What Makes a Good Entrepreneur?

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What makes a good entrepreneur? Are desirable qualities the same for every industry? Well, yes and no. Some qualities will help you no matter what your entrepreneurial endeavor is. Others might vary depending on the requirements of your specific business.

For example, leadership and team-building are generally considered good skills to have if you plan to run a business. But most independent ATM deployers (IADs) work alone. So while those are good qualities to have, you don’t have to spend as much time developing those skills as you do some others that you will need immediately.

Due to the nature of the ATM business and the tasks you’ll have to perform, there are some skills you need to have. To make sure you have what it takes to run an ATM business, strengthen these 9 qualities.

1. Professional

Whether you own your own ATM, place ATMs for others, or sell ATM machines to other business owners, you are a businessperson. So you have to act like one. This is how you will continue to get people to work with you and can continue to run a successful business. 

Presentation

First, you have to be professional in the way you present yourself. How do you approach location owners to negotiate a space for an ATM machine? Do you show up prepared with ATM business flyers? Do you have ATM business cards to leave behind? 

Professional moves like these show that you are serious, can be trusted, and are worth working with. Professionalism is also how you will get referrals. Word-of-mouth marketing is the best kind because your credibility is established by the referrer, and it doesn’t cost you anything to market yourself this way!

You might also want to think carefully about your business name. When you start your business, you can register as a sole proprietor under a “doing business as” (DBA) business name. Or, to gain instant credibility, you can see if your ATM processor will license you the rights to their name. Associating yourself with a well-known name in the ATM business that your leads can research will boost your reputation.

Behavior

Second, you want to act professionally toward your prospects and partners. When making negotiations, make sure you respect the needs and wants of all parties involved. And when you promise to assume certain responsibilities, make sure you follow through.

If you promise to refill your ATMs with cash and receipt paper, make sure you do so. If you promise to take care of technical issues should the machine malfunction, make sure you do that too. And do it in a timely manner. You aren’t the only one relying on the machines to operate. Your customers and the location owners rely on them too. So don’t let them down.

2. Decisive

Although you are probably a one-man/woman-band as an IAD, there are still a lot of decisions you need to make for your business. 

First, you have to decide where you’re going to place your machines. Where is there a market gap (or need) for ATM access? Where will a machine do really well? How long will your lease agreement be for?

Then, you have to decide what equipment to purchase. Will you order a new or refurbished machine? Do you want a free-standing or through-the-wall (TTW) machine? Will you purchase insurance? What extra features and upgrades do you want? 

You might realize that some decisions need to be made immediately while others can wait. You might want to run your machine for a while before determining what extra features will optimize your machine. How much are you going to charge customers to use the machine? You want the surcharge to be high enough that you make a worthwhile profit, but not so high that you drive away customers. Where is that sweet spot?

Will you start with a higher surcharge and then lower it once you make your return on investment (ROI)? Or will you start low to draw a lot of customers and then raise it gradually?

And who is going to take care of each responsibility associated with running the machine? Who will load the cash? Who will make service calls? How often will you visit the machine? When will it be cleaned and who will clean it? You have to decide which responsibilities you are willing to shoulder, which responsibilities you want to delegate, and which services you want to pay for.

If things don’t go according to the original plan, you also have to decide what changes to make along the way.

3. Creative Thinker

Despite all of the best and most careful planning, there are likely to be curveballs, and you will have to get creative and make changes as necessary. 

Your ATM may not perform as well as you anticipated, for example. This might be due to the location not being as busy as you expected, or maybe the surcharge is too high. Maybe there is another ATM close by that is competing with yours. If this is the case, you will have to consider moving to a new location, adjusting the surcharge, or both.  

The site location owner might make some decisions or pose some requests that you will want to consider to maintain the relationship. He or she might want to use an ATM topper for ad space. Or the store might be moving to a new location. Will you follow or look for a new location sooner than you expected?

No matter what your plan is, remember that you have to remain flexible with it in order to be successful. When a challenge arises, use creative thinking to figure out the best solution.

4. Risk-Taker

To start a business, you have to be a risk-taker. Because you don’t know what’s going to happen. You can’t predict everything, and your plans can change at a moment’s notice. 

That can be scary when you invest your hard-earned money into a new business venture. But people do it every day. Starting an ATM business requires minimal start-up costs when compared to other business models. And you can make money immediately after set-up. So don’t let fear keep you from taking the next step in starting your ATM business.

5. Perseverant 

You are going to need perseverance when the going gets tough. To be successful, you can’t give up when challenges and obstacles arise. 

