Tag Archive for: atm business

How to Write an ATM Business Plan

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So, youโ€™re going to start an ATM business? Thatโ€™s great! But, you need to have an ATM business plan before you dive in.

As businesses go, an ATM business is relatively simple.ย Thereโ€™s not a lot of equipment to maintain. You donโ€™t have to stock any physical inventory. And, you can run the business yourself, if you want.

However, an ATM business plan is still very important, despite that simplicity.

Writing an ATM business plan helps you map out the first years of running your business. And, your ATM business plan forces you to think about all the aspects of running an ATM business, helps you anticipate costs and problems, and creates a checklist for getting your business off the ground.

Additionally, having a written business plan can help secure loans (if you need them) and bank accounts.

Really, your business plan is the first asset you build for your business.

So, letโ€™s get started.

The anatomy of an ATM business plan

An ATM business has all the same high level considerations of any other business. So, the contents of your business donโ€™t need to be special. Your contents page can look just like this:

  1. Executive summary.
  2. Company summary and funding needs.
  3. Products and services.
  4. Marketing plan and analysis.
  5. Management team.
  6. Financial plan and forecasts.

There will be subsections for each of these sections. But, everything will fall under one of these umbrellas.

Your business plan doesnโ€™t need to be a manifesto. As you add the information for each section, a good tactic is to use short headings followed by bullet points. Use the question as the heading, and list the answers to each question in the bullets. That way you can easily reference your business plan when you need it.

These are the questions you need to answer as you fill out each section.

Executive summary

There are three main subsections for your objective summary:

Objectives

The objectives donโ€™t have to be anything super corporate. Itโ€™s your business. What do you want your business to do for you in the first year? The first two years? The first five years?

The purpose of your objectives is to set measurable goal posts, so that you know when your business has achieved what you want and if youโ€™re meeting your timeline.

Mission statement

The mission statement is related to what your business does for your customers. The mission should be a direct line to your objectives. What will you do for your customers that will help your business achieve your objectives?

Keys to success

What are the most important things that youโ€™ll need to do to make your business successful?

Be very honest with yourself here. Youโ€™re going to be doing most of the work in your business. So, there may be some personal development thatโ€™s critical to making your business successful. Or maybe you must secure some additional funding before you can do anything else.

Your keys to success should be mandatory things, the non-negotiables that make the whole thing work.

Company summary and funding needs

Your company summary and funding needs defines whoโ€™s going to do what and how youโ€™re going to cover startup and operating expenses.

Company summary

Obviously, you need to define your own responsibilities. But, also define what responsibilities youโ€™re going to outsource.

  • Are you going to hire a vaulting service for your ATMs?
  • Will you hire someone to perform routine maintenance and cleaning?
  • Are you going to perform every installation yourself or have the installation done for you?
  • Will you pay for accounting and bookkeeping or learn to do it yourself?
  • Which ATM processor will you use? Will you need to pay processing fees?

You donโ€™t have to do everything. But, everything needs to get done. And, you need to plan out whoโ€™s going to do it, and how youโ€™re going to pay for itโ€ฆ

Funding needs

Startup costs

The most obvious funding needs are your startup costs. Typically, you can budget about $5000 for each ATM machine. That covers the cost of the ATM itself and the cash you need to stock it.

However, $5000 is just a general guideline. Identify which ATM machines youโ€™re going to purchase and plan out how much cash youโ€™re going to put in them. That way you can calculate specific costs.

ATM machines vary in price. And, you need to fill them with more money if you want to refill them less often. Define these variables, so you can very precisely define your funding needs. Youโ€™re less likely to run into surprises this way.

Operating costs

Also, calculate your operating costs. Be very specific in this category, too. Think about the gas and vehicle maintenance, if youโ€™re driving to restock your ATMs. Include the cost of vaulting your ATM machines, if youโ€™re paying a vaulting service. And, remember to include payroll if youโ€™ll be hiring anyone.

Business formation costs

Lastly, consider the costs of starting a company (C-Corp, S-Corp, LLC, etc.). You can operate ATM machines as a sole proprietor, without filing any paperwork with the state. But, working as an individual, rather than a business, has some drawbacks.

First, youโ€™ll be personally liable for anything that goes wrong. Raising a corporate veil is outside the scope of this post. But, if youโ€™re operating as an individual, everything you own could be at risk.

