local.
Watch for automatic renewal with a short cancellation window, large penalties for ending early, vague language about how your share is calculated, no written payment schedule, and no clear promise about who handles repairs and theft.
Often, yes, but it depends on your current agreement. Read the renewal and termination sections first. If your agreement is close to renewing, you may have a short window to give notice. We're glad to walk through your options with you.
Ask for their uptime, how they monitor machines, how fast they restock cash, and who you call when something breaks. A reliable company can answer with specifics. Ford Frontier Investments runs at 98% uptime, documented in our remote monitoring system.
It should be spelled out in your agreement. With our placements, the machine and the cash are ours, so that loss falls on us. Damage to your building is normally handled by your own property insurance.
Sources
- Revolution Payments, "Merchant Services Agreement Explained: 7 Contract Clauses That Can Cost Your Business Thousands," August 5, 2026.
- Forecourt Trader, "Service Centre: What use is a broken-down ATM?," Accessed September 2026.
- CBS 42 (WIAT), "2 suspects steal ATM in Birmingham," Accessed September 2026.