The first obstacle to overcome when starting an ATM business is the paperwork! It is relatively simple, but the number of documents that need to be completed can be overwhelming. Just prepare yourself early and take it one step at a time. Once it’s over, you can order and place your equipment and start making money.

You also need to exercise perseverance when negotiating a location for your ATM machines. It might take multiple visits, phone calls, emails, business cards, etc. to get in touch with local business owners and coordinate meetings to discuss your proposal.

And of course, don’t give up if your machine doesn’t do as well as you expected. You can always try another location or adjust the surcharge. You might also try to get creative with your marketing to boost traffic.

6. Knowledgeable 

Of course, you need to know about the service you offer. However, you don’t have to be an expert. At least not at the beginning. At the beginning, you need to be open to learning. That is how you eventually become an expert. 

You might need to rely on your ATM processor and technicians for support when you’re getting started. But once you get your questions answered, you can begin to take over some of those duties yourself as you learn more and more.

You might need to do some research to determine what equipment is right for you. And that’s okay. The more research you do, the more you learn, and the closer you come to being an expert. You can also watch videos to learn strategies and tips along the way.

7. Ethical

You want to make sure you are an ethical business owner. This will keep people wanting to work with you. 

When you negotiate a location for your ATM and develop the site location agreement (SLA), keep your partner’s interests in mind. Come up with a proposal that is fair and meets the needs of all parties involved.

Keep your surcharge fair, too. It’s okay to set a competitive surcharge; you are, after all, running a business. But don’t set it so high that your customers get a bad deal. That’s not the kind of business you want to run.

Finally, you want to maintain a strong work ethic. The ATM business isn’t extremely demanding, but it does require a bit of work. Don’t get lazy. Stick to a schedule, keep your promises, and be consistent, and your business is sure to succeed. 

8. Goal-Oriented

Your goals will drive any endeavor. Without goals, you risk losing momentum, and it’s easy to give up. Once you get comfortable operating one machine, you might find that you’re ready to deploy more. Six to ten machines later, you might find that you’re getting closer and closer to reaching your income goals.

Do you want to quit your day job and enjoy the flexibility of running ATM machines exclusively? Then you might need to scale your business and plan to add more ATMs to your route. Just want a little extra cash to supplement your current income? Then focus on that!

No matter what your goals are, make sure you’ve identified them and keep them in focus. This will drive you. Along with your passion for the business.

9. Passionate

The more passionate you are about what you do, the more enjoyable it will be, and the more successful you will become. Location owners will turn you down. Friends and family will shake their heads at your ideas. But if you are passionate, you will be able to move past all of that and keep going until you reach your goals.

Your competitors will be passionate. They will be networking, scaling, and providing good service, and if you plan to keep up, you have to meet that passion with your own. 

Your passion will bleed into your work, others will see it, and success will follow.

What Makes a Good Entrepreneur?

So what makes a good entrepreneur? The list goes on and on. Of course, there are more than 9 qualities that successful business people possess. But we’ve singled out some of the most important qualities that you will need to run a successful ATM business. Before you dive in, ask yourself, “Do I have what makes a good entrepreneur?” If the answer is yes, then head over to ATMDepot.com and find out how to get started in the ATM business!

ATM Business Cards 101

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ATM business cards are a good way to promote yourself, increase brand recognition, and sell your services. No matter what your role is in the ATM industry, you either sell a product or a service.

Like any other business, you have to find a way to keep up with the competition and bring in business of your own. In this article, we discuss why business cards are still relevant as well as their marketing advantages.

What are ATM Business Cards?

In the age of Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and other social platforms where networking takes place, you might have forgotten about the good, old-fashioned business card. Or maybe you just thought they don’t apply to you.

A typical business card is a 3.5- by 2-inch piece of high-quality paper stock that includes important information about you, your business, and how to get in touch. Physical business cards are effective marketing tools because offering people something tangible helps you to stand out.

Especially since we spend so much time online, having a physical business card that people can hold and feel keeps your information from being lost in an inbox or overwhelm of other online distractions. (Not to mention, you can always drop a physical business card in that jar at your favorite restaurant and win a free meal!)

ATM business cards are a good way to promote your service. Use business cards to quickly communicate important information about yourself and your business. Leave something tangible with your prospects so that they don’t forget about you! In other words, business cards most certainly apply to you. Keep reading to find out why.

Benefits of ATM Business Cards

Business cards are not a thing of the past. They still work, and they can work for you. If you’re looking for good locations to place ATM machines, there are many benefits to using business cards for the purpose.

Draw Business

The most important benefit to using ATM business cards is that they draw business. They wouldn’t exist if they didn’t. Not only do they help you stand out against competitors, but they also serve as a constant reminder for your prospect. 

