5 Key Points to Make on an ATM Business Flyer

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One of the first steps for setting up an ATM business is choosing a location. This can be tricky to do if you are in an area where there is already an abundance of ATM machines in operation. However, if you are able to find a business or location where an ATM machine could be lucrative, you then run into the challenge of convincing the location owner to work with you by reminding them of the benefits of an atm machine. A simple way to do this is to make an ATM business flyer.

There are a few compelling reasons you can use to seal the deal. When negotiating a partnership, be sure to mention all of the benefits of an ATM machine.

Benefits of an ATM machine include:

  1. Saving money on credit card fees
  2. Keeping customers in the store that need cash
  3. Increasing opportunities for cash sales
  4. Encouraging future business by offering coupons on your ATM screen and/or ATM receipts

If you already have a machine or two in operation, don’t hesitate to discuss testimonials from other businesses you have worked with. This is a great way to settle any doubts the location owner might have about working with you.

Use these 5 points (your testimonials included) to help negotiate your way into a partnership and lock down the perfect location for your next ATM machine. We also recommend creating an ATM business flyer listing these 5 points. You can leave it with the location owners you speak with if they want time to think it over. Or maybe they’ll change their minds if they initially decline.

Point #1: Reduce Credit Card Fees

The first point to make on your ATM business flyer is that an in-store ATM machine reduces credit card fees. This is a major benefit of having an ATM machine in a business. Businesses are charged between 1.3% and 3.5% in credit card processing fees for each transaction made. An ATM offers customers the opportunity to pay with cash rather than card. So the chances of avoiding those processing fees increases.

Credit card processing fees can also be offset by the ATM surcharge. If the location owner gets a share of the ATM surcharge revenue, it can cover the credit card processing fees and the remainder kept as profit!

After installing an ATM, some locations even opt to get rid of credit card processors altogether. This would be a great selling point for small businesses rather than convenience stores where customers expect the option of paying with a card. But a small, local business could save a lot of money on credit card processing fees by encouraging cash-only transactions and offering ATM service.

Point #2: Keep Customers Who Need Cash

An ATM machine draws in customers who need to withdraw cash. This puts businesses with ATMs at an advantage over competing businesses without an ATM. 

The main selling point of your ATM machine is convenience. Convenience is another major benefit of an ATM machine. If customers can access their accounts from the places they’re already shopping, your ATM machine will do well. And, the location owner can count on repeat business from these customers.

Be sure to mention on your ATM business flyer that an ATM machine retains customers who need cash. It’s an added convenience that can give your prospective location an edge against their competition.

Point #3: Provide More Cash for Spending

Convenience stores, for one, experience 23% more in sales from ATM users. This means that businesses could expect to see about a 20% increase in sales just by having an ATM machine on the premises. What is the point of withdrawing cash if not to spend it?

Offering customers the convenience of withdrawing cash in-store in turn benefits the store owner by increasing impulse purchases. Customers now have the cash to do so. And passers by who only intend to use the ATM machine are visiting a business they might not have otherwise.

Therefore, providing ATM service to patrons and non-patrons alike gets more people in the door and creates more opportunities for sales. Not to mention just promoting the business itself. Setting up an ATM machine is an easy, no-cost way for location owners to draw in new customers. 

Point #4: Offer Valuable Coupons

Another way to promote future business and increase sales is to offer coupons. Coupons can be printed on ATM receipts or shown on the screen of your ATM. They not only incentivize customers to use your ATM machine, but they also create repeat customers for the location owner. 

And they don’t have to be used indefinitely. You can offer coupons while your ATM machine is new to create awareness of the added service. Then, once you’ve established a customer base, you can offer coupons only promotionally if you and the location owner would like to.

Coupons give customers a reason to return to that location and a reason to shop there specifically. Using the ATM as an advertising method is also a benefit of an ATM machine. Increased visits equals increased sales and potentially increased ATM transactions.

Point #5: Testimonials

Finally, include testimonials on your ATM business flyer. If you have worked with location owners who have saved and/or made money from one of your ATM machines, get a statement and share it with prospective location owners. 

If you are pitching your ATM machine as a stranger, it can help to have some proven success to back you up. Location owners want to hear from people like them about why they should be open to partnering with an ATM owner and how it can benefit them.

