$24,860 Dispensed in Under 7 Months at a Holland, MI Small Business
A real WhyCuz ATM placement, installed in October 2025 and measured through April 29, 2026. No out-of-pocket cost to the store. Store identity is withheld for client privacy; reference available for qualified prospects on request.
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The Problem: Credit Card Fees Killing Retail Margins in West Michigan
A small Holland, MI retail operator came to WhyCuz with a problem a lot of independent West Michigan stores know well: credit card processing fees were eating the margin on every low-ticket sale. When the average ticket is $1 to $5, every swipe costs a bigger percentage than the fee looks like on paper.
The owners said earlier ATM options either didn't move forward or came with terms they didn't want for a store this size. They also learned that owning and operating an ATM involves more than buying a machine — it requires cash loading, monitoring, maintenance, and compliance.
That's where WhyCuz came in.
What WhyCuz Built for Them
- On-site placement surveyPicked the spot with line-of-sight from the register and the front door.
- Bilingual user experienceMulti-language on-screen prompts and printed signage so every customer feels comfortable using it.
- Seasonal load planningCash refill schedule built around the store's predictable seasonal traffic spikes.
- Zero cost to the storeNo purchase, no rental, no maintenance fee. WhyCuz owns and services the machine.
- Revenue model for the merchantThe user pays a $2.99 ATM surcharge, not the store. Under this placement's terms, the store earns $0.75 on each approved cash withdrawal (not balance inquiries or declines).
- ADA-compliant equipmentBraille keypad, voice-guided prompts, and accessible install height — required for ATMs and good for every customer.
- Vault cash & insurance handled by WhyCuzThe store has $0 liability for the cash inside the machine. We supply it, we insure it, we replenish it.
- EMV-chip compliant & secured to the floorModern processor, current chip standards, bolted in place. Not 15-year-old refurbished hardware.
- Monitored uptime & local serviceCash levels and machine status monitored remotely. WhyCuz handles refills, repairs, and downtime — the store doesn't have to.
The Numbers
Installed October 2025. Reporting through April 29, 2026 — under 7 months in service.
| Metric | Result |
|---|---|
| Total transactions | 242 |
| Approved withdrawals | 191 |
| Total cash dispensed | $24,860.00 |
| Average withdrawal | ~$130 |
| Surcharge per use (paid by user) | $2.99 |
| Store's earnings per transaction | $0.75 |
| Total earned by store to date 191 approved × $0.75 | $143.25 |
| Out-of-pocket cost to the store | $0 |
In under seven months, this ATM processed 242 total transactions and dispensed $24,860 across 191 approved withdrawals. The store paid nothing for equipment, installation, or maintenance and earned $143.25 in supplemental commissions on approved transactions. The bigger business value here was on-site cash access for low-ticket customers — not the revenue share alone.
Methodology: Reporting period: install through April 29, 2026. "Total transactions" includes all eligible ATM events recorded by the machine (approved withdrawals, declines, and balance inquiries). "Cash dispensed" reflects approved withdrawals only. Merchant earnings are paid on approved cash withdrawals only at this placement's $0.75 per-transaction revenue-share rate.
The Hidden Math: Card vs Cash on a $5 Sale
The bigger story isn't the $143 in commissions — it's the credit card fees the store didn't pay every time a customer pulled cash and bought at the register. On a $5 sale, the difference adds up fast:
| $5 Sale Method | Store Keeps | Fees Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Credit / Debit Card | $4.65 | $0.35 |
| Cash from the ATM | $5.00 | $0 |
Card fee estimate: 3% + $0.10 per swipe (typical small-business processing rate). Actual rates vary by processor. The point isn't a precise number — it's that every cash sale skips the fee entirely.
Why It Worked
- Low-ticket salesOn many $1–$5 sales, flat card fees can take a meaningful bite out of margin.
- Predictable seasonal demandRefill schedule matched the spikes — no empty machine when traffic peaked.
- Bilingual setupSpanish and English on-screen prompts reduced language friction for bilingual customers.
- Foot traffic pullAn ATM doesn't just serve existing customers — it gives nearby workers, bus riders, and neighborhood foot traffic a reason to walk in the door.
- Local operatorWhyCuz services the machine. No call center. No ticket queue.
Want to talk to the operator?
This is a real, verifiable WhyCuz placement. We respect our clients' privacy, so we don't publish their name — but for serious inquiries, we'll connect you with the operator directly.
Request a ReferenceWould an ATM Help Your Location Grow or Add Customers?
If you're running an independent retail business, restaurant, or seasonal-traffic operation in West Michigan and you're tired of paying card fees on small sales — WhyCuz places the ATM, services it, and pays you a share of every approved transaction. No out-of-pocket cost.
Get a Free Site Survey Call (616) 344-0236Results-vary disclaimer: Case study based on one anonymized merchant placement installed in October 2025 and measured through April 29, 2026. Results vary by store type, traffic, seasonality, operating hours, nearby cash access, surcharge tolerance, and placement fit. Merchant earnings shown reflect this client's revenue-share terms and approved cash withdrawals only and are not a guarantee of future results. ATM surcharge is disclosed on-screen before the transaction is completed. Store identity is withheld for client privacy; reference available for qualified prospects subject to client approval.