Category: ATM Tips & Tricks

People always need cash, and they like being able to get it on the go. An ATM machine can be a great way to earn passive income — and more so if you turn it into an ATM business with multiple well-placed machines. But even so, there are steps you can take to maximize your profitability. One of the tricks to building a successful ATM business is to generate as much traffic to your machines as possible. Let’s look at seven ways you can encourage more visits to your ATM machine.

1. Place ATMs in businesses with high cash volume.

One of the best ways to maximize ATM revenue is to put your machines in places where people are most likely to use cash for purchases. Convenience stores, bars, arcades, laundromats, trade shows, marijuana dispensaries — virtually any location where the owners, vendors and/or customers need convenient access to cash.

2. Keep service charges competitive.

As ATM service fees continue to rise across the board, ATM users tend to remember the machines that charge the least in fees. Try to use this to your advantage. If the bank ATM two doors down charges $3 per transaction and your machine only charges $2, which machine do you think customers will choose? The increased foot traffic should more than make up for the discount you offer.

3. Offer discounts for cash purchases.

This technique is primarily geared for brick-and-mortar businesses who keep an ATM in their place of business. Many shop owners offer their customers a discount for cash purchases versus credit card — which makes sense considering that merchants are charged their own fee per credit card transaction. If customers know they will pay less for something if they pay cash, they’re more likely to visit your ATM before coming to the counter.

4. Place ATMs in areas of high visibility and easy access.

You want to make your ATM as easy as possible to see, and you want to make it as easy as possible for visitors to access it. Make sure the ATM is placed in a prominent location in plain view, and make sure the walkway to the ATM is open and clear so customers don’t feel they’re navigating a maze to get there.

5. Keep surrounding areas open and well-lit.

Since ATM users are inputting sensitive information and obtaining cash, they need to feel as safe as possible while doing so. Placing an ATM in a dark corner could make users feel vulnerable to thieves looking for an opportunity. Make sure the ATM is in an open, well-lit area so users feel safer.

6. Use appropriate signage.

People won’t use an ATM machine if they don’t know it’s there. Wherever appropriate, place visible signage on or around the ATM machine. If you’re placing it in someone else’s place of business, ask the owner for permission to place signage in the windows letting passers-by know there is an ATM in the store.

7. Keep machines well-stocked and in good working order.

If a visitor approaches your ATM and finds it out of order, there’s a good chance that user won’t be back. One key to maintaining consistent foot traffic is to make sure the machine is always stocked with cash and working properly.

AtmMachines.com, LLC is committed to helping you maximize profits from your ATM machine business. For more information, give us a call at 1-866-295-2329.

Whenever you own or manage an ATM machine, your number one priority should always be security — both for your customers and for the machine itself. Running your own ATM business can be a great source of revenue, but ATMs are also hot targets for thieves and hackers. Not only will thieves want to break into your machines and steal cash, but “skimmers” will try to find ways to steal your customers’ credit/debit card information. The good news is that most of these dangers can be minimized with some common-sense safeguards in place. Let’s discuss five critical ATM security tips to help you protect both your machines and the customers who use them.

1. Keep ATMs in open, monitored areas.

ATM thieves don’t like to be observed, so visibility is one of your best weapons against theft. Avoid placing ATMs in dark, unwatched corners. Instead, place them in well-lit, open areas that are easy to monitor — and make sure the lights stay on after hours if your machines have 24-hour access. Whenever possible, place the machines under video surveillance, and make sure the cameras are in plain view, as well. Not only will these measures deter the bad guys — they’ll also make your customers feel safer.

2. Use reinforced cabinets and frameworks.

Smaller, mobile machines are often vulnerable to “brute force theft,” in which thieves will physically try to break into the machines or remove them using chains. Many ATM units now use reinforced casing and reinforced safes to make them more difficult to break into. For higher crime areas, you can also place ATMs in reinforced cages under lock and key to protect them.

3. Prioritize online security.

Nowadays, cybersecurity is just as important for ATM machines as physical security. To minimize the risk of hacking, always make sure your ATMs are transmitting on a secure, encrypted network behind a robust firewall. Additionally, keep your software regularly updated to safeguard against new viruses and malware that are constantly being developed.

4. Implement anti-skimming technologies.

“Skimming” occurs when thieves place a small device on the ATM to “skim” users’ credit or debit card info when they use the machine, which the thief can then use to make fraudulent purchases. Quite often, these devices are placed over the card swipe reader and may include a key pad which fits over your machine’s keypad to capture PIN numbers. Fortunately, there are many products on the market that can deter or disable these devices — for example:

• Detection systems that alert you and/or disable the machine when skimming devices are detected;
• Jitter technology, which uses a stop/start mechanism when cards are inserted to corrupt the skimmer’s data; and
• Jamming technologies designed to interrupt skimmer transmissions.

If your machine doesn’t come equipped with anti-skimming mechanisms, consider investing in one or more of these safeguards to protect customer information and protect you from possible liability issues.

5. Invest in ATM machines with enhanced security features.

These days, ATM manufacturers are taking extra steps to make sure their machines are equipped with added security features, which include things like reflective screens, firewall protection, SSL transmission, EMV card readers and more. It’s definitely worth the few extra dollars to invest in machines that reduce the risk of theft, as well as giving both you and your customers greater peace of mind.

AtmMachines.com, LLC sells several lines of ATM machines equipped with state-of-the-art security features and the latest technologies. For more information, give us a call at 1-866-295-2329.

Many brick-and-mortar businesses — if not most — find great benefit in having an ATM machine installed for their customers to use. Not only does an ATM provided added convenience for your customers, but it also helps you generate more cash sales — and when utilized properly, it can also be an additional source of passive income. If you’re installing an ATM for the first time, or if you are unsure how to make the most of your investment, the following tips and tricks should be useful to you.

Choose the Right Type of ATM

ATM machines come in a variety of styles and shapes. Some are standalone units, some can sit on countertops, some can be installed in a wall, and some are even designed for outdoor use. Not every type of ATM is right for every business, so do a bit of planning and decide what type of ATM will work best for your customers as far as convenience and visibility without getting in the way of anything else important.

Be Purposeful in Getting Customers to Use the ATM

The more customers who use your ATM, the more benefit you’ll receive from having it in your business — both for the added cash sales and the proceeds from the machine itself. Strategic positioning and cash sale incentives are just a couple of ways you can attract more customers to use your ATM machine. Don’t just let your ATM sit there passively; be purposeful in how you utilize it, and do what you can to encourage more visits to your ATM machine.

Be Mindful of Security Concerns

An ATM can add lots of revenue to your business, but you must remember it’s basically a portable bank filled with cash. Be sure to position the machine in a place where it can be monitored, and regularly check for signs of tampering or “skimming.” The following critical ATM security tips will help you keep your machine safe.

Consider Buying an ATM

While leasing an ATM from a reputable company saves you from doing most of the legwork of stocking and maintenance, it also means you have to share revenue. If you own the machine outright, you get to keep all the proceeds for your business. If your business sees a lot of cash customers, it might be worth your while to buy an ATM machine outright.

AtmMachines.com, LLC is committed to helping our customers make the most out of their ATM machines. To learn more about how to generate more revenue for your business with an ATM machine, call us today at 1-866-295-2329.