If you are dropping in to businesses to gauge interest in placing an ATM machine on the premises, the business owner might not be ready to commit right at that second. Leaving a business card behind allows your prospect to think about your offer and contact you when he or she is ready. 

This process is much better than showing up with nothing, which makes it easy for the prospect to forget he or she even met you. It’s also better than simply leaving your phone number. It will get written down hastily on scrap paper that is easily lost, discarded, or difficult to read.

So if you want your prospects to remember you and contact you when they are ready to discuss a partnership, you’ll want them to have your card.

Low-Cost

There are many other ways you can market yourself and your business, of course. You could create a Facebook page, run ads, cold call, etc. However, in terms of time and cost, business cards are a good strategy. 

Printing a handful of business cards is relatively inexpensive. You can order through one of many business card websites like printbusinesscards.com, or you can make your own (more on this later). Either way, it’s a one-time cost well-spent. 

Convenient

ATM business cards are convenient because they are easily on-hand. They fit in your purse, wallet, the center console of your vehicle… So no matter where you are or who you meet, you can always have your ATM business card available to pass along.

Think about our earlier example: without a business card, you’re forced to leave your phone number or email written on a piece of scrap paper or, heaven forbid, on someone’s hand. Imagine if a number or letter got written down incorrectly or is illegible when your prospect returns to it. That’s a missed opportunity that can easily be avoided.

Professional  

If you laughed at the image of you writing your number down on someone else’s hand, that’s because it’s hilarious how unprofessional that would be! You can customize your ATM business cards to reflect who you are and what you do.

Business cards prove that you take yourself seriously. As should your prospects. Why would they want to invest in someone who hasn’t invested in him or herself?

How to Make an ATM Business Card

Making business cards isn’t challenging or time-consuming. Using drag-and-drop design websites like Canva, you can easily customize and create your own business cards and save money in the process.

ATM Business Card Template

When making your own ATM business cards, make sure you include the following:

  • Logo and Business Name – If you have registered your business with an LLC, you might have a logo and business name. It’s important to include these on your business cards so that people start to recognize your brand. This helps with word-of-mouth advertising (The cheapest form of advertising there is!). 
  • Contact Information – You will want to provide your name, phone number, email address, social handles, website address, etc. Whatever the best way is for your prospects to contact you, provide them with that information.
  • ATMs – This is what you are in the business of. This is the service you provide. Don’t forget to mention this on your business cards! A picture is an easy way to communicate this and it’s easy for your prospects to recognize and commit to memory.

ATM Business Card Samples

Take a look at these samples to get an idea of what clear, straightforward ATM business cards look like:

ATM Business Cards 101 - ATM Business Card Sample via ATMDepot
ATM Business Cards 101 - ATM Business Card Sample via ATMDepot
ATM Business Cards 101 - ATM Business Card Sample via ATMDepot

ATM Business Cards or ATM Business Flyer?

In addition to ATM business cards, we also recommend that you create an ATM business flyer. Both are separate and distinct marketing strategies.

Business cards are perfect resources for your prospects when they are ready to contact you. But why should they contact you? That’s why an ATM business flyer is essential.

ATM business flyers provide detailed information that won’t fit on your business cards. On your flyer, you want to list the ways you can help your prospects. This gives them time to think, research, and then contact you after they have all of the information they need.

At the bare minimum, you should have either ATM business cards or an ATM business flyer ready to leave with your prospects. But we recommend having both as they work together to really promote your service.

ATM Business Cards 101

Hopefully now you realize how important ATM business cards are and how they can work for you. If you are already networking and visiting businesses in person to find locations to place your ATM machines, then you need to have something physical to leave behind.

Of all of the prospects you talk to, how many of them are ready to commit after your initial conversation? Offering a business card helps cement your professionalism and credibility as well as provides a clear way to get in touch with you.

Don’t miss any more opportunities. Start designing your ATM business cards today!

How Much Does it Cost to Start an ATM Business?

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Before jumping head first into the ATM business, you might wonder how much does it cost to start an ATM business. This is a fair question. You might already have a budget for startup costs, and an ATM business model would need to fit into that budget. 

Or, maybe you want to know how much you need to budget for. Based on the number, you might then want to compare different business opportunities or strategies. You also might need to save up some money before you start your ATM business.

While we can’t give you a definitive number, we can tell you what expenses to account for. You will need to do some research and make some decisions only you can make. Not every ATM business looks the same. Your ATM business model depends on your unique lifestyle and goals.

So you’ll need to decide which machine to purchase, what features you need, where to place the machine, and how many partners you’ll have. All of these will vary in cost, but we’ll guide you in the direction of where to begin your research to find out how much does it cost to start an ATM business. 

