ATM Business Plan [Sample Template]

Are you about starting an ATM business? If YES, here is a complete sample ATM business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE.

An automated teller machine is an electronic device that enables customers of financial institutions to perform financial transactions such as cash withdrawals, deposits, transfer of funds, or obtaining account information at any time and without the need for direct interaction with bank staff.

ATMs were originally developed as cash dispensers, but have evolved to provide many other bank-related functions. Anyone can start an automated teller machine business as long as they have the financial capacity, license, network and business exposure. Below is a sample ATM business plan template that will help you to successfully write yours within record time.

A Sample ATM Business Plan Template

1. Industry Overview

Independent ATM business operators are not banks but they install their ATM machines, fill them with cash and earn money every time a customer withdraws money from their ATM machines.

Once the money is taken out of your ATM, it is re-deposited into a bank account of your choice on a daily basis along with the surcharge fees. A portion of the surcharge fee is typically paid to the merchant in the form of a commission or split.

Additional revenue can be made on each ATM transaction in the form of interchange. All your machines can be monitored online through a portal where you can see real time information about how much cash is in each machine and how many transactions and fees have occurred.

The total cost of ownership of ATM network services is high, wherein buyers can expect to pay more than 100 percent of the benchmark purchase price per year in additional fees. Besides annual membership fees, buyers must pay transaction fees every time their cardholders use ATMs in the network. These fees include per-transaction switch fees paid to the ATM network provider, usually about two to ten.

The Automated Teller Machine industry is a thriving sector of the economy of the united states and statistics shows that the total number of ATMs in the United States is 425,000 (source-National ATM Council), Independently owned ATMs deployed- 222,000 (source-National ATM Council) and Average ATM fee/Convenience fee- $2.77 (source-National ATM Council).

Average commission payment-$.50-$1.00 (based on my analysis of 100+ portfolios and 10,000+ locations), and Average interchange net income-$.10-.20 (based on my analysis of 100+ portfolios and 10,000+ locations).

The costs for new machine, is between $2000 – $2500 and higher end machine with multiple cassettes and dispensers can run anywhere from $3000 and $6000. Fiserv Inc., CU Cooperative Systems Inc., Vantiv Inc., First Data Corporation and US Bancorp, ATM Network Services are the leaders in this industry.

A recent report published by IBISWorld shows that the ATM industry is highly concentrated, with the two largest companies controlling an estimated 66.7 percent of revenue in 2018. Major players have been extremely aggressive in acquiring smaller payment software companies and expanding their operations over the past five years, and IBISWorld expects further concentration as these trends continue.

Currently, NCR Corporation and Diebold are the largest US-based ATM manufacturers. Competition from abroad has tightened profit margins and prices on ATM systems. Consequently, most of the industry’s largest players operate in related industries to diversify their revenue sources.

There is a particular emphasis on self-service kiosk stations, payment, cash handling software and maintenance services. The ATM machine industry is a profitable industry and it is open for any aspiring entrepreneur to come in and establish his or her business.

2. Executive Summary

Fin Tech® ATM Services, Inc. is a US licensed and incorporated business that will operate independent automated teller machine services all across the United States.

Although our business will be based in Santa Fe – New Mexico where we intend positioning our automated teller machines (ATM) all across the city, but we have the plans to spread across major cities in the United States within record time.

We are in the business to perform financial transactions such as cash withdrawals, deposits, transfer funds, obtaining account information and other sundry services, at any time and without the need for direct interaction with bank staff. We are aware that there are several independent ATM service operators with ATM outlets all around Santa Fe – New Mexico, which is why we spent time and resources to conduct our feasibility studies and market survey.

Our customer care is going to be second to none in the whole of Santa Fe – New Mexico. We know that our customers are the reason why we are in business which is why we will go the extra mile to get them satisfied when they make use of any of our automated teller machines.

Fin Tech® ATM Services, Inc. will ensure that all our customers are given first class treatment whenever they use our ATM machines. We have a CRM software that will enable us manage a one on one relationship with our customers no matter how large they are.

We have put plans in place to operate a mini but standard call center/customer complaint center that will operate on a 24 hours basis for the sole purpose of resolving customer’s complaints. Fin Tech® ATM Services, Inc. is a family business that is owned by Lawrence Mullen and his immediate family members.