If you don’t already have successful machines in other locations, you can borrow testimony. This might be a statement from any business owner who has benefitted from an ATM machine, even if it wasn’t yours. 

You can also cite the successes of your ATM provider. Knowing that you work with a company whose name is well-known and that has a proven track record can help ease you into a partnership as well.

Benefits of an ATM Machine for Location Owners

If you want to run your ATM machine out of someone else’s store or business, you will have to convince him or her to share the space with you. The best way to do that is to outline all of the benefits of an ATM machine. 

What it really comes down to is extra revenue. Surcharge fees reduce or at least cover credit card fees. ATM machines draw more customers to stores and businesses. And once users are inside, the opportunities for impulse purchases and future business increase. 

ATM machines are money-makers, especially for location owners since you, the ATM owner, handle all of the start-up costs. But it can still be daunting for location owners to enter into a partnership with a stranger. That’s why we recommend including testimonials on your ATM business flyer as well. 

Convince your prospect that installing an ATM machine is simple, lucrative, and safe. List these 5 key points on your ATM business flyer to leave with prospective location owners and expect to be met with interest.

Then, once you have a location secured, contact ATMDepot.com to order your equipment!

Benefits to an ATM Machine and other Key Points and to Make on an ATM Business Flyer via ATMDepot.com

Check this: Viagra: The Complete Guide to Usage, Benefits, and Medical Insights

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Meeting User Needs: User Requirements for ATM Machines

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It’s important to understand the user requirements for ATM machines because you want to make sure your equipment meets the needs of your customers. User requirements can be broken down into two categories: functional and non-functional. 

Functional and non-functional requirements, or functional specifications, are not terms specific to ATM machines. You can find these terms used within any business that develops software or systems. User requirements are often accompanied by business requirements and system requirements.

User requirements refer to user needs. For example, what the user actually does with the system (in this case ATM machines) and what activities the user should be able to perform. The customers and their needs inform manufacturer decisions about upgrades and model adjustments.

Now, there are both functional and non-functional user requirements. Functional requirements are mandatory. These are the requirements that users expect each time they visit an ATM machine. 

Non-functional requirements are not essential. These requirements are what can make or break the cost of a machine. Non-functional requirements can be left out to save on cost. As long as doing so does not negatively affect the user experience, of course. You might think of functional requirements as needs and non-functional requirements as wants.

For the purpose of this article, we will discuss what functional and non-functional user requirements look like when it comes to your ATM machine. Each has its place, but it’s important that you know what your machine offers your customers.

Functional Requirements for ATM Machines

Functional requirements refer to what the ATM machine should do. This includes ATM behaviors and how the ATM should react when certain conditions are met. For example, the ATM receives input, reacts, and delivers the appropriate output.

The advantage of functional requirements is that they help define service and behavior expectations. If something is missing or if there are errors, it is obvious and can be adjusted. And functional errors are typically relatively cheap to fix. 

Functional requirements support user goals, tasks, and activities. Let’s take a look at some examples of functional user requirements for ATM machines. 

Examples of Functional User Requirements for ATM Machines

Functional requirements are the mandatory actions the ATM should perform upon user request. We can automatically list those pretty easily: withdraw, deposit, transfer, pay bill, account balance, print receipt, exit. Now let’s look at some of those in terms of input and output. When a user

  • inputs the selection to withdraw funds, the ATM should dispense the selected amount
  • inputs the selection to receive an account balance, the ATM should display the available amount
  • indicates that all transactions have ended, the ATM should return the card and return to its idle state

Above we said that functional requirements refer to how the ATM should behave when certain conditions are met. For instance, when a user inputs the selection to withdraw funds, the ATM should dispense the selected amount from any suitable account linked to the card and upon approval from the bank. 

These functional requirements are not unconditional. The ATM can only respond accordingly under the appropriate conditions. Functional requirements include descriptions of

  • data entered into the ATM (card, PIN)
  • operations performed by each screen (withdraw, deposit, transfer)
  • workflows performed by the ATM (transferring funds, accepting envelopes, reporting deposits)
  • ATM reports or other outputs (dispensing cash, printing receipt)
  • who can enter the data into the system
  • how the ATM meets applicable regulatory requirements

When thinking of functional requirements, think of what the customer needs in order to perform his or her transaction. And of course there are many many more user requirements that fall under this category. 

