Buy or lease your own ATM
Owning the machine means you set the surcharge and keep the machine's revenue after its costs. It also means you take on the operating costs and the compliance duties. CELER sets up the processing, the surcharge and the cash-loading options. Prices vary by machine and term, and we quote after a site review.
What changes when you own the machine
- You set the surcharge, within the disclosure rules.
- You keep the revenue after costs, rather than a share of it.
- You carry the costs and duties: the machine, the cash, service and repairs, insurance, and fee disclosure.
Buy vs lease
| Item | Buy | Lease |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Machine purchase price; varies; quoted after a site review | Typically lower upfront, with payments over a term; varies; quoted after a site review |
| Ownership | You own it | Depends on the lease terms; ask who owns it at the end |
| Commitment | You carry the cost of the machine | You owe the payments for the term |
| Ask for in writing | Total cost over the term, what happens if the machine is retired or replaced, service and warranty terms, and how the lease can be ended | |
What CELER sets up
- Processing. The machine is connected so withdrawals are processed.
- Surcharge. The fee you set, with the customer notice the rules require.
- Cash-loading options. A clear choice of how the machine is loaded with cash, with the cost and responsibility written down before go-live.
Costs to model before you buy
The surcharge is your revenue. Against it, price each of these in writing: network and processing fees, the cash you load, service and repairs, insurance, and the purchase or lease payments. If the numbers do not work at your expected usage, a free-placement ATM may fit better. We do not publish typical earnings because they depend on your site.
Your obligations as the owner
In the United States, an ATM operator that charges a fee must give the customer a notice and let them choose to continue (Regulation E, 12 CFR 1005.16, checked 1 Nov 2026). In Canada, Interac says an ABM owner can apply a surcharge if it is properly disclosed to the customer (Interac, checked 1 Nov 2026). The 2010 ADA Standards say that where ATMs are provided, at least one of each type at each location must comply with section 707 (ADA.gov, checked 1 Nov 2026). Your agreement should state which duties fall on you.
Before you commit
Compare the ATM with the rest of what you pay. Our statement analysis names every card-processing fee, and the savings calculator gives a first estimate. The ATM overview has the side-by-side table for free placement and owning.
CELER Merchants is an independent agent and referral partner. Every ATM program is subject to site review and approval. All trademarks belong to their owners.
Request an ATM review
Tell us about the location. We come back, usually within 4 hours, with the next step.
Step 1 of 4 · takes about 40 seconds
Buy-or-lease questions
Buying means paying for the machine up front and owning it. Leasing spreads the cost over a term but usually binds you to payments for that term. Which is better depends on the price, the term and how much the machine earns, so ask for both quotes in writing.
It varies by machine, options and term, and we do not publish prices. We quote after a site review so the figure matches your location.
CELER sets up the processing, the surcharge and the cash-loading options. The agreement names who supplies the machine and who services it.
There are options, and the right one depends on how much the machine will dispense and how you want to manage cash. We lay out the options and their costs before go-live so the responsibility is clear.
You do, as the owner, within the disclosure rules. In the United States, Regulation E requires a notice that a fee will be imposed and the customer's choice to continue. In Canada, Interac says the surcharge must be properly disclosed to the customer.
Typically network and processing fees, the cost of the cash you load, service and repairs, insurance and the machine's purchase or lease payments. The list depends on your setup, so ask for each line in writing.
Fee disclosure, keeping the machine accessible (the 2010 ADA Standards require at least one of each ATM type at a location to comply with section 707), and following the network and processing rules in your agreement. Your agreement should say which of these fall on you.