The business will be managed by his son Johnson Lawrence, a graduate of Business Administration who has extensive experience working with one of the leading ATM machine services companies in the United States of America. He will bring his wealth of experience and expertise to help build and grow Fin Tech® ATM Services, Inc.

3. Our Products and Services

Fin Tech® ATM Services, Inc. is in the industry for the purpose of making profits and we will ensure that we go all the way to make available a wide range of services as it relates to the industry in the United States of America. Here are some of the services that will be available in our ATM machines;

• Cash withdrawals, deposits, transfer funds, or obtaining account information
• Paying routine bills, fees, and taxes (utilities, phone bills, social security, legal fees, income taxes, etc.)
• Printing or ordering bank statements
• Updating passbooks
• Cash advances
• Cheque Processing Module
• Paying (in full or partially) the credit balance on a card linked to a specific current account.
• Transferring money between linked accounts (such as transferring between accounts)

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

• Our vision is to build an ATM machine service that will have active presence all over Santa Fe – New Mexico and other key cities in the United States of America
• Our mission is to establish an ATM machine business that will make available a wide range of services at affordable charges to residents of Santa Fe – New Mexico and other key cities in the United States of America where we intend installing our ATM machines.

Our Business Structure

Our intention of starting an automated teller machine (ATM) services business is to build a standard business that has ATM machines in strategic positions in key cities around Santa Fe – New Mexico and of course other key cities across the United States.

We will ensure that we put the right structures in place that will support the kind of growth we have in mind while setting up the business. In putting in place a good business structure, we will ensure that we hire only people that are qualified, honest, customer centric and are ready to work to help us build a prosperous business.

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of three years or more. In view of that, we have decided to hire qualified and competent hands to occupy the following positions;

• Chief Executive Officer (Owner)
• ATM Custodian/Manager
• Admin and Human Resources Manager
• Sales and Marketing Manager
• Information Technologist
• Accountant
• Client Services Executive

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Executive Officer – CEO:

• Increases management’s effectiveness by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, coaching, counseling, and disciplining managers; communicating values, strategies, and objectives; assigning accountabilities; planning, monitoring, appraising job results and developing incentives
• Creates, communicates and implements the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
• Accountable for fixing prices and signing business deals
• Responsible for providing direction for the business
• In charge of signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
• Evaluates the success of the organization

Admin and HR Manager

• Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for the organization
• Defines job positions for recruitment and managing interviewing process
• Carries out induction for new team members
• Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of employees
• Answerable for arranging travel, meetings and appointments
• Oversees the smooth running of the daily office activities.

ATM Custodian/Manager:

• Ensures that proper records of transactions are kept and our ATM machines does not run out of cash
• Ensures that all our automated teller machines are in tip top state and function efficiently at all times
• Interfaces with third – party suppliers (vendors) and our banks
• Controls cash distribution and supply inventory all across our ATM machine locations

Sales and Marketing Manager

• Models demographic information and analyze the volumes of transactional data generated by customers
• Identifies, prioritizes, and reaches out to new partners, and business opportunities et al
• Represents the company in strategic meetings
• Helps to increase sales and growth for the company

Information Technologist

• Manages and monitors the organizations ATM machine network and website
• Responsible for installing and maintenance of ATM machines, computer software and hardware for the organization
• Manages the organization’s CCTV
• Handles any other technological and IT related duties.

Accountant

• Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
• Provides managements with financial analyses, development budgets, and accounting reports
• Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis.
• Performs cash management, general ledger accounting, and financial reporting
• Responsible for developing and managing financial systems and policies
• Responsible for administering payrolls
• Ensures compliance with taxation legislation
• Handles all financial transactions for the organization
• Serves as internal auditor for the organization

Client Service Executive

• Ensures that all contacts with clients (e-mail, walk-In center, SMS or phone) provides the client with a personalized customer service experience of the highest level
• Through interaction with clients on the phone, uses every opportunity to build client’s interest in the company’s products and services
• Manages administrative duties assigned by the manager in an effective and timely manner

6. SWOT Analysis

Our intention of starting our automated teller machine (ATM) business with a dozen machines installed in strategic locations around Santa Fe – New Mexico is to test run the business for a period of 3 to 6 months to know if we will invest more money, expand the business and then install more machines.