But hopefully you get the idea. When the customer does X, the machine does Y. Functional requirements are the observable tasks or processes that must be performed by the ATM machine. So everything else is non-functional.

Non-Functional User Requirements for ATM Machines 

The qualities or standards the ATM must have or comply with are non-functional requirements. You might hear them referred to as supplemental requirements or quality of service requirements. They define how the ATM works and describe limits on functionality. So in other words, they specify criteria that judge the operation of the ATM rather than the specific behaviors of the ATM. 

While functional requirements answer “what” and “who,” non-functional requirements answer “how” and “to what extent.” And if non-functional requirements are not met, the ATM will still work. Functionality is not dependent upon non-functional requirements.

However, non-functional requirements do help make the ATM easy to use and enhance the ATM performance. They are properties, not features, and focus on user expectations rather than user requirements or needs.

Examples of Non-Functional User Requirements for ATM Machines

Some elements that come to mind when describing non-functional user requirements for ATM machines are accessibility, compliance, performance, security, and usability. 

Functional requirements refer to the ATM output itself. And non-functional requirements refer to how quickly the output is received, how easy it is to get the output, and how safely the output is obtained.

So non-functional requirements include safety functions like the key-operated power switch and operator panel. And security protocols like retaining the card after too many unsuccessful PIN attempts. Or performance indicators like speed of transactions.

A Side-by-Side Glance at Functional and Non-Functional Requirements

Again, functional requirements refer to the ATM behavior. Non-functional requirements define the ATM behavior per certain standards. Take a look at the following examples:

FunctionalNon-Functional
PINCorrect PIN allows transactionsMust be entered correctly within a certain number of attempts
Cash DispenserDispenses cashCan be opened and refilled with cash
PrinterReceipt printed upon demandCan be opened and refilled with paper
ATM StateDefaults to idle upon completion of transactionsCan be shut down and restarted
Functional vs. Non-Functional Requirements

Functional requirements refer to what the system should do. Non-functional requirements refer to how the system should fulfill those functional requirements. So functional requirements relate to components while non-functional requirements relate to the system as a whole.

The customer doesn’t care how cash is refilled, just that it dispenses cash when prompted. Nor does the customer care how the ATM is powered on and off, just that it’s on when he or she needs to use it. Make sense?

Why it is Important to Understand Functional and Non-Functional Requirements

You can think of these requirements from two perspectives. First, you can think in terms of your customers and users. For example, do the machines you provide offer them the options they both want and need? Are they happy to pay associated fees for these abilities? 

Second, you can think of yourself as the customer. What do you need and want from an ATM machine? Does the manufacturer meet those needs for a fair price? If the price is too high, what non-functional or supplemental requirements can you sacrifice to lower the scope or cost of the machine? 

And your answers to these questions might be based on your customers’ answers to the same questions. The purpose of functional and non-functional requirements is to make sure customers get a high quality product exactly as they expect it.

Keep this in mind as you shop for ATM machines from different manufacturers. Which model best meets your and your customers’ needs for the best price? Consider non-functional requirements as you weigh your options. ATMDepot.com provides detailed information for each machine listed on the website as well as owner manuals. Take a look and rest assured that you know exactly what you get before you purchase. Still have questions? Contact us today to speak with a representative!

How to Keep Your ATM Business Going During the Coronavirus Pandemic

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Make no mistake, we are at war with an invisible opponent and it takes an Army to overcome it. You all are an Army! No one here is alone in this. We’re a family of ATM Entrepreneurs with tons of experience and ideas. We will get through this and many innovations and relationships can be borne from it.  Take advantage of any opportunities you can. Here are some thoughts and ATM Business Coronavirus Tips …
Hang in there, people. Believe it or not there could be an opportunity if you’re willing to risk it.  
While at home, you could be planning for the future. This situation is not going to last forever. Stay safe but you can still do things to grow and maintain your ATM Business. Like …