Purchasing Equipment

The main cost of starting an ATM business is purchasing the machine itself. However, the cost doesn’t stop there. Depending on which machine you purchase, you might have to get an upgrade kit or pay for additional features. 

ATM Machine

ATM machines can range in cost from $1,000 to $8,000. This is a wide range, but it depends on the size of the machine and the age. 

Realistically, however, you should probably expect to pay around $2,000-$3,000. That is the range for the most common, free standing ATM machines.

Wall mount ATM machines are smaller and will cost less than a through-the-wall ATM machine designed to service areas with a lot of foot traffic and a lot of business. And a refurbished machine will cost less than a brand new machine. At least as far as the unit is concerned.

Upgrade Kit

What you have to look out for with refurbished machines is compliance. As regulations change, so must ATM design. Fortunately, to help accommodate these changes, upgrade kits are often available to keep a machine compliant without having to scrap it completely!

However, in some cases, a machine is just too old that it won’t support an upgrade kit. And if this is the machine you purchase, you will probably end up losing money. 

You also don’t want to purchase a machine that isn’t certified refurbished. If you do, you run the risk of spending more money on repairs than you would have if you had just purchased a new machine!

So keep these three things in mind when shopping for a refurbished machine:

  1. Will it need repairs?
  2. Will it need an upgrade kit?
  3. Am I saving money or creating more expenses?

On the other hand, you could find a nearly new, certified refurbished ATM machine that still has close to 8 years left of life or more. 

Choosing equipment is the biggest, most important decision of your ATM business. Because it is your ATM business.

Extra Features

There are a number of features you can add to your machine to help draw in more business. These features are not necessary for your machine to function or be compliant, they just help you keep up with your competition.

Lighted keypads draw customers in at night. Signs can be added to the top of your machine to help catch the eye of passers-by. And cameras can add another layer of security to your business.

As you can see, you’ll have to weigh the pros and cons of your ATM equipment purchase. Do you want to spend a little bit more for a brand new ATM machine that comes fully loaded or is it a bargain to purchase a used or refurbished machine that might need upgrades or supplemental features to draw customers? 

Insurance

You don’t have to purchase ATM insurance. This is completely up to you. ATM insurance works just like any other insurance policy: you pay a regular price so that you are covered in the instance of vandalism, theft, weather damage, lawsuit, etc. Typically you can choose a policy that covers the equipment and cash or one or the other. This gives you a few more options and flexibility. 

And you don’t have to purchase it right away. If you want to wait until you start making money from your machine, you can pay for the insurance later from the ATM revenue. 

You will want to work with an ATM company that is associated with the ATM Industry Association (ATMIA). These companies can guide you toward a policy that meets your specific needs so that you don’t pay for more than you need or avoid not having full coverage.

To give you an idea of what to expect if you do want to purchase ATM insurance, the average ATM business in the United States spends about  $400-$700 per year for $1 million in general liability coverage. Factors that contribute to the price of your policy are location, deductible, and number of employees.

However, if the business where your ATM is located has insurance for the property or business, your machine might be covered under the existing policy. Other location owners might require you to carry general liability insurance in order to work with you. Therefore, you open yourself up to more opportunities if you have coverage. So check with the location owner to see if there are insurance requirements you need to follow. 

Leasing a Space

You might find a business or store owner who is willing to rent the space where you want to place your ATM. This amount will depend on the location itself. And whether or not you agree to the rent price will depend on your projected revenue. Will you still be able to make a fair profit after deducting the cost of rent?

To make sure you always make enough to cover the rent, you might suggest splitting the revenue instead of a set rent price. That way, even when business is slow, you are still guaranteed a profit.

Revenue Split

If you don’t have your own business or store, you might have to convince a store owner to allow you to place your ATM in his or her business. While it doesn’t cost anything to reach out to and make connections with local business owners and decision makers, you might have to negotiate a revenue split to get them to agree to your proposition. 

This isn’t necessarily a start-up cost, but you’ll have to consider it when calculating the rate of your return on investment (ROI). It’s also a good alternative to paying rent for the space.

How Much Does it Cost to Start an ATM Business?

While we can’t give you an exact number, we can let you know how to figure the number before you purchase your machine. It’s a good idea to do some preliminary research on the cost of equipment, features, insurance, location, etc. 

That way you know whether this business is right for your goals and you know what to expect when it comes to your ROI. As you can tell, though, that when it comes to start-up costs, the ATM machine business has a much smaller overhead than many others. 

In the very simplest terms, you purchase a machine, set it up for use, and start making money. What makes it so simple is that you can find a business that already has a store and already has customers. And you get paid to make it better!