We are aware that there are several ATM machines in Santa Fe – New Mexico and even in the same locations where we intend installing ours, which is why we are following the due process of establishing a business.

We know that if a proper SWOT analysis is conducted for our business, we will be able to position our business to maximize our strength, leverage on the opportunities that will be available to us, mitigate our risks and be equipped to confront our threats.

Fin Tech® ATM Services, Inc. employed the services of an expert HR and Business Analyst with bias in retailing to help us conduct a thorough SWOT analysis and to help us create a Business model that will help us achieve our business goals and objectives. This is the summary of the SWOT analysis that was conducted for Fin Tech® ATM Services, Inc.;

• Strength:

The strategic locations we intend installing our ATM machines, the business model we will be operating on, wide range of functions in our ATM machines, competent team members and our excellent customer service culture will definitely count as a strong strength for Fin Tech® ATM Services, Inc.

• Weakness:

A major weakness that may count against us is the fact that we are a new automated teller machine (ATM) business and we don’t have the financial capacity to compete with older independent ATM companies when it comes to spread.

• Opportunities:

The fact that we are going to install our ATM machines in some of the busiest streets in Santa Fe – New Mexico, provides us with unlimited opportunities to reach out to a large number of people who are likely going to make use of our ATM machines.

We have been able to conduct thorough feasibility studies and market survey and we know what our potential clients will be looking for when they visit our ATM locations; we are well positioned to take on the opportunities that will come our way.

• Threat:

Just like any other business, one of the major threats that we are likely going to face is economic downturn. It is a fact that economic downturn affects purchasing power which will ultimately affect ATM transactions. Some other threats that may likely confront us is the arrival of a new ATM machine in same location where ours is located and also down time due to technical problems from our technical partners.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trends

The recent trend in this line of business shows that the price of ATM network services has been increasing at an estimated annualized rate of 1.0 percent in the three years to 2017. Greater demand for services and a lack of competition have facilitated this upturn in service prices.

Still, a decline in some of vendors’ input costs has tempered the magnitude of growth in rates for services. Meanwhile, price volatility has been low in recent time. External factors such as demand from commercial banking and consumer spending will impact industry performance.

It is now a common phenomenon for ATM machines companies to leverage on technology to effectively predict consumer demand patterns and to strategically position their ATM machines to meet their needs; in essence, the use of technology helps ATM machine businesses to maximize supply chain efficiencies.

No doubt data collected from customers goes a long way to help automated teller machine businesses serve their customers better.

8. Our Target Market

Perhaps the ATM machines business has the widest range of customers; everybody who owns a bank account has one or more things that they would need in an ATM machine. It is difficult to find people who own bank account and ATM cards who don’t make use of ATM machines.

Our competitive advantage

The competition that exists in the automated teller machine line of business is stiff because anyone can start the business despite the fact that it can be financial demanding. The automated teller machine (ATM) business requires expertise and any serious minded entrepreneur is likely to make good profit out of it.

One thing is certain, we will ensure that we have a wide range of services available in our ATM machines at all times. It will be difficult for customers to visit our ATM machines and not see the product that they are looking for. One of our business goal is to make Fin Tech® ATM Services, Inc. a one stop ATM machine.

We can boast of our ability to quickly adopt new technology, effective cost controls and proximity to key markets. So also, our excellent customer service culture, highly competitive services, reliable and easy to use automated teller machines and the visibility of our ATM machines and competent team members will serve as a competitive advantage for us.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

• Sources of Income

Fin Tech® ATM Services, Inc. is established with the aim of maximizing profits in the automated teller machine line of business and we are going to go all the way to ensure that we do all it takes to sell our services to a wide range of customers.