  1. Calling Local Essential Store Owners: Call local essential store owners and offer to take over their ATM for 90 days so they can focus on their main business. Offer to sterilize the ATM often or add value that can help them during this crisis. Think about what might help them and benefit you or your future relationship with them.
  2. Placing an ATM in Your Neighborhood: Think about what would make a difference in your neighborhood. Would a mobile ATM help? People might not want to use an ATM in the grocery store, target, or Wal-Mart right now. They are probably not as sanitized as one that would be brought to their house in a van or on a trailer.
    • Get creative. Even a small 3′ x 5′ trailer (enclosed or open) would accommodate an ATM. Bolt it to the floor of the trailer and reinforce it with some steel “L” metal or large galvanized eye bolts if you want, that will allow you to even add a lock if you want from inside the ATM.
    • Add an ATM Wireless device, Car battery, inverter, and a car battery trickle charger at home overnight and you’ve got a low budget mobile essential service ATM.
    • Advertise on the nextdoor.com app; clean, safe, cash delivery. You can probably set the surcharge at whatever makes it worthwhile for all parties.

Place an ATM in Your Neighborhood
They are paying you for an essential service that lessens their risk to exposure. You are risking exposure as are first responders, medical professionals, grocery clerks, and other essential businesses and employees. 
Contactless delivery of cash would mean they use your just sanitized ATM, you stay back at least 10+ feet while they process the transaction.  You can even have a few of the items you sell displayed in the trailer if it’s enclosed or make a flyer or sign and put it on top of the ATM in a plexiglass holder (like a table tent). Or take the orders in advance and have them bagged and ready to deliver.
I’d also guess banks that service ATMs are being neglected due to short staff, cutbacks, and trying to run leaner. So they might not be cleaned as often or if the store’s maintenance crew is so busy cleaning everything else and they don’t own the ATM it may be neglected.
If you’re willing and need to provide for yourself or others, you are considered an essential business.  You can even offer smaller shop owners who may be struggling and are running to lean to help; even offer to stock shelves for an hour to show him you’re for real and you live in that town and want to help.
This is how true relationships are developed.

Just remember, don’t let this shut you down. There are still ways to earn money for your ATM Business.

Since you’re offering cash delivery it makes sense to also offer a basic delivery service with other essentials. Pick up various kinds of fruits and vegetables that are popular in your neighborhood, add some soda, coffee beans, or whatever makes sense in your neighborhood.  
Maybe even consider liquor delivery (but you’d have to make a deal with a local liquor store to be “their delivery service” since there are laws around booze delivery but many states are relaxing those a bit.
If you have an ATM in a restaurant and it’s closed, talk to the owner or manager. Perhaps they have some food they want to get rid of or sell. Maybe their food distributor wants to move some items they can’t sell to the restaurants now since they are closed. You might be able to help a restaurant just sell their food inventory or work out a delivery deal with them. This restaurant turned into a grocery store to keep the doors open.
Offer items at a fair markup, add the delivery fee in the surcharge (make sure that’s disclosed), $15 – $20 is not out of line if you have a decent selection of common items and they pay in cash with the ATM machine so you have no CC fees (obviously you could take CC with PayPal, Venmo, etc) but if you want to promote your local ATM business and make deals with local merchants that see little to no traffic, offer their items on consignment even. It’s a great way to get to know store owners and perhaps secure the ATM location in the future.

I don’t advise being out of your house, but for some that don’t have any emergency funds or have a lot of bills to pay and absolutely need some income coming in, there are ways.  Just be sure to “Suit up” if you venture out to conduct business. That means real PPE gear to protect yourself.

The more Personal Protection Equipment you use, the safer you’ll be and your customers will trust that you’re serious about the sanitary nature of the ATM and your items. You can also offer wipes, masks, and anything people might need or be running out of.
Some of these items take a few weeks to get. Make no mistake, we’ll most likely be in this mode of operating for at least another 8 weeks, maybe 12.  Get prepared. Don’t be fooled into thinking this is only a few more weeks. This virus isn’t going to magically disappear. 

Links to Personal Protection Equipment: 

Not everyone has a credit card to use for food delivery. Everyone needs fresh fruits, veggies, and some staples often and can’t risk visiting the store often if they are at high risk.  You can turn this into a temporary business and keep some cash coming in. During the great depression, people were selling fruit in the streets of New York, this is nothing new, just a modern twist on survival.
Here’s a Sample nextdoor.com ad (I’m not sure nextdoor.com will allow this but it’s worth a shot. It may get flagged but keep posting). I’d also contact the local chamber of commerce and any other outreach programs to help get the word out. Even 4 – 5 deliveries a day will help you bring in a couple of grand a month.

