ATM machines are everywhere—almost! They’re not just for banks anymore. So
if you don’t need to be a bank to have your own ATM machines, then what kinds
of opportunities exist for the enterprising entrepreneur?
Business model choices
Think vending machines. ATM machines are the vending machines of the new
millennium, so you have a few options available to you:
1. Sell ATM machines directly to merchants. Convenience stores that are not
big enough or busy enough to be affiliated to a bank may still want the
convenience of an Atm for their clients. There are likely hundreds of small
businesses in your community that could benefit from having an ATM machine
onsite.
2. Place ATM machines yourself— ATM machines that you have purchased and
own. This way, it’s not a one-time, one-profit deal. You’ll be making
transaction fees from every person who uses the machine for as long as your
machine is in the store. Of course, you need a good brand name to instill trust
in the customer, and you will have to service these ATM machines by yourself.
Be sure you have both eyes open if you choose this option.
Questions you need answered...first!
If you do decide to give the ATM machines business a try, be sure to buy
quality equipment from a reputable supplier. Do they offer no fees processing
to you? Do they compete with you, or will they help you generate market leads?
Do they offer technical support to make sure your ATM machines stay up and
running and making you profit?
All of these are valid questions to find the answers to when you first
investigate getting into the ATM machines business.
How can the Internet help me?
A final consideration is monitoring. Does the company you’re working with
offer monitoring through the Internet? That can save a lot of trips to the
corners stores to check on your ATM machines, and time is money!
And money is what you can make if you do your homework, and use ATM machines
to help others access their dollars in a way that is comfortable for them, and
profitable for you!