ATM Franchise · FDD 2026 · from public state filings
BDisclosure honesty
This franchisor discloses earnings (Item 19) — but read how.
★★★★☆FranchiseValidate transparency rating: 4/5
Investment
$37,561–$58,211
Total fees
1.25% of sales
Outlets
210
Closure signals
46 ceased, 3 terminated
Lawsuits
0
Is ACFN worth it? How it compares to 131 similar franchises
Ongoing fees
1.25% of sales
lower than most (median 8%)
Startup cost
from $37,561
cheaper than most (median $130,000)
Disclosure honesty
Grade B
more honest than 81% of other franchises franchises
Closure rate
21.9% of outlets
worse than 98% of peers
Disclosed lawsuits
0
fewer than most
Benchmarked against every other franchises franchise we've graded from public FDDs — the context the franchisor's pitch never gives you.
What their own earnings claim actually says
Provides 3 tables showing estimated earnings for 1, 5, 10 ATM scenarios based on average surcharge transactions ($4.16/transaction). Data derived from 2,554 operational ATMs Oct 2024-Sept 2025. No deduction for operating expenses.
Failure & turnover reality (Item 20)
46 ceased operations in 2025; 23 net franchise reduction; significant churn.
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The franchisor won't put real owner profit in writing. We do — reconstructed from their own FDD.
Franchisor's framing: Provides 3 tables showing estimated earnings for 1, 5, 10 ATM scenarios based on average surcha…
🔒 Real estimated owner take-home (low / median / high) — unlocked in the report
Reconstructed owner P&L — net take-home after royalty, ad fund, rent, labor & debt
Break-even timeline + cash-on-cash ROI on your investment
Full fee stack + required-purchase markups
Decoded real failure / closure rate
How it ranks vs comparable franchises
Validation-call playbook — who to call + the exact questions
The FDD lists a total initial investment of about $37,561–$58,211, including a $25,000 initial franchise fee.
How much do ACFN franchise owners make?
Provides 3 tables showing estimated earnings for 1, 5, 10 ATM scenarios based on average surcharge transactions ($4.16/transaction). Data derived from 2,554 operational ATMs Oct 2024-Sept 2025. No deduction for operating expenses. We grade this disclosure B for honesty.
What is the ACFN franchise failure rate?
46 ceased operations in 2025; 23 net franchise reduction; significant churn.
Is a ACFN franchise worth it?
It depends on the numbers, not the pitch. ACFN scores B on disclosure honesty, carries about 1.25% of sales in ongoing fees. Get the real owner take-home before you sign.
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Source: WI DFI Franchise Registration (2026). FranchiseValidate is independent and not affiliated with ACFN or its franchisor. Figures are extracted from the franchisor's own public disclosure document; verify against the current FDD before any decision.