Also, itโ€™s very difficult to get a business bank account without a business tax identification number. Actually, it might be impossible (but weโ€™re not bankers or lawyers).

Without getting too far into the legal weeds, suffice to say that owning and operating ATM machines without a corporate entity will be very tricky. Itโ€™s better to just start a company.

Corporate startup costs vary from state to state. But, you should figure at least $1000 to cover the filing and state fees. But, again, do some research to get precise numbers.

The purpose of this exercise is to determine exactly how much money you will need to get the business started, and how much it will cost to keep things running. That way you know how much you need to borrow, if youโ€™re borrowing your startup capital. And, youโ€™ll know how much revenue you need to keep the ship above water.

Products and services

This one is pretty straightforward for an ATM business: you provide ATM machines to businesses and events.

But, get more specific than that.

  • How much will your transaction fees be?
  • What will you do as part of your ATM services?
  • Will you provide additional products with your ATM machines (i.e. ATM toppers that advertise for businesses)?

As you negotiate contracts with business owners, youโ€™ll find that each ATM placement has its nuances.

The purpose of clearly defining your products and services is to establish boundaries. You need to know what you will definitely NOT do.

Once you have an agreement and a contract to do something, you have to do it. So, you need to plan out your services. That way you donโ€™t end up bound to a contract thatโ€™s not good for you or your business.

Having a clear picture of how your services are structured will also help you with the next step.

Marketing plan and analysis

The target market for ATM businesses is fairly predefined. Or, at least more predefined than many other business markets.

However, itโ€™s still a good idea to narrow your focus and gather some intelligence about the businesses youโ€™ll be targeting. There are a couple of ways that you can select a target market for your ATM business:

    1. Focus on a certain area. If you live in a populated area, you can focus on the businesses near your residence. That way your ATM route will be familiar and maybe even walkable. Or, you can just focus your efforts on an area with a lot of eligible businesses.
    2. Focus on a certain type of business. In reality, an ATM owner can help almost any business by providing ATM services. But, if you narrow your scope to a certain type of businessโ€”like casinos or gas stationsโ€”you can learn about the business, identify some benefits that are unique to those types of businesses, and position yourself as a specialist in that industry.

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This may seem counterintuitive. If you only focus on one area or type of business, youโ€™re missing a lot of opportunities, right? Not quite.

First, you can always expand in to serving new businesses and new areas as your ATM business grows.

But, narrowing your focus also works as a sales lever. You can build a unique selling proposition (USP)ย  around being nearby and therefore easy to reach. Or you can use your specialization in helping certain types of businesses as your unique selling proposition.

In short, focusing on a smaller target market makes it easier for you to get your first ATM placements. You can always widen your scope as your ATM business grows.

Management team

The management team might be just you. But, if you have additional team members, define their roles and responsibilities. Donโ€™t leave anyone out.

This is a bit different than defining who you were going to hire. Now, you need to define what parts of the business each person is responsible for and how youโ€™ll measure success.

If youโ€™re the only manager. Thatโ€™s fine. Define responsibilities and standards for yourself. Starting a business always involves at least a little bit of personal development.

Financial plan and forecasts

The most important part of this section is ensuring that you have a plan to cover all of your expenses and pay off any debts the business has. There are three parts to developing this plan.

Income statement

Your income statement is just a statement that shows your business profits and losses. Before you start a business, thereโ€™s obviously not going to be a lot here. But, be sure to prepare one and keep it updated. Most accounting software will run an income statement for you.

Balance sheet

Your balance sheet shows your assets and liabilities. Your ATM machines are assets. If you took out a loan to buy your first ATM, that loan is a liability.

Setting up a balance sheet is pretty straightforward. And, most accounting software will help you construct a balance sheet.

The general rule for balance sheets is that anything which generates revenue is an asset. Anything that does not generate revenue is a liability.

Use a balance sheet template if you want to manually create your balance sheet.

Cash flow statement

Your cash flow statement just shows where money is coming into your business and where money is going out. This enables you to get a high level view of your income and expenses.

Your account software can also help you with this. But, you can use a cash flow statement template to write out your own cash flow statement.

The point of putting together all these reports is first to prepare for tracking your business finances. Things get messy really fast if you have no idea where your money is coming from or where itโ€™s going. And, building these reports once youโ€™ve been operating for several months is a nightmare.