Howdy neighbors! My name is [     ] and I’m in your neighborhood. I’m in the ATM business and with the virus disrupting my everyday livelihood I’m trying to take care of myself and my family.  Do you need Cash or basic essentials like fruit, veggies, coffee, soda, or something else?
Since most of the locations where my ATMs are located are now closed, I’m offering to bring an ATM to your house or neighborhood and deliver essential everyday items like fresh fruit, vegetables, and some other items to reduce your risk of going outside.
If you need some cash for when you do need to venture out to stock up on other supplies you can count on my ATM to be safe. It will be sanitized after every single person uses it (unlike the ones at the stores). Having cash before you go to the store will also reduce your risk of exposure since you won’t have to touch the credit or debit card machines and you can get in and out of the store faster. 
In order to make my delivery service convenient and safe for everyone, I will be wearing personal protection (Mask, Gloves, etc) and everything I sell will have been sanitized prior to delivery. I will wear gloves when getting your selections. 
For example. I will have bananas, apples, onions, potatoes, (list items you plan to offer here including any cleaning supplies. Think of things your neighbors might want).  If there is something else you want, I will be going to the store to stock up on (pick some days) and you can email items that interest you. If I can find them available, I can provide them.  There will be a minimal markup on items but I do ask that you pay for them with the cash from my ATM machine and the delivery charge will be included in the ATM surcharge of (enter what you want to charge here – $15, $20  ??). It is a flat fee for delivery and cash withdrawal. The maximum cash you can get per visit is $200 (there will not be much more than that available in the ATM for each delivery for safety reasons). If you prefer to pay with Venmo (or enter another form of payment you might take) the delivery fee will be added to that payment method.
Thank you for helping me support my family during this crisis. God bless us all!

How to Pull Reports Before the WorldPay Portal Shutdown

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What’s Happening with WorldPay Portal?

Were you a WorldPay Portal user?
Many ATM entrepreneurs consistently used WorldPay’s Portal site before the company was acquired by a U.S. fintech group, Fidelity National Information Services (FIS), back in 2019. According to CNBC, The company was sold for around $35 billion, the biggest deal to date in the booming payments industry.
Slight changes started to roll in on the site. And, changes occurred in how ATM Operators were managing their TIDs. However, since then, ATM owners and operators have still had access to reporting on the site. Unfortunately, this is coming to an end.
Check Out Our Email Announcement | Sign Up for Our Emails
The last day to pull data from your WorldPay Portal is February 21, 2020. Once the portal shuts down, you will no longer be able to access any reports or transaction histories. So, grab what you need!
It’s strongly advised that you pull any reports—such as Month End Statements, Merchant Statements, and Settlement Reporting—BEFORE THIS DATE.

Why Should I Pull My ATM Reports?

Is it required? No. But, it’s a good idea to keep historical data. You never know when you might need to refer back to previous transactions for trends, reference, or for future tax or business purposes. It can’t hurt. So, why not?
Remember, after February 21st you’ll no longer have the option, so grab them now. 

How Do I Pull My ATM Reports from WorldPay Portal?

There are many reports that you can pull from the WorldPay Portal before the permanent shutdown. The three main reports you may want to pull are:

  1. Month End Statements – Shows complete transaction data and settlement totals selected for each month
  2. Merchant Statements – Shows complete transaction data and settlement totals for each merchant
  3. Settlement Reporting – Confirm your settlement deposit amounts by selecting a date range by week or month, then view the settlement amounts deposited into the bank account each day.

1. How to Pull My Month End Statements

Terminal Reports > Transaction Reporting > Terminal Statement > Choose Date > Press “OK” > Want to Print? Scroll down to “Printer Friendly Version” > Report shows in PopUp “Printable Terminal Statement” > Hit “Ctrl + P” (* Note: May have to accept pop-ups on your computer from Worldpay.com)

WorldPay Portal Dashboard - Transaction Reporting Dropdown

WorldPay Portal Dashboard - Terminal Statement

  