If you have any questions, you can contact us to speak to a representative. Then, contact us when you are ready to start your ATM business!

How to Start an ATM Business in 5 Steps

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If you’d like to make a little extra money on the side or want to transition out of your 9-5 job, you might want to know how to start an ATM business. In just 5 steps, you can own and operate an ATM machine that brings in passive income almost immediately.

You don’t need a business license or any specific entrepreneurial training or experience to start an ATM business. Just complete the required documentation, select your ATM machine type, find a location, set a surcharge, and start making a profit. Here, we’ll tell you how to start an ATM business today!

Step 1: Get Compliant with Paperwork

When starting an ATM business, you have to complete the required documentation. The following forms and documentation are necessary in order to even get your machine. This proves that you are qualified to operate an ATM machine and helps set you up for success. This process is designed to make purchasing and operating an ATM machine seamless.

Required Documentation

Your ATM processor will require an equipment order form. This is where you choose the equipment you want and indicate whether you or someone else will handle installation. You will also need to document what your surcharge will be (see below) and what denominations your ATM will dispense.

Next is the ACH form so that your revenue can be deposited into your bank account! Your driver’s license is required to prove your identity and pass a background check. You cannot run an ATM business if you have been found guilty of a felony or financial crime.

A voided business check verifies the legitimacy of your linked bank account. For the purposes of running an ATM business, the account must be a checking account, not a savings account.

The ATM Operator Agreement and application tells banking partners who they are working with and ensures all federal regulations are met. You will need to complete and submit a W-9 form as well. Since you will be making money from your ATM machine, you’ll need to document your earnings for tax purposes.

Finally is the ATM processing agreement. This document lists your rights and obligations as the ATM owner as well as the rights and obligations of the ATM processor. It’s the legal contract between you and the ATM processor that runs your ATM machine program. This agreement also ensures you receive your payment as agreed upon.

Other Applicable Documentation

You may or may not need to complete these forms. They don’t apply in all situations. For example, a business license and permit might only be necessary if your local government requires it. Otherwise, you can register as a sole proprietor under a “doing business as” business name.

A placement agreement, or site location agreement (SLA), would only be necessary if you are planning to install your ATM machine in a location that was owned by someone else. This document serves as a contract between you and that third party and outlines each party’s responsibilities and share of the revenue.

Like all insurance, ATM insurance is completely optional. You can opt to purchase it and account for the cost when calculating your potential profit after operation costs. Or you can test your luck without it. Kind of a gamble here, but if you work with an insurance company that is associated with the ATM Industry Association (ATMIA), they can guide you toward a policy that meets your specific needs.

Last is the wireless agreement. This allows the ATM processor to send you a wireless modem which converts your signal from Internet to cellular and speeds up your connection. Again, this is optional and can be done on your own timeline.

Step 2: Select ATM Type

When choosing ATM equipment, there are three necessary decisions you have to make: ATM type, manufacturer and model, and new or refurbished. 

ATM Type

You have a lot of options when it comes to choosing ATM equipment. First you must decide the ATM type. There are free-standing, through-the-wall (TTW), and wall mount ATM machines.

Free-standing ATMs offer the most flexibility when it comes to placement. They can be installed anywhere there is a power source. They have a small footprint which is helpful when planning around available floor space in a store.

TTW ATMs are bulkier but more secure because the interface, the back of the machine, is secured within the wall extending into the next room. This can make accessing the machine to replace currency a little safer.

Wall mount ATMs can be mounted to a wall, table, or countertop. This can be convenient if your location doesn’t have a lot of extra space available. This is also a more practical choice for small businesses and low-traffic locations.

Manufacturers and Equipment Options

Two of the most popular ATM manufacturers are Hyosung and Genmega. Both produce high-quality, reliable equipment. ATM Depot also offers the full lines of Triton and Hantle (Tranax) machines.

Each of these market-leading manufacturers produces sturdy ATM equipment that lasts upwards of ten years. Just remember that pricing will vary based on the manufacturing company, machine type, and features. You can get more information about manufacturer and equipment options in our ATM Buyers Guide.

New vs. Refurbished

You also have the option of purchasing your ATM machine new or refurbished. New machines are recommended for first-time independent ATM deployers (IADs) who are just starting an ATM business. The new technology informed by feedback from IADs and users makes new ATM machines easier to use.

However, purchasing a refurbished machine could save you some money and therefore speed up your ROI and increase your profit. It’s also better for the environment to reuse electronic equipment rather than having it sent to the landfill.