But, as you construct these reports, youโ€™ll be able to estimate your projected revenue and establish a plan for paying off all your debts, coving your operating expenses, and maximizing profits.

As a note, most successful ATM business owners report that they make about $500 per ATM machine each month. Your numbers may be different. But, $500 per ATM per month is a good starting point for estimating your revenue.

Itโ€™s just like personal finance. You need to have a plan for what youโ€™re going to do with your money.

One last thingโ€ฆ

Thatโ€™s it. Your business plan is all done. Thereโ€™s just one more thing. And, this is the fun partโ€ฆ

Go back to the cover page of your business plan. Think up a name for your business and add it to the cover page. It might seem weird to do this last. But, itโ€™s a lot easier to think up a clever, relevant business name if you know everything about your business.

Now youโ€™re done. And, itโ€™s time to start putting your plan into action.

Copy and paste the following text into an MS Word or Google Doc to create a template for your business plan:

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[ATM BUSINESS NAME]

  1. Executive summary
    1. Objectives
    2. Mission statement
    3. Keys to success
  2. Company summary and funding needs
    1. Company summary
    2. Funding needs
  3. Products and services
    1. ATM service packages
  4. Marketing plan and analysis
    1. Target areas and business types
  5. Management team
  6. Financial plan and forecasts
    1. Income statement
    2. Balance sheet
    3. Cash flow statement

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Then fill out each section to write your ATM business plan (remember to add the name LAST). Then, all you have to do is get it done.

If you need help executing your ATM business plan, become an ATMDepot member to get training on how to start and run your ATM business.

An ATM Business Can Save Your Marriage (Itโ€™s Not as Crazy as It Sounds)

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The title statement may sound outlandish. But, consider these stats about gray divorce (divorce among couples over 50):

  1. Gray divorce has doubled since 1990.
  2. Gray divorce has increased by 700% since 1960.

Those are startling numbers. And, it probably seems unlikely that an ATM business is the solution. But, if you look at why the gray divorce rate has skyrocketed, it becomes clear how an ATM business can help.

Hereโ€™s a quick story to illustrate the most common cause of gray divorce:

A young couple meets, dates, and gets married early in lifeโ€”shortly after college. For the next few decades, they spend most of their time building careers, raising children, and preparing for retirement. Thereโ€™s a lot to do, and theyโ€™re both happy to be doing it together.

Then it comes time to retire. Suddenly, the shared goals are gone. And the man has dedicated the majority of his life working. He spent very little time building relationships or hobbies. Or maybe both of the people in this couple spent very little time pursuing things other than work.

The struggle is that retired people often find themselves with nothing to do. And, this can severely strain marriages. When all the work is done, itโ€™s easy to feel that thereโ€™s no need for a team anymore.

But thereโ€™s more: having nothing to do is no fun. Retirement is supposed to be enjoyableโ€”at least as enjoyable as a fulfilling career, if not more enjoyable. So, itโ€™s easy to feel unhappy in retirement.

Thatโ€™s whatโ€™s caused this spike in gray divorce: a lack of shared goals and things to do in retirement.

An ATM business solves that problem.

How an ATM business can save your marriage from gray divorce

Being an ATM owner is not a way to get rich quick. When you start an ATM business, youโ€™re playing the long game. And, this long game affords people opportunities to build relationships and develop a routine that can sustain them throughout retirement.

Building relationships

One of the most important aspects of owning an ATM business is building a successful route. An ATM route is just the common path you take to refill your ATM machines with cash and ensure theyโ€™re in good shape.

The benefit of this ATM route for older people is that it provides a place where you show up regularly and get to know people. Socially, itโ€™s like a bar (but far more productive and profitable).

Additionally, each ATM machine will be located in or near a business, and maybe even a bar if thatโ€™s something youโ€™d enjoy. And, you have to develop a relationship with that business owner, because your ATM is on their property. And, these business owners may want to be involved, to some small degree, in the operation of that ATM machine (coupons, promotions, lowered credit card fees for them, etc.).

Developing quality relationships with these landlords, business owners, and property owners is key if you want to have an ATM business thatโ€™s all about service. And, your ATM business should be all about service. That will make your business successful and will ensure you keep your customers happy so theyโ€™ll stay with you for a long, long, time.