WorldPay Portal Dashboard - Enter Date for Terminal Statement

WorldPay Portal Dashboard - Month End Statement - Click to Print

2. How to Download My Merchant Statements

Terminal Reports > Transaction Reporting > Merchant Summary by Terminal > Choose Date > Press “OK” > Report shows in PopUp “ReportPDF” (* Note: May have to accept pop-ups on your computer from Worldpay.com)

3. How to Pull My Settlement Reporting

Terminal Reports > Transaction Reporting > Daily Terminal Activity > Choose Date Range (best to select by month; the report cannot be more than 40 days)  > Press “Submit” > Report is submitted to you via email (at your user email address)
WorldPay Portal - Daily Terminal Activity for Settlement Reporting WorldPay Portal - Daily Terminal Activity - Enter Date to Request Settlement Reporting WorldPay Portal - Daily Terminal Activity - Email Confirmation

What’s Next?

At this moment, nothing is actually changing. Why? Because most IADs have already moved over to review their terminals using new portals. Luckily, we’ve all known that the WorldPay Portal would be shutting down soon, we just didn’t know when. 
If you’ve already started to use your new portal account, after pulling your reports, you may return to using your new dashboard. 
If your terminals haven’t been moved from WorldPay to another portal yet, contact us and let us know. We may be able to help you get you access to a brand new portal dashboard.

Transaction World Magazine Article, Volume 1 Issue 6 – [2001 Revisited]

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Are ATMs the New Plastic

Merchants and Consumers are Choosing Cash Over Credit

From Transaction World Magazine – Volume 1, Issue 6 – Cover Story 2001

The customer has spoken. More than ever, cash is king.

A cautions economy, the high cost of credit and the growth of the ATM industry have spurred a purchasing revolution. As a natural occurrence, customers are moving from credit card purchases to debit cards as their preferred payment method. According to a MasterCard consumer segmentation study, among people that use both credit and debit cards, debit cards are used more than five more often 5.9 times per month vs 5.1 times per month for credit cards.
In a reverse of financial trends a decade ago, many experts believe the credit card industry is showing stagnant growth. By contrast, the booming ATM Marketplace is finding its machines in an unprecedented number of locations. In fact, a recent Nielsen report predicts that by the Year 2005, the number of ATMs will double from 1997 numbers. For bank card ISOs, this presents not only a challenge but also a significant opportunity.
ISOs and Merchants alike are finding that ATMs mean sales. Credit union industry experts estimate that more than 60 billion consumer transactions flowed over ATMs in the year 2000 and the customers are using this platform more than any other Financial Service delivery point. At the same time, trade Publications in the restaurant, quick-serve, hospitality, and convenience store Industries report that ATMs increase foot traffic, boost per visit spending, cut down on check fraud and reduce credit card fees.
Statistics tell the story. In the restaurant industry, for example, Association reports show that colon

  •  ATMs increase traffic up to 30% and increase per visit sales 10% to 20%.
  •  Up to 80% of cash obtained at ATMs in host bars and restaurants is spent on site. 
  • At Quick Serve restaurants, we’ve seen the average check increase up to 58%.

In addition, experts predict that demand for kiosk ATMs will grow exponentially as the population of Internet Savvy, self-service oriented customers grows. An August 2000 overview by Dove Consulting observes that consumers under 55 are particularly likely to use ATMs and are “completely comfortable conducting ATM transactions”

The evolution of a revolution

On the downside of the ATM opportunity, even the industry’s most ardent supporters admit that it has had its share of unscrupulous dealers. Salesman with an eye to make a quick buck often promised outrageous returns while failing to deliver on those promises. Other abuses resulted in customer service nightmares through the place of undependable equipment. While some of those businesses still exist —and need to be warned about — you can find ATM specialist firms that are sophisticated, dependable partners.
The strongest ATM organizations are those with solid institution affiliations. The scrutiny, Financial backing and network capabilities offered by these relationships established an unprecedented level of professionalism. At the same time, ATM companies with strong ISO support have become increasingly attractive to banks, which recognize the need to penetrate markets and establish quality representation in the field. 
Business stability and financial reliability within the ATM industry have accelerated the acceptance of merchant ATMs as has the proven recurring income stream generated by ATMs. However, recognizing the competitiveness within the ATM industry has increasingly demanded a higher level of ISO accountability, profits, service, and support. Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT), Internet-accessible transaction report, fast lease approvals, and equipment installations, as well as capabilities to accept cards from major networks, are common expectations. 
ISOs have had to rely on solid corporate relationships in order to deliver on these demands and still generate significant returns.
ATMs have also proliferated because manufacturers have built machines to be easy loading, secure, reliable and virtually maintenance-free. In addition, the size of the equipment has decreased and lease/purchase costs have come down; the newest machines have footprints smaller than two square feet and pay for themselves with as few as four swipes per day!

