A load and cash-in station sells prepaid load for every network and moves money in and out of customers' e-wallets for a small fee, often with bills payment on the side. Most start as a small booth or a store counter near a market or terminal. Each transaction earns only a few pesos, so the money is in volume, a float that never runs out and a cash count that matches every night.

This guide walks through what it takes to start a load and cash-in station in the Philippines: the capital, the monthly costs, the permits and the first 90 days. The peso figures are sample estimates for a small booth near a market in Cebu as of October 2026; get your own quotes before you decide.

How much capital you need

The sample comes to about ₱131,300 including one month of fixed costs kept as a cash buffer. It splits into equipment and security (₱35,500), booth and signage (₱15,000), float (₱55,000), permits and deposits (₱16,500), launch (₱2,000) and working capital (₱7,300). Other ways to start: load counter in your sari-sari store at ₱15,000–₱40,000 and multi-service payment kiosk at ₱200,000–₱350,000.

Monthly costs and break-even

Fixed costs in the sample are ₱7,300 a month; the biggest are rent (₱3,500), mobile data and backup internet (₱1,000) and bank trips and transport for refills (₱800). Each transaction sold earns about ₱7 after its own costs, so the break-even is 36 transactions a day, and the startup capital takes about 12 months to come back at full sales.

Permits and registration

Register the business name with DTI (or SEC or CDA), then get the barangay business clearance, the Mayor's permit through the city or municipal BPLO, and BIR registration; register with SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG once you hire. A load and cash-in station also needs: retailer account with a load distributor, cash agent or merchant account for e-wallets and agent agreement for bills payment. Requirements and fees differ by city, so ask each office for its checklist first. DTI Negosyo Centers help for free.

Where to set up

  • Public market entrances and terminals
  • Near schools and boarding houses
  • Busy jeepney stops and tricycle terminals
  • Barangays far from bank branches and ATMs

Mistakes to avoid

  • Load sent to the wrong number. Have the customer read the number back, and know the distributor's refund steps.
  • Fake transfer screenshots and scams. Check the transfer in your own app before giving cash, never on the customer's phone.
  • The float runs out on payday. Keep a payday-size float and refill before noon on the 15th and 30th.
  • An account frozen or over its limit. Use agent or merchant accounts where offered, know the limits, and never move money for strangers.

Plan it with the starter kit

The E-Load & Cash-In Station · Negosyo Starter Kit has every worksheet behind this guide in a 26-page PDF, plus an Excel calculator: type in your own quotes and it works out your capital, break-even, profit and payback month. It costs ₱349 and downloads right after payment.