But, more than being an important part of your ATM business, these relationships give you people to do things with once youโ€™ve retired. Your ATM business creates a circle of friends that will last a lifetime.

Productive routines

An ATM business also solves the problem of idle time in retirement.

Once youโ€™ve set up your ATM route, youโ€™ll obviously need to run that route regularly to keep your ATM machines up and running. This creates a routine that helps retain a sense of purpose and offers shared goals for you and your partner.

But, the best thing about the routine of an ATM business is that your routine can be as busy or as minimal as youโ€™d like. If you want, you could work nearly full time in your ATM business. Or, it can be as part-time as you like.

And, youโ€™re not just keeping busy. Your ATM business gives you productive work. Itโ€™s even better than a hobby, in many ways.

Reaching retirement

Although this focuses most on how an ATM business can protect you from a gray divorce, an ATM business can also help you stay married until retirement.

As we mentioned earlier, an ATM business is not a get rich quick scheme. Itโ€™s a long game.

But, running an ATM business can provide reliable income that doesnโ€™t require you to grind it out day after day. And, itโ€™s income that you can earn in addition to your professional income. So, an ATM business can certainly make it easier to retire when you want to.

And, the additional income of an ATM business gives you time to develop relationships outside of work and build a marriage thatโ€™s ready for the realities of retirement. Itโ€™s also a business that gets you out of the house which is a big plus for decreasing the chance of a grey divorce. Plus, you get to enjoy any neighborhood you wish to pursue, make connections, and have fun at the same time.ย 

So, your ATM business isnโ€™t just a marriage failsafe for retirement. Itโ€™s also something that can sustain your marriage and life until you reach retirement.

And, what about those who are retired or near retirement right now? You can start an ATM business at any time. Yes, the ATM business is a long game. But, itโ€™s a long game that you can start right now, regardless of where you are in your life. Besides, you can start and ATM business with less than $5,000 and the returns on that money will be much better than the bank and much safer than the stock market. Youโ€™re investing in yourself and in your retirement.ย 

If youโ€™re ready to start now, learn more about starting an ATM business.

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ATM Business Basics Part II: How to Start Up and Operate an ATM Business

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Understanding how to start up and operate an ATM business might be one of the most overlooked parts of owning and operating ATM machines.

Yes, the ATM machines are important. But, most of the time investment actually goes into operating the business. After all, it only takes a few minutes to load cash into an ATM.

There are plenty of resources that explain how ATM owners make money. So, weโ€™re going to focus on the process of starting and running your ATM business.

How to start up and operate an ATM business

Contrary to how it might seem, buying an ATM machine is not the first step. First, you need a place to put it (that isnโ€™t your garage). These are the steps you need to follow:

  1. Identify potential ATM locations. There are plenty of optionsโ€”gas stations, convenience stores, bars, and so on.
  2. Talk to the business owners and negotiate an agreement to provide an ATM for the business. You will need a contract for this agreement.
  3. Buy the ATM machine.
  4. Install the ATM machine, and secure it properly.
  5. Fill the ATM with cash.
  6. Tell people about your ATM.

Three of these steps actually have very little to do with the ATM machine itself. These three steps are major cornerstones of any business. And, these are the steps that most new business owners struggle with.

So, weโ€™re going to break them down.

Identify ATM locations

In other businesses, this would be called โ€œlead generation.โ€ And, in many businesses, itโ€™s a tricky process that some people never quite master.

But, in the ATM business, identifying leads can be as simple as visiting nearby businesses, choosing good candidates for an ATM placement, and asking if they have an ATM machine.

If the location already has an ATM machine, that doesnโ€™t mean that you canโ€™t place an ATM there. But, itโ€™s an additional hurdle, since youโ€™ll have to replace the current ATM provider. The business owner may or may not be willing to do that.

Either way, you can generate leads simply by visiting businesses and tracking which ones have ATMs and which ones donโ€™t. Keep notes on locations, and remember locations that may be worth the extra effort to replace an existing ATM.

This list of businesses is essentially your leads database.

Negotiate with business owners

In traditional business terms, this would be the โ€œsalesโ€ stage. This is where you actually sell your ATM services to the business owner. And, this can be the most challenging and time-consuming part of the process.

First, you have to convince the business owner to talk to you at all. Business owners are busy. And, people generally donโ€™t like being sold to.

