How an On-Site ATM Can Help Restaurants Keep Their Best Servers
BFC Enterprises • October 9, 2025
Inflation continues to squeeze American households, and one of the first luxuries many families cut back on is eating out.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, prices for fast food, takeout, and restaurant meals rose 3.9% year over year as of mid-2025, while grocery prices increased only 1.7% over the same period. Over half of American (59%) report dining out less often
and when they do they are spending 30% less due to inflation and reduced disposable income.
For restaurants and bars, that means tighter margins and greater competition for both customers and staff. For wait staff, which already cite low pay and lack of benefits
for high turnover rates, that means they are taking home less today than they were pre-COVID.
Why Staffing is Still a Struggle for Bars & Restaurants
Back in 2021, when expanded unemployment benefits ended for nearly 8 million Americans, many assumed restaurant jobs would quickly bounce back. But the service sector still faces steep labor shortages.
To compete, many restaurants have
raised base pay, introduced 401(k) matches, added childcare benefits, and even started offering healthcare coverage. Yet one often overlooked factor still affects day-to-day satisfaction for servers: how fast and how fairly they receive their tips.
Why Wait Staff Prefer Cash Tips
While many assume restaurant servers prefer cash tips because it allows them to hide their income, the statics tell a different story.
- Immediate Access to Income: When patrons tip in cash, servers receive that money instantly. Card tips often take a week or two to process. According to PYMNTS, 62% of restaurant workers prefer same-day tip payouts, and 37% want their tips immediately. For many hourly workers, that difference can be the deciding factor between paying bills on time or falling behind.
- Avoiding Credit Card Processing Fees: Most diners don’t realize that when they leave a tip on a credit or debit card, the restaurant pays processing fees, and those can legally be deducted from the server’s earnings. So, your generous 20% might end up a little lighter by the time it reaches your server.
- Control Over Tip-Outs: Servers don’t keep every dollar they earn. They “tip out” bussers, bartenders, hosts, and support staff. With card tips, the restaurant’s POS system may automatically deduct those amounts. With cash, servers have control and flexibility – rewarding those who help most, and ensuring fairness across shifts.
- The Psychological Boost: There’s something powerful about counting your earnings at the end of a shift. Real cash provides instant feedback and motivation – a tangible sign that great service pays off.
For restaurant owners, encouraging cash tips by having an ATM on-site offers convenient access to cash for customers for tips and to pay for meals, while boosting morale for staff, and owners gain a competitive advantage when it comes to attracting and keeping good staff.
On-Site ATM = Additional Revenue
But there are other benefits as well. In addition to happier staff and a competitive staffing advantage, installing an ATM inside your restaurant or bar adds a new revenue stream – without the hassle of having to maintain it or load cash. Full-service ATM companies, like
BFC Enterprises, will purchase the ATM, take care of all maintenance and share a portion of surcharge fees with the business. That creates a small but steady passive income stream on top of regular sales.
The Bottom Line
Inflation has made it harder for consumers to dine out – harder for restaurants to hold onto their best people and more difficult for servers to make ends meet. An
on-site ATM is a simple, low-cost solution that benefits everyone:
💵 Customers can easily tip in cash.
😊 Servers feel appreciated and take home more pay.
💰 Restaurant and bar owners boost retention and gain passive revenue.
When margins are tight and turnover is expensive, small details like cash access can make a big difference.
Contact us today to find out if your business qualifies for a FREE ATM through
BFC Enterprises.
📞(314) 961-9000
🌐
bfcenterprises.com/contact
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