Meet William Butterton, the man who scoffs at the concept of passive income but has stumbled upon what might as well be its holy grail: ATMs. Yes, those glorified metal boxes that dispense cash faster than a kid can demand ice cream. “It’s like having an employer you don’t have to pay,” Butterton mused, clearly channeling his inner entrepreneur while working as a full-time electrical engineer. Because who wouldn’t want to pay homage to a machine, right?
Butterton resides in Silverdale, just a hop, skip, and an overpriced ferry ride away from Seattle. His childhood dreams involved entrepreneurial escapades, documented in invention journals that probably look like a mix of brilliant ideas and doodles of snack food. Despite the fountain of creativity flowing in his 20s, he remained strangely content, like a cat lying in a sunbeam, until his first child came along and sparked a desire for some extra cash. Enter the ATM hustle!
“I did some research and thought, ‘What’s the worst that could happen?’ Spoiler alert: pretty much nothing! Just a small financial commitment of $2,500 for the ATM itself,” he shared. With a buddy in tow, the duo decided to treat this venture like a tea party: “Hey, why not?” And thus began their journey into the whimsical world of cash machines.
Launching an ATM Business for Pennies on the Dollar
Butterton quickly discovered you can buy an ATM online like you’d buy a pair of socks—who knew? Back in 2022, these money-dispensing devices were snagged for about $3,000 each, plus sales tax and a couple of grand in cash to kick-start their ATM prowess. With $5,000 pooled together, they ordered two machines, which arrived in Butterton’s garage, right next to his lawnmower and existential crisis.
But of course, the real adventure began when they had to open a business bank account. “Finding a bank willing to deal with ATMs is like dating in high school; all the ‘cool’ banks say no, but eventually, one of the quirky local ones says yes,” he quipped. With cash machines poised in their garage, the next step was hunting for the perfect location, which, according to Butterton, requires more salesmanship than a used-car dealership on a hot summer day.
“Target cash-only businesses like barbershops or convenience stores,” he declared, sounding almost like a cash ninja. And if you’re lucky, you might even scout a marijuana dispensary—where profits flow sweeter than the product. While he hasn’t infiltrated any dispensaries yet, he does boast ATMs in nail salons, which he says is a real cash cow. Or would it be a cash pig?
Scaling Up: The Viking Vendors Saga
Butterton decided to call his venture “Viking Vendors,” presumably because their aspirations involve pillaging profits rather than being stuck in a single cash cow. Expanding into vending machines seemed like a logical next step—until he realized loading those is as much fun as herding cats. “If you’re interested in low-effort, stick to ATMs,” he advised, which sounds like sage advice from a wise old wizard who’s heavily caffeinated.
Since 2022, their humble little empire expanded to eight machines—five ATMs and three vending. They now rake in a respectable $1,500 a month. Most of that cash flows in from ATM transaction fees, which Butterton deftly sets like a digital artist mixing colors, always striving for the perfect price point without scaring off potential customers. “$3? Sure! $5? Good luck with that!”
However, life’s not all rainbows and cash. Butterton had one ATM stolen, and securing affordable insurance was a bit like finding a needle in a haystack—one that charges an arm and a leg. But now, he boasts lower costs, making it feel like he’s hosting a cash machine party with ease as his fleet grows.
As Butterton contemplates adding more machines to his repertoire, he maintains steady caution. More machines mean more maintenance, which necessitates more of his time—time he’d rather spend with family rather than hauling vending snacks like some sort of modern-day Santa Claus. “Sure, I dream of making $100,000 a month, but as my kids grow up faster than my doubts, I want to savor these moments,” he said, flashing a knowing smile. Ah, the sweet irony of chasing cash while trying not to overtake the time with what really counts.
