When it comes to creating passive income, few business endeavors do so more efficiently and easily than operating automated teller machines. Everyone uses ATM machines because everyone needs cash — and a single well-placed ATM can generate thousands of dollars in revenue each year with very little effort. If you’re thinking about getting into the ATM machine business, here are some basic steps to get you started in the right direction.
Figure Out Your ATM Business Strategy
There are a number of different approaches to running a successful ATM business, and the first step is deciding which type of niche you want to fill — specifically, when, where and how you plan to place your ATM machines.
ATM business owners must ask themselves the following questions:
- Are you planning to negotiate deals with large and small business owners for local ATM placements in their stores?
- Do you plan to try and place ATMs in larger public areas like malls, shopping centers or event venues?
- Do you want to focus on placements in certain types of businesses with heavy foot traffic (e.g., bars, gas stations, or convenience stores)?
- Are you more interested in event-based ATM placement — i.e., placing temporary ATMs at trade shows, expos and festivals?
- Is there a particular number of ATMs you want to oversee?
Answering these questions will help you determine which strategies for ATM placement interest you most. They’ll also help you decide what type of machines you need to get.
Who Owns the ATM Machines?
One of the biggest questions you’ll need to answer is whether you plan to own and operate your ATM machines outright, or whether you’ll simply provide the space and work with a third-party company to run the machines with an ATM placement program. There are pros and cons to each approach. Obviously, you stand to make greater profits with surcharge revenue if you own your own ATM machines outright and place them in high-traffic areas, but ATM owners are responsible for all the typical ATM operator duties, including maintenance, security, and vault cash stocking of the machines — all of which can be time-intensive. If you work with a third-party company and use only a partial ATM placement model, the income itself will be more passive because the company handles all the details, but the downside is that you’ll generate less surcharge fee revenue because you’ll receive only a commission on transactions. Deciding which approach to take will depend on how much time, energy and money you wish to invest in exchange for higher profit margins.
Make an ATM Business Plan
Every successful business has a business plan, and an ATM business is no exception. Take some time to write down a basic structure for your business, outlining your mission goals, financial expectations and anticipated earnings over time. Your business plan is a living document and you may make changes over time, but having a business plan helps you stay focused on your goals. It also lets potential investors know you’re a good investment.
Work with a Reputable ATM Company
One of the best ways to start your own ATM business is to work with a company that offers turnkey programs to help you get started. As a leader in the ATM industry, AtmMachines.com, LLC offers great prices on high-quality new ATM machines to own — including Hyosung, Genmega, and Triton ATMs. We also offer free ATM placement, ATM processing, and ATM route management services that allow you to earn passive income immediately with very little effort. To learn more about your options and which type of ATM business is right for you, call us today at 1-866-295-2329.