Step 3: Find a Location

Choosing the right location is very important when it comes to making a profit from your ATM business. You have to find a location where there’s a great need for an ATM machine. Where do people go where they need cash to pay for goods and services? Where is there a large gap between one ATM machine and the next? What are the areas of your city with the most foot traffic? And who might you have to partner with in order to place your machine in a strategic spot?

Who Will Own the Space?

Before you should even think about ordering an ATM machine, you need to know where you’re going to put it. Choosing the perfect ATM location is a very strategic process. You have to consider factors such as visibility, ease of access, and competition. 

The first decision you have to make when choosing a location is whether you want to rent your own space, supply a space you already own, or coordinate with a site location owner. If you rent or purchase your own space, you have to factor that into your operating costs and adjust your business model accordingly to still make enough of a profit for it to be worth it.

The same is true of partnering with a site location owner. Depending on the agreement you set up, you could end up splitting your profits with the owner of the location where you choose to install your ATM. Keep this in mind when calculating your potential profit.

What Are the Best ATM Locations?

When it comes to choosing the right location for your ATM machine, you really have to consider what’s best for you and your business specifically. And you have to work with the locations available to you. Generally speaking, the best ATM locations typically share the same characteristics: cash only, high traffic, good reviews, liquor license, distance from other machines, and convenience for you.

Locations that are cash only or that encourage cash transactions create the demand that your ATM supplies. If people need cash, they need an ATM. This is good for business. So is high traffic. 

The more people who pass by and see your ATM on a regular basis, the more business you’re likely to get. High traffic areas also provide a certain level of security and comfort among users. Isolated machines away from security cameras or the public eye present an increased risk of vandalism and theft.

If you partner with a store owner, you want your ATM to be placed in a store or business that has good reviews. The more customers that store gets, the more business your ATM is likely to get. 

Locations with liquor licenses are good options, too. They are open late, so that extends the hours of operation of your ATM machine and offers more opportunities for transactions. Plus, it’s reasonable to have an increased surcharge at these locations, too (more on surcharge later).Finally, you have to consider the proximity of your machine to you as well as to other machines. The closer your ATM is to other machines, the more competition you have to get customers. But you also want the machine to be convenient for you to access. The more time and money you spend getting to your machine for maintenance and surveillance, the less profit you make.

What Are the Most Profitable ATM Locations?

There are some specific business types that tend to be more profitable due to increased surcharges, high demand, and large volume of patrons. These include casinos, gentlemen’s clubs, hotels, nightclubs and bars, convenience stores and gas stations, restaurants, barbershops and salons, microbreweries, and parking lots.

Keep in mind that profits will vary based on each individual business’s success. When looking for an optimal location for your ATM, choose a business that is busy, regularly brings in customers, and has good potential for staying in business for a while.

Step 4: Set Your Surcharge

The surcharge is the fee customers or users pay for the service your ATM machine offers. For each transaction made on your ATM machine, you make the surcharge amount in return. Setting your surcharge is a very strategic process. You want to offer a competitive surcharge while also setting yourself up to make as much profit as possible. 

The average ATM surcharge fee is about $2.50. Depending on the competition in your area, you can raise or lower that fee amount. And you can change it at any time. 

You might want to start with a low surcharge to encourage people to use your machine as you are just getting started. Or, alternatively, you might want to set a higher surcharge to meet your ROI quicker and start profiting sooner. The choice is up to you.

You also want to consider whether or not you’ll be sharing any portion of the revenue with a third party like a site location owner. If you are, you might opt to set a higher surcharge so that you make more after the site location owner’s share.

Step 5: Start Making Money

It is possible to make a good amount of money from an ATM business. When you’re just starting out, you will want to undergo a modicum of trial and error to get your business model just right. But with an ATM business, you have a low overhead and many opportunities for growth.

As long as people use your machine, you will make money. Getting people to use your machine is the hard work that you have to do once everything is set up. But once you do, you should expect to be making at least $450 monthly gross revenue. That’s 180 transactions a month at $2.50 each.

You can expect 40%-70% annual ROI from any location that warrants 80-100 transactions monthly. To make $1,500-$2,000 monthly in profit, you would need to own and operate 5-10 ATM machines. This is certainly possible if you can establish an efficient routine with your first machine and find optimal locations for subsequent machines. 

How to Start an ATM Business

If you want to know how to start an ATM business, it’s actually very easy. In just a few steps you can start making money. It will require a little bit of work to develop a routine with your machine and test different surcharge amounts and marketing strategies. But there are very few steps involved between completing the required paperwork and beginning to make money.

The best part about running an ATM business is that most of the factors that determine your success are in your control. You decide how much to invest in equipment, where you want your machine, who to work with, and how much you’d like to make per transaction. If you still have questions regarding how to start an ATM business, you can speak with an ATM Depot representative. Contact us today!

