Tag Archive for: side gig

Who’s Starting a Side Hustle and Why?

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A side hustle is a way to generate extra money in addition to a regular salary. Whether you have a part-time job, a series of gigs, or a full-time job, a side hustle is something you can do to bring in a little more income. 

It might seem surprising, though, that so many people are looking to a side hustle even when working full-time. Shouldn’t full-time income be enough? For most people, it seems, a side hustle offers a financial boost. It’s something that can be used for those “nice-to-have” budgets while the full-time income covers the “need-to-have”. 

However, the right side hustle isn’t a grind. It shouldn’t be something that drains your battery, that you dread, or that you cut corners on. For many people, a side hustle means making money doing something they genuinely enjoy.

This article draws upon Bankrate’s recent Side Hustle Survey. The results show how some professionals are finding personal and professional gain from their side hustle, not just financial gain. And the beauty of a side hustle is that, if done right, you get to choose how you spend that time, just like other professionals have. Could an ATM business be that side hustle for you?

Why Start a Side Hustle?

The number one reason to start a side hustle is to make extra money. But what is that money for? According to Bankrate’s Side Hustle Survey, 41% of side hustlers use their extra income for discretionary purchases, 35% for regular living expenses, 28% for savings, and 20% for paying down debt.

But the rewards of a side hustle aren’t just financial. One nurse, for example, works as a school nurse in between her regular shifts to get a wider range of patient experience. She gets personal fulfillment from her side hustle. “I work with older adults who are critically sick, so seeing little kids be joyous and jovial and happy all the time is better for my mental health,” Vivian Ezugwu says.

Loan underwriter Martin de Anda started flyer distribution as a side hustle to afford the luxury of going out in his free time. He enjoys the socialization he gets from his side hustle which his desk job doesn’t offer. But after developing a strong client-base, he was able to take this flexible side hustle full time. “I have the flexibility of actually choosing when I want to take a break and just not work because I want to go to the beach or the movies,” he says.

According to Bankrate’s survey, average side hustler monthly income is $885 in 2025. While that might not sound like a lot, a side hustle can also be a way to broaden experiences, give back to your community, or monetize your hobbies. And for some people, when they realize that they can turn their side hustle into a full-time gig, the flexibility often is the biggest incentive. 

Who’s Starting a Side Hustle?

Bankrate’s survey found that younger generations are more likely to have a side job. However, no age group is excluded. Of all side hustlers, 34% are GenZ (18-28), 31% are millennials (29-44), 23% are GenX (45-60), and 22% are boomers (61-79). 

Young professionals in their 20s and 30s, like Ezugwu and de Anda, might seek extra income to pay off student loans, save for travel, or supplement entry-level wages. Mid-career workers in their 30s, 40s, and 50s might be seeking more financial security, exploring a career change, or testing a business idea before leaving their main job. 

Stay-at-home parents seek flexible income that fits around childcare schedules. Retirees use their skills and hobbies to bring in supplemental income or stay active. Creative professionals and hobbyists can turn passions like art, photography, writing, etc. into small revenue streams.

So no matter who you are, a side hustle is not out of reach. 

Why an ATM Business Is the Ultimate Side Hustle

An ATM business can also make a good side hustle for any generation. While GenZers can start an ATM business if they have the capital, Bankrate reports that 34% of GenZers don’t even have an emergency savings fund. But, with savings or financing access, an ATM business can generate income while working full time. The extra income can accelerate debt payoff or savings without adding a second demanding job.

The 30- to 50-year-old mid-career workers, on the other hand, are more likely to have the capital necessary ($2,000-$4,000) to start an ATM business. An ATM business is semi-passive once machines are installed and filled, so it can run alongside a full-time job. An ATM business creates a stable second income stream for long-term wealth building or debt payoff.

Stay-at-home parents can benefit from an ATM business because it can be managed during off-peak hours. Once machines are set up, the workload is predictable and not 9–5 dependent. It offers steady, recurring income that doesn’t require constant active selling or being tied to a desk.

An ATM business can be good for retirees due to its light physical demands (mostly cash loading and machine checks) and flexible scheduling. It can be scaled to match their desired activity level and provides supplemental retirement income without requiring daily high-effort work.

An ATM machine business is low effort at first. Most new ATM business owners start with just one or two machine placements. But it is completely possible to scale to 10 or more machines making ATM operation a full-time, flexible, low-effort gig! Just like de Anda, if you find that you enjoy the flexibility of an ATM side hustle, make it your goal to replace your regular 9-5 desk job.

Benefits of an ATM Business

It’s getting harder and harder for many people to make ends meet for many people. Let alone are they able to save money or travel. For those reasons, side hustles are projected to increase. If you’ve been looking for a way to make some extra money without the demands of a second in-person job that takes you away from your family and fills all of your free time, consider operating an ATM. 

An ATM machine generates semi-passive income. That means that once it’s all set up, it will make money while you’re away. Simply keep it loaded and operational, and you’re in business. To find out exactly how much you can make with just one machine, check out our article on how much ATM business owners make.

Ready to get started? Get your free ATM start-up kit today!

7 Reasons to Start an ATM Side Gig

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Side gig, side hustle, side business—whatever you call it, many people are looking for flexible ways to make extra money in addition to their regular jobs. As the cost of living continues to raise and salaries struggle to keep up, extra income streams are increasingly sought out and pursued.

But what side gigs are best? And how do you get started? Here, we’ll explain the best qualities to look for in a side gig and why an ATM side gig might be right for you.

What is a Side Gig?

A side gig is really anything you do to generate income in addition to your main source of income. Technological advancements, changes in consumer behavior, and economic factors have contributed greatly in recent years to what is now known as the “gig economy”. 