But, even though this is a sales process, it doesnโ€™t have to be salesy.

Approach this as a relationship-building process. Itโ€™s important that people trust you and are willing to work with you. Focus on understanding what the business owner needs and helping them solve their problems. The agreement is beneficial to both you and the business owner. Be willing to make the arrangement lucrative for the business owner, and help them understand how it benefits them.

If you struggle with negotiation and sales, itโ€™s wise to develop a script for starting the conversation. Itโ€™s impossible to predict how any interaction will play out. But, itโ€™s easier to start the conversation if you at least know what youโ€™re going to say first.

Using a script or some sort of plan also enables you to optimize your negotiation and sales process. If youโ€™ve tried something several times, and itโ€™s not working, try something else. Once you find the thing that works, put it in your plan and stick with it.

Youโ€™ll also need a contract for this step. A verbal agreement wonโ€™t cut it.

You can get a lawyer to draw up a contract for you. However, this will usually cost about a thousand dollars.

Or, you can use a contract template, which is much more affordable. We offer contract templates as part of our membership at ATMDepot.

You can probably find other templates on the internet. But, if you download a free contract template, make sure that it has all the necessary recitals and protections you need. Your contract is the only thing that protects you in a dispute.

Promoting your ATM

This last step is otherwise known as โ€œmarketing.โ€ Youโ€™re going to get some organic transactions simply by having the ATM placed.

But, more transactions are better. And, the more people that know about your ATM, the more transactions youโ€™ll get.

Youโ€™ve probably seen the โ€œATMโ€ signs in the windows at gas stations and convenience stores. Adding one of these signs will raise awareness about your ATM.

But, if there are nearby businesses that donโ€™t have ATM machines, go tell them about the new ATM. That way, when people ask if they have an ATM, these other businesses can direct people to your ATM machine.

As a bonus, itโ€™s a good reason to have a conversation with more business owners who donโ€™t have an ATM of their own. It could lead to installing a new ATM.

The business cycle

These three steps will essentially be your ATM business. Yes, there will be accounting and service calls. But, the vast majority of growing your business will be going through these three steps over and over. If you master these steps, your business will boom.

Get leads.

Negotiate an agreement.

Support and promote your ATM.

The rest is just the manual labor of installing the ATM machines and filling them with cash.

It might seem daunting. But, the first step is the easiest: just go out and visit businesses and find out which ones have no ATM. Itโ€™s simple, and youโ€™ll start building your book of leads.

After that, you just need to follow up with your leads. Then, go through the core business steps to start up and operate an ATM business.

Need more help mastering these core business cycle steps? Get contract templates, sales scripts, and tons of other resources for starting and scaling your ATM business from ATMDepot.

The Ultimate Side Hustle Idea

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There are tons of side hustle ideas out there. However, most of them require you to consistently invest time, which is basically just getting a side hustle job. Or, you need to invest a lot of time, effort, energyโ€”and maybe moneyโ€”up front, which will pay offโ€ฆ Someday.

But, thereโ€™s a side hustle that gives you an almost immediate return on a relatively small investment. If youโ€™re thinking, โ€œbuying ATM machines,โ€ youโ€™re right.

An ATM machine will almost immediately generate income. And, you can get great deals on used and refurbished ATM machines. So, the barrier to entry in the ATM business is low, and the ceiling is virtually non-existent. You can own as many ATMs as you want.

But, the best part is that it takes very little time to maintain and operate your ATM machines once theyโ€™re installed. This means operating ATM machines is a true side hustle that will have very little impact on your full-time job or free time. And, your ATM business could easily replace your full-time income.

Hereโ€™s what makes owning ATMs such a great side hustle to make money without giving up your evenings and weekends.

Generate Passive Income

Most side hustle jobs are just that, jobs. They require a lot of time. They might pay an hourly wage. Itโ€™s a good way to make some extra money. But, itโ€™s also a good way to end up working even when youโ€™re not at work.

On the other hand, an ATM machine only has two major time investments:

  1. The time it takes to install your ATM.
  2. The time it takes to fill your ATM with cash.

Other than that, your ATM machine sits and makes you money without your help. The time investment in operating an ATM is low enough that you can easily run multiple AT machines without hiring anyone (or giving up your social life).

With enough ATM machinesโ€”and not even that manyโ€”you could easily add a second full-time income stream without quitting your full-time job.

