Buy a machine from a reputable local retailer that fits your needs. Consider a company’s location, reputation, and product offerings. Choose a retailer that’s based or has personnel in your geographic area and can get to you quickly for repairs. Look at their Better Business Bureau rating and ask others in your field whether they’d recommend that company or not. Purchase a machine that meets your needs from a reputable retailer. You’ll also need insurance, a business checking account, and an ATM processor.
Surcharge revenue– with average surcharge fees running anywhere from $2.50-$3.00, this is the amount you should expect to be able to charge on a per transaction basis. EMV– See below for a detailed description of EMV as well as make and model upgrade costs or replacement. Machines and locations where a complete replacement is a requirement may make good targets for marketing.
Typically, these machines do best in areas or inside establishments that receive high volumes of foot traffic. Over the years, we have worked with customers throughout dozens of industries, ranging from universities to casinos. Businesses such as bars, clubs, restaurants, convenience stores, gas stations, shopping malls and hotels usually see the most revenue from cash machines.
ATMs cost anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000, depending on if you buy a used or new machine. Although it’s cheaper to buy a used machine, they’re usually slower and look older, so people may be less likely to use them. Although it’s more expensive to buy one, you receive a higher commission per surcharge transaction. You can start your own ATM business to sell or rent ATMs to storefronts looking to implement them.
ATM Technical Support- ATM Service help
Cost of Capital-Another variable cost dependent on the structure of a loan or access to the capital, please see 13- banking and capital section for more information regarding this. Sample Contractplease feel free to utilize this sample contract and consult an attorney with any detailed questions. National averages of ATM fees are varying around $2.00-$3.00 with some significant regional differences. 4- A merchant who owns his own machine but does not want to or cannot keep up with the maintenance. Even if you can make 30 minutes of calls per day, you will find locations.
Online competition for ATMs is very strong and it will be difficult to have your website stand out against all of these national and regional competitors although it can be done. If you are looking for these types of services, check with me for additional help. We send a transcript of the transactions generated from a 3rd party so you know exactly how many transactions, how much surcharge revenue was generated and how much cash was dispensed.
If you are using a full-service model, you’ll need to service the ATM regularly to ensure it is fully operable. Common startup costs include office space, machine purchases, legal or business-creating fees, and staff fees. Some processors take a cut of your surcharge fees for their services, while others do not.
All you need to for an ATM to turn a profit is a location with good foot traffic and a phone line. Starting an ATM business is an easy way to generate passive income. The industry is booming because everyone needs cash at some point. You have the option of working with a company that provides free ATM placement and maintenance in return for a percent of the surcharge. However, when you own your own machines outright, you keep the transaction fee, and your profits can skyrocket as a result.
If you don’t mind handling maintenance, buy an ATM for bigger income. Lease if you want to take a hands-off approach for a smaller income. The exact profit depends on the dollar amount of the surcharge fee, the percentage of the fee you get to keep, and the number of withdrawals. Screen- The exterior screen for customer use, can be touch or just visual screen, most screen replacements run $200-$300.
Then register your business name and entity with your state to ensure you follow the proper legal and tax obligations of an ATM business. Consult a legal expert for assistance, especially if you’re forming a corporation or starting an LLC. Get ATM insurance to protect your expensive equipment and cash. ATM insurance covers damage to the machine and loss of the cash inside due to theft, malfunctions, and other causes. Reach out to companies directly for pricing, since few list their rates on their websites. Payment networks are associations of member banks that facilitate transactions between merchants and issuers .
A simple withdrawal-only machine could be perfect for small businesses. Consider machines with additional user options like adding money to a card or checking account balances. Here is a layout of per terminal income and expenses you can expect to see on average. Income and expenses are highly variable depending on location type, volume, regional area of deployment and other overhead.
How to Buy an ATM
A full service ATM is where you purchase the ATM, install the ATM and vault the cash with your own capital. You could also outsource the service and vault cash to a 3rd party. Pleasecontact mefor local references in your area for vault cash or maintenance As the owner of the ATM, you are also responsible for maintenance and all service on the machine. With full service accounts, you determine the amount of the surcharge fee with the merchants approval and pay the merchant a split of the commission. This can be a fixed amount, such as $100 per month, a flat portion of the surcharge such as .50-$1.00 or a percent of the surcharge fee based on the number of transactions. This is a mixed strategy where you would sell the ATM to the merchant but offer some type of service agreement to maintain the machine, not to include vault cash.
Every time a customer withdraws cash, you collect the transaction fee which is known as a “surcharge“. Target customers could include places such as gas stations, bars and convenience stores. Open a business checking account to receive the surcharge fees. Consult a legal advisor about federal, state, and local regulations surrounding ATM ownership, such as the federal Regulation E or the Bank Secrecy Act. Mobile Locations– Mobile locations or events are good ways to make additional income if you are up for the extra work involved in these events. Many ATM operators are not interested in the mobile events and therefore many of these smaller events can be open.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Buy machines one by one to gradually expand, or purchase an existing network of ATMs . When you lease, you split the surcharge fees with the service company. Depending on your ATM traffic, this could reduce your long-term profits. Communication costs-This cost is not always a concern as discussed in the communication section, if you take advantage of the merchants internet or phone line there is no additional cost. If you have a wireless router in place, expect to pay between $10-$20 per month.
How To Start Up and Operate Your Own ATM Business
Consider pricing, support, and services offered before settling on a processor. Choose a full-service processor that offers installation, maintenance, and refills if you prefer a one-stop-shop for all your ATM needs. ATM profits come from the surcharge fees that users pay to make withdrawals at the machine. The average surcharge is $3 and the average number of transactions per machine per month is 180.
As 2016 approaches the deadline becomes closer, October of 2016 and October of 2017 are the 2 deadlines for acceptance of the EMV standard and fraud liability shift.. Banking in the ATM business has become a larger concern with some governmental regulations which did not necessarily target the ATM business although have had some effect. I would advise you to engage with your local bank and ask them about supporting an ATM business. They will likely have several questions for you around your cash needs. Pleasecontact mefor local references in your area for banking and or vault cash.