How to Start an ATM Business

ATM Business Profit: How Much Can You Really Expect to Make?

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It’s very simple to make ATM business profit. However, the amount you can make will vary based on your goals, investment, and resources. The good news is that most of these factors are in your control. 

If you’re strategic, patient, and willing to undergo a little trial and error, you can discover the perfect formula for running an ATM business that brings in the revenue you’re hoping for. 

Before we get into specific details, we’ll answer some quick questions:

Is it easy to make ATM business profit? Yes.

Will it require hard work? Yes.

Are there opportunities for growth? Yes.

When we say it’s easy to make ATM business profit, we mean that as long as people use the machine, you will make money. Pretty simple, right? But it does require a little bit of effort on your part to get people to use your machine. That’s where we can help.

In the following sections we’ll share tips for maximizing your profit and growing your ATM business once you get the hang of operating your first ATM machine. At the end of the day, though, the most successful ATM business is the ATM business that works for you. 

How to Run an ATM Business

Starting an ATM business is one of the easiest businesses to set up and start making money immediately. We’ll prove it to you by breaking it down into a few simple steps.

Step 1: Buy and set up an ATM machine

You might want to do a little bit of research to find the equipment that best suits your needs and your goals to ensure you make the right choice. Then, make sure you have a place to put the machine whether it’s in your own store, a space you lease, or in someone else’s store (more on this later).

You don’t need to establish a business entity immediately. You can just do business as yourself at first. And the company you purchase the ATM from can help with the setup, so you don’t even have to worry about the bulk of the technical details.

Step 2: Make your ATM available to the public

Once your ATM is set up and fully operational, all you need to do is make sure it continues to work, keep it loaded with cash and receipt paper, and you might want to do a little bit of advertising or promotion to let people know about your machine.

Step 3: Collect a surcharge for each cash withdrawal transaction

The surcharge you set is your number one revenue source from your ATM. That means you make more money with the more transactions that are made on your ATM. In a couple of sections we’ll discuss some strategies for setting a surcharge.

Once you make back your investment, you can start to profit off of the surcharge fees. And that’s it! Next, we cover the specifics.

How Many Transactions Do You Need to Make ATM Business Profit?

Unfortunately, we do not have a magic number for you. Each independent ATM deployer (IAD) will have different goals and varying initial investments. You cannot make a profit until after you’ve reached your return on investment (ROI). And the timeframe you set for yourself to reach that goal will determine how many transactions you need at what surcharge.

We do, however, have some average numbers based on our experiences and the experiences of the IADs we work with. To give you an idea of what to expect, consider the following scenario:

Let’s say you set your surcharge at $2.50. That means that you earn $2.50 for each cash withdrawal transaction made on your machine. For the purposes of this scenario, we will estimate that you get an average of 6 transactions per day. 

That equals 180 transactions/month. Multiply 180 by $2.50 and you are looking at about $450 monthly gross revenue from your ATM machine. Now think of that in relation to your goals.

First of all, if you spend $2,000 on ATM equipment, it’s going to take a few months to make that back with 6 transactions a day before you can start to make a profit. Second of all, if you want to grow an ATM business and make it your main source of income, you’ll need to invest in a few machines.

IADs that own and operate 5-10 ATMs make about $1,500-$2,000 monthly in profit. So if you’re looking to make thousands of dollars with ATMs, you will need more than one. 

However, in terms of one single location, you can expect 40%-70% annual ROI from any location that warrants 80-100 transactions monthly.

And don’t be afraid to experiment with your surcharge.

Surcharge

The number one rule of setting a surcharge is to be competitive. You can set a higher than average surcharge ($3.00 or $4.00), but customers might pass you over for a machine that only charges a couple of dollars. Now, if you have the only ATM around, of course you get the luxury of raising that surcharge.

You might also consider starting with a lower surcharge than the competition at first to entice people to use it over a location they might be used to. It might require a little trial and error to get your surcharge just right. Find out whether people are using your machine more for convenience or for a competitive surcharge fee.

The good news is that you are in control. And with no backend communication costs, bank sponsorship costs, or any other operational costs, the surcharge fees generated are pure profit for you. For more tips on setting your surcharge, check out our article How to Set Your ATM Surcharge.

Location and ATM Business Profit

Location is very closely tied to your ATM business profit. Where you place your ATM needs enough foot traffic to be profitable. The more people pass by your ATM on a daily basis, the more likely you are to get transactions. 

You also want to make sure passers-by feel safe and comfortable using your machine. If your ATM is in a well-lit, monitored, highly populated area, you can expect more transactions than an ATM that is hidden or dangerous to use at night.