Learn New Skills

If youโ€™re considering a side hustle, acquiring new skills can often be beneficial, particularly if youโ€™re aiming to diversify your income streams or transition into a new career.

Owning ATMs does introduce you to new skills, albeit straightforward ones. Certainly, youโ€™ll need to understand the basics of setting up and installing an ATM. While this might sound daunting, itโ€™s pretty straightforward once youโ€™ve learned the ins and outs.

There is a training system designed to efficiently guide you through this process, ensuring you can learn these skills quickly and effectively โ€” itโ€™s the ATM Business Road Map training system. We like to call it an ATMDepot Academy.

In contrast to many other skills that can take months or years to master and additional time to gain the necessary experience for a substantial income, learning how to operate ATMs is much more time-efficient.

This efficiency means you can start generating income sooner, making it an attractive option for those looking to establish a new income stream quickly.

Incredibly Simple Business Operation

Thereโ€™s real estate, affiliate marketing, funnel building, and other businesses that are marketed as amazing side hustles or primary income streams.

However, all of these are deeply involved businesses.

You have to find houses to flip, and fix them up to make them saleable. Or you have to build an audience to get enough traffic for your affiliate offers. And, you canโ€™t make money with a funnel if you donโ€™t have a product to sell.

The reality is that these side hustles arenโ€™t really side hustles at all. Theyโ€™re full-time jobs.

In contrast, all you have to do in the ATM business is buy an ATM, find a location, and install it. The ATM company handles the backend business operation. All the payments, reporting, processing, and other business operations are off your plate.

All you have to do is make sure your ATM has cash in it, and watch the transaction fees roll in.

Low Upfront Investment

Letโ€™s talk about the cost of an ATM.

An ATM machine costs a rough average of $2,548. Keep in mind, thatโ€™s the average price. You can get ATMs for much less. Weโ€™re using the average for the sake of comparison.

Youโ€™ll also need around $2000 in cash to stock your ATM with $20 bills. The total to setup an ATM and start making transactions is about $4,548.

$4,548 might sound like a hefty investment. But, the cost of the ATM is a one-time expense. You can use the same $2000 for restocking your ATM. Itโ€™s cash you need on hand, not a direct expense.

$4,548 is actually quite modest when you compare it to the upfront costs of other side hustles:

Itโ€™s much less than the cost of buying a house to flip (and far less risky).

More affordable than all the months of paying rent and living expenses without your side hustle income while you learn something like coding or build your affiliate marketing audience.

Lower long-term cost than the overhead expenses of subscription services like ClickFunnels, which eat into your profits, and actually add up over time to far more than the cost of an ATM.

The only reason the initial cost of an ATM seems high is because you may have to pay it in a lump sum. But, itโ€™s a much more affordable investment than many other side hustle businesses. It comes with no persistent overhead costs. And, buying an ATM costs you almost no time.

No-Risk Income

Last, but not least, is the risk. All side hustles involve some risk. Even if youโ€™re just going to a side hustle school to learn a new skill, thereโ€™s a risk that you wonโ€™t be able to find work using that skill. Think of all the college graduates who never use their degree. The same rules apply to learning side hustle skills.

Investment side hustles like real estate and investing carry even more risk because thereโ€™s no way to guarantee a return on your money. Stocks tank. Houses sit on the market for months or years.

But, an ATM machine reliably generates income (unless you hide it in a dark alley, behind a dumpster or something like that).

Itโ€™s true that some locations get more traffic and more transactions than others. But, if you put an ATM where people can see it, theyโ€™ll use it. And, you get 100% of the transaction fees.

Cash still accounts for 30% of all transactions, and 55% of transactions under $10. And, $10 transactions are exactly what you want, since most people will get a $20 out of an ATM for a $10 purchase, which means you get more transaction fees without having to refill your ATM as often.

The No Hustle Side Hustle

Side hustles are a great way to earn some extra income. But, most side hustles just turn your spare time into extra cash.

With an ATM machine, you dependably turn cash into more cash. Just get an ATM. Install it. And start generating income. You could do it over a weekend.

No, you wonโ€™t get rich quick. But no side hustle is intended to make you rich fast. Itโ€™s about creating reliable long-term income. And thatโ€™s exactly what owning an ATM does for you.

