This post will go over the steps you’ll need to take to start your ATM business, followed by a collection of resources you can use during the start-up phase and when your business is up and running.
So let’s get started with the steps to start your ATM business.
Steps to Starting an ATM business
1. Make Sure Running a Business Is Right For You
Running a business takes time, effort, and skill. Many start a business to get away from something else, including working for others or having financial difficulties. Those aren’t bad reasons to start a business because you’re looking for something better.
The one concern and the driving force to succeed in business is having a passion for the business you’re running. Without passion, your drive will diminish when problems show up.
Take a look at my article on Business Startup Considerations to bring some clarity and offer insights on what to expect.
2. Research
Business Research
Research is one of the most important parts of the start-up face. The more research you do, the better your decisions will be and the easier the start-up phase will be.
When getting advice, the most qualified people to talk to are those in the ATM industry or with experience with this type of business.
Below is the link for techniques to get inside information about an ATM business.
I suggest you take the time necessary to review the article and exercises, which will pay off in the end.
See An Inside Look Into the Business You Want To Start for more.
Target Audience
Understanding your target audience is another key to success. When you understand what your customers want, you’ll be able to make adjustments to ensure you are meeting the needs of the customers you are targeting.
For example, your target audience can be broad with an ATM business. So, in this case, you have to consider why people would use an ATM. And when they would need it most.
For more, see, How To Understand Your Target Market
3. Setup Considerations
In this step, you have to think ahead and get your vision in place for how you’ll set up your business.
For example, are you considering a small part-time operation with one or two machines, or are you thinking of a larger-scale operation with multiple locations?
With a vision in place, you’ll be able to make better decisions and outcomes.
4. Choosing The Right Business Location
When it comes to business, the location you choose will have a large effect on how successful you’ll be.
ATM businesses aren’t about where you operate but, more importantly, where you place your ATMs.
For more, see Choosing The Best Location for Your Business.
5. Choose a Business Name
The name you choose for your business today is the name you’ll have for as long as you own it.
Business names rarely change. So even though you won’t be face-to-face with customers, your machines may display your business name, and when dealing with people to work out a deal for four ATM placements naturally, you’ll need a good business name.
For this important step, see How To Register a Business Name.
6. Legalizing Your Company
Registering your business is important so your operation is legal and set up properly.
You can start as a sole proprietorship if you’re thinking of a small operation, and as your business expands, you can switch to something that offers more protection, like an LLC.
See, How to Register your Business for more.
7. Create Your Corporate ID
A corporate ID is the face of your business, with components such as; business cards, logo, website, brochure, stationary, etc.
For example, for an ATM business, you’ll likely only need business cards, a logo, and a website, unless you are setting up a large-scale operation.
See A Complete Introduction to Corporate Identity Packages for more.
8. Estimating Your Start-up Cost
Knowing your start-up costs allows you to plan effectively. Unfortunately, at this point, you can only estimate. If you estimate too high, the more risky your operation looks and the harder it is to get funding.
If you estimate too low, you could run out of funds before you’re up and running. The better your estimate, the better off you’ll be in the end.
You can start by listing everything you’ll need, get pricing, and update your list as more issues appear. For example, you must consider the money you place in each ATM. You can’t ignore this high cost, especially with many ATM locations.
For more, see, Estimating Start-up Costs: Are you Missing Anything?
9. Writing a Business Plan
A business plan is a critical document. It’s your roadmap for success and keeps you on track.
If you need a business loan or considering investors, you will need a business plan. You can write one yourself, from scratch, using software or a template, or hire someone to write one for you.
For details, see How to Write a Business Plan.
10. Set up Your Banking
You will need a bank account separate from your personal one to keep track of expenses accurately.
Once you have registered your business, you can choose a bank to deal with. When choosing a bank, consider developing a good relationship with your banker, which can help you with financial advice and load applications.
For more, see, How to Open a Business Bank Account
11. Get the Funding for Your Operation
Getting a start-up loan is not as easy as walking into a bank asking for a loan, and the money is transferred to your account.
Banks consider start-up business loans risky and are more likely to fund an established one than a start-up. Therefore you need a good business plan, along with collateral.
With your business plan in hand, it’s time to meet with multiple leads to find the funding you need.
For ideas, see our article, Getting a Small Business Loan.
12. Software Setup
There are many standard software packages available for running a business.
First, may need programs for accounting and bookkeeping, and then you can look into any available packages. Search for ATM business Software to view the latest search results and explore the available programs.
When you find a suitable program, research it, and check available reviews. You need software that is reliable and stable.
13. Get The Right Business Insurance
You will need business insurance, even though you don’t have customers coming to your office.
I would advise you to speak with an insurance broker that deals with insurance for ATM businesses to discuss the type and amount of coverage you’ll need.
For more on business insurance, see What to Know About Business Insurance.
14. Choose Suppliers
The supplier you choose is an important part of keeping operations running smoothly.
You won’t be dealing with suppliers, so you can stock your shelves for an ATM company, but you may need replacement parts and don’t want any of your ATMs displaying an out-of-order sign.
See, How To Choose a Supplier for tips and insights.
15. Office Setup
Your office is where you’ll spend your time managing and planning your business.
You will want to set up your office to your preference to create a great work environment. See, Here are Considerations for The Setup of Your Office for the details.
16. Creating a Website
Your website is a connection between you and the public.
You can use a website as a support tool. For example, you can display your website address (URL) on all your machines, and people using your machine can contact you with any issues they encounter.
When you receive a lot of complaints, then that’s something you need to address immediately. When thinking about this support system, without it, you would never know there are problems and wonder why people aren’t using your machines.
For more, see our page on How to Build a Website.
17. Create an External Support Team
A support team is a group of people who are not employed by your company and are paid when you need them. For example, this team may consist of a lawyer, an accountant, a financial advisor, an IT technician, etc.
Your team doesn’t have to be in place when you start. On the contrary, it will take time to build, months and possibly years, but plan for it because a strong team can help you take your business to the next level.
For more, see, Building a Team of Professional Advisors.
18. Hiring Employees
With this type of business, you may be planning to do everything yourself, and that’s a good idea, especially if you only have a few machines. On the other hand, if you have a large-scale operation, you will need to hire staff to run it effectively.
When it comes to hiring, your number one priority is hiring the right person for the position you are looking to fill. But, of course, you never want to just fill the position. Instead, find the right match.
For more, see, How and When to Hire a New Employee.