Technological advancements and a changing work environment spawned by the Covid-19 work-from-home movement have created more freelance, part-time, or short-term job opportunities facilitated by digital platforms. Side gig opportunities have diversified to include not only ridesharing, food delivery, and freelancing, but also virtual assistance, online teaching, and remote project-based work.

One of the key attractions of the gig economy is flexibility. People seek out side gigs that provide them with the ability to choose when and where they work, providing greater autonomy over their schedules. However, side gigs often lack the job security and benefits associated with traditional employment. This leads to financial stability and long-term sustainability concerns for those who come to rely on the income. 

But what if there was a flexible, financially stable, sustainable, and even scalable side gig opportunity? Would you be interested? If so, then an ATM side gig might be right for you!

7 Reasons to Start an ATM Side Gig

1. Flexibility

Like we said before, flexibility is probably the most important quality to look for in a side gig. It has to work around your schedule which might include a full-time job, family responsibilities, hobbies, etc. Rather than leave your full-time 9-5 to head to a part-time job from 6-10, a side gig should be something you do because you can not because you have to.

Flexibility means you aren’t devoted to a set schedule. You can set your own hours and work when you’re available. Not only does an ATM business provide you with this flexibility, it goes a step further by offering passive income.

2. Passive Income

Passive income is money that you generate even when you aren’t working. An ATM business can earn money while you work your regular job, travel, or even sleep! Once you set up your machine, it works for you. Aside from vaulting and periodic maintenance, there is really only a little time you need to devote to an ATM side gig compared to other hustles. There aren’t many side gigs that offer this kind of freedom.

3. Freedom

Freedom doesn’t just refer to the ability to set your own schedule or make money while you go out with your friends. It also means being your own boss. A part-time job comes with a set schedule, a boss, a dress code, etc. Freelance projects and gigs come with clients and deadlines constantly looming. And while there are many side gigs that allow you to work from the comfort of your home, an ATM business doesn’t restrict you to a computer screen for hours a day.

Operating an ATM machine isn’t just a side-gig; it’s a small business, and you are the owner. This puts a lot of power in your hands. You make all of the decisions. 

4. Low Overhead

Now, since your ATM side gig is really a small business, that does mean it will require some initial investment. The biggest costs will be the ATM equipment and vault cash, but other side gigs have their costs as well. Rideshare and delivery services come with fuel costs as well as general wear, tear, and mileage on your vehicle. Online teaching and other internet-based gigs might require extra computer equipment, software, or training.

Not only are ATM startup costs low, they also pay for themselves quickly and provide stability and sustainability. Again, these qualities are hard to find in a side gig.

5. Steady Demand

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Cash is king?” Well it is, and that’s good news for ATM owners. Despite the rise of digital currency and payment options, cash still has its place in society. It isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. 

There are still many situations where cash is necessary and/or preferred. And there are a number of benefits of using cash rather than card. This means that there is regular, predictable income to be made with an ATM machine as opposed to other side gigs that might require you to bid for jobs, sell yourself short to keep up with competition, or rely on seasonal opportunities. What could be better than steady demand? How about scalability.

6. Scalability

An ATM business is different from other side gigs because it is scalable. Want a raise? Increase your surcharge fee. Want to save up for a trip or new vehicle? Invest in another machine! Once you have one ATM machine up and running, there is nothing stopping you from owning more. 

In this way, you have full control over how much money you make. What’s more is your ATM business could even end up replacing your main source of income. You could quit your regular job to focus solely on making passive income with ATM machines!

The possibilities are endless, and you have the power to make your ATM side gig look however you want.

7. Diversification

There are lots of ways to make money in the ATM industry. Keep in mind that you don’t have to own and operate your own machine to make money in the ATM industry. You could negotiate locations for other ATM owners. You could just be the cash vaulter for someone else’s machine. Or, you could be an ATM salesperson and sell machines to businesses that want to operate one themselves.

Even if you do own your own ATM machine, you can still pick and choose which tasks you handle and which you outsource. Your ATM business is completely customizable.

How to Start an ATM Side Gig

Yet another benefit of starting an ATM side gig is that anyone can do it. It doesn’t require any specific certification, training, or education. Of course, training and education resources are available and valuable, but they are far from required. You can start an ATM side gig in just a few simple steps.

First, you will need to select and purchase your equipment. Then, you need to find a processing company to work with. This is how you will get your machine to communicate with the credit card networks. Many ATM processing companies like ATMDepot are also vendors, so you can take care of both of these tasks in one place.

Next, you need to find a bank that can supply you with regular vault cash. When opening an account, let the banker know about your ATM business and cash needs. This can help them prepare and let you know whether or not they are in a position to maintain an account for your ATM business.

You also need to find a place to operate your machine from. You want to find a place with a lot of foot traffic that’s not too close in proximity to a competing ATM machine. But basically, you just need to find a business that is interested in reaping the many benefits of an on-site ATM machine so that you can install your ATM there and generate surcharge revenue.

Once you find a location and order the equipment, the next step is installation and programming. After that, just advertise that your ATM machine exists and start making money.

Start an ATM Side Gig Today!

Convinced? ATMDepot.com offers a wealth of resources, both paid and free, to help you get started in the ATM industry. You can also expect continued support throughout the course of your business with ATMDepot as your ATM processing company. 

Whether you want to supplement your main source of income, own a business already and want to add another revenue stream, or are interested in replacing your regular job with ATMs, ATMDepot.com has everything you need. We have startup kits available for everyone from ATM entrepreneurs to store owners. 

For more information, join our ATM Entrepreneurs Facebook group, or contact us! If you are really serious about starting an ATM business, check out our Member’s Area where you’ll have access to negotiation scripts, videos, contract templates, and more.

If you’re looking for a simple way to make some extra money, start your ATM side gig today!