Key Takeaway

So, if you are dreaming of shaking off the 9-to-5 routine and diving into a side hustle thatโ€™s both rewarding and manageable, the ATM business might just be the perfect fit for you!ย 

Itโ€™s a fantastic way to build a steady, semi-passive income while being your own boss, and itโ€™s especially suited for those who are in it for the long haul, not just a quick cash grab.

Noah Wieder, CEO of ATMDepot.com, has put together an amazing ATM Business training system. With over 30 years of experience in the field, heโ€™s the go-to guy for learning all the ins and outs of the ATM world. His training program is super helpful, guiding you through the basics and beyond, and making sure you avoid the typical newbie mistakes.

Whatโ€™s really great about Noahโ€™s approach is that he keeps it real. You know those online โ€œgurusโ€ who promise you the moon with minimal effort? Well, Noahโ€™s not about that life. Heโ€™s here to give you the straight scoop, no fluff or unrealistic expectations.

So, if youโ€™re seriously considering a side hustle thatโ€™s not just about making quick money but building a solid, long-term income, the ATM business could be your golden ticket. Itโ€™s not a get-rich-quick scheme, but with the right training, just like the ATM Business Road Map, and a bit of dedication, you can definitely pave your way to financial freedom.

How to Choose an ATM Processor

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Learn How to Choose an ATM Processor

Whether youโ€™re just starting your ATM business or youโ€™ve got machines already, your ATM processor has a big impact on the long term profitability and success of your business. So, knowing how to choose an ATM processor is vital information for new ATM owners and owners looking to switch ATM processors.

Itโ€™s not enough that your ATM processor just transfers money to the right account on time. You want an ATM processor thatโ€™s going to provide ongoing support and assistance beyond simply processing transactions.

If you call your ATM processor for help with ATM programming and setup, and your ATM processor says, โ€œHey, we just send the money where it needs to go. Youโ€™re on your own,โ€ thatโ€™s not helpful. Your ATM processor should behave like a good business partner, not just a service provider.

So, what services should your ATM processor offer? Hereโ€™s what to look for as you evaluate ATM processors.

What Your ATM Processor Should Do for You

There are some obvious things that an ATM processor should do. But, there are nuances, even with the essentials.

ATM Sales

A company can certainly function solely as an ATM processor. However, thereโ€™s an upside to working with a processor that also sells ATM machines: you know the machines you get from your ATM processor can process using their service.

It wouldnโ€™t make sense for an ATM processor to sell you an ATM thatโ€™s incompatible with their service. A processor that also sells machines is especially handy if they sell used or refurbished ATM machines. You get machines at a better price, without the headache of potential compatibility issues with your ATM processor.

Automated Payments

Obviously, your ATM processor needs to send your money to your bank account. But, it should actually be much easier than transferring money from your checking account to your savings account on your bankโ€™s website.

Automated Payments

First, your ATM payments should be automated. Or, you should at least have the option to automated payments. The ATM business is all about building passive income. If you have to initiate transfers yourself, it makes your income less passive.

Automated payments might seem like small potatoes. But, itโ€™s actually important in terms of choosing an ATM processor that provides service that aligns with your business goals.

Payment Splitting

If you need payments sent to multiple accounts for any reasonโ€”because you have a business partner with a separate account, because you have multiple accounts to deal with different expenses, or anything elseโ€”itโ€™s easiest if your ATM processor can split your payments for you.

Yes, you can split those payments yourself using online banking. But, again, this makes your income system less passive.

So, look at the options for payment processing that your ATM processor offers, and make sure youโ€™re working with a processor thatโ€™s going to help you build an ATM business that meets your goals.

ATM Vaulting

As you know, keeping your ATMs stocked with cash is vital to keeping your business humming.

Now, there are a few options for ATM vaulting:

  1. You can do it yourself. Just get the cash, and take it to your ATMs to restock all your machines. This is the most profitable way to vault your ATMs since it doesnโ€™t add any overhead to your business.

    If you vault your ATMs yourself, itโ€™s most convenient if your ATM processor provides monitoring services that alert you when one of your machines is low on funds.
  2. You can get the location owner to do it. This is a good option, since the business owner is there frequently, maybe every day. And, they have a vested interest in the security of the ATM because theyโ€™re stocking it with cash from their register. Additionally, this minimizes your workload.

Clearly, the business owner will want to be compensated for their efforts. But, itโ€™s often a worthwhile expense.