ISO Opportunity

While ATMs have boomed, experts predict there’s still plenty of room for growth. Certainly, independent stores remain a strong ATM market. But you can also expect ATMs to pop up in nontraditional locations. . .tennis courts to courthouses, beauty parlors to bingo parlors. In addition, there’s a growing interest in system branding, where companies such as McDonald’s, major hotel chains, American Express, Safeway and Winn Dixie install ATMs reflecting their unique corporate identities.
At the same time, ATM fees are also becoming widely accepted. Market research tracks that younger users are much more willing to incur charges for the conveniences provided by ATMs. And as technology continues to expand ATM capabilities and deliver new services to consumers, one can easily predict that additional features will translate into additional usage… and additional residual income to boot! For the ISO, ATMs dispense opportunity. Because if cash is king, ATMs are the keys to the treasury.

Choosing the Right Partner [Still holds true today – in 2020]

Choosing the right ATM company is crucial to the success of an ISO. Here’s a quick checklist to ensure your partner is a strong organization.
Financial Strength
Is your ATM company affiliated with a major financial institution? Has that institution supported technology development and system upgrades?
[2020 update – Yes, ATMDepot aligned itself with several major institutions that have all supported technology and continue to look to the future. Noah Wieder wrote this article almost 20 years ago and the future is today!]
Track Record
Who are the ATM company’s customers? Can you talk to affiliated ISOs and merchants for references? [2020 update – ATMDepot runs one of the most active ATM Entrepreneur groups on Facebook. You can join and talk to many of our customers and affiliated IADs as well as read reviews online. Want to talk to one of our customers, no problem, just ask and we’ll be happy to give you as many references as you want].
Responsiveness
Are approvals handled in a timely manner, creating a quick turnaround between the time a lease is signed, a machine is installed and when you get paid? [2020 update – very few ATMs are leased since pricing has come down to less than 1/2 of what they were almost 20 years ago. Machines are typically shipped within 5 – 7 business days of order].
Program Scalability
Can your ATM company provide service to any size merchant, from single locations to hundreds of sites? [2020 update – of course ATMDepot can. We manage thousands of ATMs. From single store owner locations to multi-family routes run by some of the best IADs in the country!]
Support
Is there a dedicated sales support team for distributors? Are problems handled promptly? Are machines kept operative? [2020 update – Absolutely. We wouldn’t still be here if we didn’t. ATMDepot has been helping ATM business owners since 2003 and Noah Wieder is the Owner!]
Reporting 
Will you have ongoing Internet access to daily activity reports? Are detailed statements provided? Are residuals tracked and paid in a time1y manner? [2020 update – of course, Noah Wieder wrote this article almost 20 years ago and still maintains all of the important partner qualities that he looks for and provides to all ATMDepot customers – IADs and Merchants alike.]
ATM Factoids [unable to verify these same stats in 2020, however, the first one is close, unsure about the next two]

  • The typical ATM customer spends 20%—-25% more than a non-ATM customer. 
  • 40% of regular ATM users use the ATM an average of ten times per month. 
  • 60% of Americans 25-34 years old and 51% of Americans 25-49 years old use ATMs eight times a month and withdraw an average of $55 each time.

How Much Does it Cost?
The average cost of various payment methods (based on time to make a payment, backroom time to prepare deposits, bank charges and other charges such as collection fees) are as follows [from 2001]
Cash  $0.07
Electronic Benefits Transfer  $0.15
Food Stamps  $0.16
Debit Cards  $0.29
Electronically Authorized Checks  $0.37
Checks  $0.43
Credit Cards  $0.80

ORIGINAL ARTICLE – IMAGES FROM ACTUAL PUBLICATION

Transaction World Magazine Volume 1, Issue 6, 2001 page 7

Transaction World Magazine Volume 1, Issue 6, 2001 page 8

Download Are ATMs the New Plastic from Academia.edu