You also need to consider profit sharing when calculating your total profit from your ATM. That will depend on who owns your ATM location.

Site Location Agreement

If you partner with the owner of a retail store or business you’ll want to create a site location agreement. This serves as a contract between you and the site location owner and outlines roles and responsibilities as well as compensation. 

Some store owners might be content with the increase in sales an ATM can provide their businesses and agree to let you have a larger share of the surcharge fee profit. Others might only agree to give up space inside their store for your ATM if they get a share of the surcharge profit.

It can be helpful for you to have an extra pair of hands available to refill the machine and keep an eye on it, but keep in mind that the more responsibilities you share the more profit you’ll likely have to share. 

You get to draft this contract however you see fit, but it’s a good business practice to make sure it’s a win-win situation.

Your Own Store

If you own a business already, adding an ATM can be profitable for you in a number of ways. First of all, there is the surcharge fee profit. And since you are the site location owner, you won’t have to split that profit with a third party.

Second, an ATM can attract customers to your store which increases the opportunity for passers-by to make impulse purchases. Additionally, you can add coupons to your receipts to encourage future visits and purchases. And third, promoting cash sales saves you money on credit card fees.

The Best ATM Locations

If you have ever used an ATM at a bar or casino, you might have noticed that the surcharge fee is much higher than that at your local gas station or grocery store. This is because certain locations can get away with charging higher fees because they know their customers will pay it.

What you offer your customers with your ATM business is convenience. That is the service they pay for. So different locations can support different surcharges. 

Some locations are also more densely populated than others. These are going to be at the top of the list for some of the best locations as well due to the fact that more traffic creates more opportunities. You can check out the 9 best ATM locations we have identified through our experiences with IADs here. 

Equipment and ATM Business Profit

The type of equipment you purchase determines how quickly you can begin to make ATM business profit. Of course, the lower your investment, the quicker you can meet your ROI and begin pocketing the rest. However, you don’t want to end up spending more on repairs because you opted for cheap equipment. 

So you’ll have to figure out a balance there. But we can help you choose the right equipment for your needs in our ATM Buyers Guide so that you know exactly what to look for and what your options are.

You have to decide also if you want to purchase additional features like keyboard lighting or toppers to help advertise and draw in customers. Depending on your location, it might be a good idea to invest in cameras and security as well as insurance for your machine. 

Whatever you decide you need to make sure your ATM is the preferred location in town, just add up all of the costs and adjust your surcharge accordingly so that you can meet your ROI and begin profiting as soon as possible.

Choosing the Right Denominations

If your machine facilitates removable cassettes, you can store two different currencies (10s and 20s, for example) which gives your customers more options for cash withdrawal amounts. This enhances the convenience your ATM offers and can result in a larger ATM business profit for you.

Removable cassettes also allow you to store more cash, so you can service very busy locations reliably without worrying about running out of bills or having to inconvenience yourself by making extra stops to refill the machine. The less time you spend on your business, the more profit you make, too. Would you rather make $450 in 20 hours or 30?

You also want to consider the demographics of your ATM location as well. Low income neighborhoods are more likely to need smaller ATM cash withdrawal amounts, so the better able you are to accommodate that the more business your machine will get. Keep this in mind as you choose what denominations to store in your ATM.

Choosing the Right Bank

You want to make as much ATM business profit as possible, so that means you need to keep costs down. Different banks have different fee structures and typically offer a variety of requirements to avoid those fees. You want to avoid them if possible to increase your profit.

Since you will be filling your ATM machine with your own funds, you need to find out what the minimum balance is for your funding account so that you don’t drop below it when refilling your machine. If you drop below the required minimum balance, you might have to pay out $10 or so in bank fees for that month.

And you want to choose a bank that will work with you and that communicates well. Because again, the more time you have to spend running around town and waiting and facing obstacles, the less profit you make because that’s all time you have to pay yourself for. 

It’s Easy to Make ATM Business Profit

Making ATM business profit is easy compared to many other businesses. It’s relatively inexpensive to start; just purchase the equipment and possibly lease a space. You can start making money immediately after the machine is set up.

You don’t need any specific entrepreneurial or business experience. In most cases you don’t need to hire any employees unless you want to. And you don’t need to set up a business entity (like establishing an LLC) to get started.

You don’t have any products to sell in person or online. There’s no multi-level marketing (MLM). And there aren’t any franchise fees associated with owning and operating an ATM business.

So as far as getting started, making money quickly, and establishing a routine that’s convenient and profitable for yourself, an ATM business is the way to go. If you still have questions or would like to speak with a representative from ATMDepot.com, contact us today!