  1. You can have your ATM processor vault your ATMs for you. This takes the responsibility of vaulting your ATMs off your plate completely.

Whether or not you use this service from your ATM processor, itโ€™s a good option to have. You may have ATMs that are in locations which are difficult to refill yourself, or if you want an armored truck service to protect your cash, having your ATM processor vault your ATMs may be the best option.

Now, your ATM processor will charge you for this service. This is the crux of choosing whether or not to have your ATM processor vault your ATMs. The service shouldnโ€™t be so expensive that it kills all your profit. Around $1.00 per transaction is reasonable and manageable. In any case, make sure that the cost works for your ATM business model.

In the end, you donโ€™t need to use your ATM processorโ€™s vaulting services. However, working with an ATM processor that offers ATM vaulting can help expand the potential locations for your ATMs and reduce the workload of keeping them full of cash.

ATM Installation and Setup Support

Getting ATM locations is largely a sales process. But, ATM setup and programming is a more technical process. Itโ€™s also the part where many ATM owners get hung up.

So, itโ€™s important that you work with an ATM processor that provides instructions for setting up and programming your ATMs. And, itโ€™s important that you can call your ATM processor for free if you get stuck and need help.

You lose money for every day that your ATM isnโ€™t functioning. So, itโ€™s important that your ATM processor is there to help you overcome challenges in the setup process and get your ATMs up and running.

Alternatively, a quality ATM processor will offer to send a technician to install an ATM in a new location for you. This isnโ€™t free. But, it will save you a lot of time and headaches, especially when youโ€™re new to the ATM business.

Just like the ATM vaulting service, you shouldnโ€™t be required to use your ATM processorโ€™s setup service. But, it can be a good way to get some ATMs going while youโ€™re still learning the ropes of ATM setup and programming.

Service Agreement Templates

Creating your own service agreement from scratch is a bad idea. Youโ€™ll most likely end up leaving something out. Then your service agreement wonโ€™t properly protect you if something goes wrong between you and the location owner. Obviously, this can be very bad.

A good way to avoid this problem, without hiring a lawyer, is to use templates. This way, you can create a service agreement thatโ€™s customized to the situation, without leaving anything out.

Service agreement templates will save you a lot of money in legal consulting fees and long-term losses from botched service agreements. So, an ATM processor that offers service agreement templates makes it easier and less expensive to get the paperwork done and get your ATM machines up and running.

Low Fees and Shorter Contracts

There are ATM processors that sell new ATMs at an impressively low price. It seems like a great deal at first.

However, most companies that discount their ATM machines wrap up a lot of fees in their service. You might save a few hundred upfront. But, the ATM processor gets that money back through fees over time.

Often, companies that make money on slightly higher fees will require 3 to 5-year contracts. Longer contract requirements ensure that the fees cover the cost of the discounted ATM machine. If you sign a 5-year contract, the fees could end up being more than the initial discount you got on the ATM machine.

ATM processors that charge slightly higher prices for their ATM machines usually have a lower fee structure. And, these ATM processors usually offer shorter contracts, in the range of 1 to 3 years. They can offer shorter contracts because they donโ€™t need to make up for discounted ATM machines.

So, look at potential ATM processor fee structures and contract requirements, and consider how much those fees are going to cost you over the life of the contract.

Flexibility

The last thing is flexibility and support. Your ATM processor should be responsive and easy to work with. If you canโ€™t get the help you need, when you need it, your ATM processor isnโ€™t helping you much.

Itโ€™s best if your ATM processor offers some sort of 24/7 support. You never know when youโ€™ll need help with your machines. So, your ATM processor should offer anytime support for their services.

As we mentioned earlier, your ATM processor should be more like a business partner than a service provider. Availability and responsiveness are key to getting this sort of partnership from your ATM processor.

Last step: Choose an ATM Processor

Ultimately, the ATM processor you choose is one of the first major decisions in your ATM business. Youโ€™re already on the right track by reading about how to choose an ATM Processor. Youโ€™ll be working with that processor for a year or more. So, you want to work with an ATM processor thatโ€™s going to support you and your business, in addition to processing transactions.

If youโ€™re ready to compare ATM processors, start by checking out ATM Depot. ATM Depot offers complete support and education for everything from ATM purchase to installation and everything in between.