Fin Tech® ATM Services, Inc. will generate income by offering the following services via our automated teller machines (ATM);

• Cash withdrawals, deposits, transfer funds, or obtaining account information
• Paying routine bills, fees, and taxes (utilities, phone bills, social security, legal fees, income taxes, etc.)
• Printing or ordering bank statements
• Updating passbooks
• Cash advances
• Cheque Processing Module
• Paying (in full or partially) the credit balance on a card linked to a specific current account.
• Transferring money between linked accounts (such as transferring between accounts)

10. Sales Forecast

One thing is certain when it comes to automated teller machine (ATM) business, if your machines can perform a wide variety of services and are centrally positioned, you will always attract customers cum sales and that will sure translate to increase in revenue generation for the business.

We are well positioned to take on the available market in Santa Fe – New Mexico and we are quite optimistic that we will meet our set target of generating enough income/profits from the first six months of operation and grow the business and our clientele base.

We have been able to critically examine the automated teller machine industry, we have analyzed our chances in the industry and we have been able to come up with the following sales forecast. The sales projection is based on information gathered on the field and some assumptions that are peculiar to startups in Santa Fe – New Mexico.

Below are the sales projections for Fin Tech® ATM Services, Inc., it is based on the location of our business and other factors as it relates to automated teller machine (ATM) services startups in the United States;

• First Year: $240,000
• Second Year: $550,000
• Third Year: $950,000

N.B: This projection was done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the assumption that there won’t be any major economic meltdown and or major competitors positioning their ATM machines in same locations where ours are. Please note that the above projection might be lower and at the same time it might be higher.

• Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

Before choosing locations to install our ATM machines, we conducted a thorough market survey and feasibility studies in order for us to penetrate the available market and become the preferred choice for residents of Santa Fe – New Mexico.

We hired experts who have good understanding of the industry to help us develop marketing strategies that will help us achieve our business goal of winning a larger percentage of the available market in Santa Fe – New Mexico and every other city we intend installing our ATM machines.

In summary, Fin Tech® ATM Services, Inc. will adopt the following sales and marketing approach to win customers over;

• Give our ATM machines a unique look, by painting them with bright colors or putting a large neon sign on it, so that it is easily recognizable to customers.
• Creates a basic website for our business, so as to give our business an online presence (list the locations of our ATM machines)
• Joins local independent automated teller machine associations for industry trends and tips

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

Despite the fact that our ATM machines will be well located, we will still go ahead to intensify publicity for the business. We are going to explore all available means to promote our automated teller machine (ATM) business.

Fin Tech® ATM Services, Inc. has a long term plan of installing our ATM machines in various locations in major cities in the United States of America which is why we will deliberately build our brand to be well accepted in Santa Fe – New Mexico before venturing out.

Here are the platforms we intend leveraging on to promote and advertise Fin Tech® ATM Services, Inc.;

• Sponsor relevant community programs
• Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas
• Position our Flexi Banners at strategic positions in the location where our ATM machines are located.

12. Our Pricing Strategy

We will ensure that we conform to the price model as established by the regulatory body in the United States of America.

• Payment Options

Due to the nature of ATM machines, there are no options when it comes to payment for services other than to insert your ATM card in the ATM machine and then the machine will dispense cash or provide the information or services you requested for. We will make money from the service charge per transaction.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

When it comes to starting an automated teller machine (ATM) business, the major areas you would spend the bulk of your cash is in the purchase of ATM machines, loading the ATM machines with cash and of course renting or leasing warehouse facility.

Aside from that, you are not expected to spend much except for paying of your employees, and the purchase of vans. These are the key areas where we will spend our startup capital;

• The total fee for registering the business in the United States of America – $750.
• Legal expenses for obtaining licenses and permits as well as the accounting services (software, P.O.S machines and other software) – $1,300.
• Marketing promotion expenses for flyer printing (2,000 flyers at $0.04 per copy) for the total amount of $3,580.
• The cost for hiring Business Consultant – $2,500.
• Insurance (general liability, workers’ compensation and property casualty) coverage at a total premium – $2,400.
• Cost for payment of rent for 12 months at $1.76 per square feet in the total amount of $105,600.
• Cost for Warehouse remodeling (construction of racks and shelves) – $20,000.
• Other start-up expenses including stationery ($500) and phone and utility deposits – ($2,500).
• Operational cost for the first 3 months (salaries of employees, payments of bills et al) – $60,000
• The cost for the purchase of ATM machines – $25,000
• The cost for the purchase of 2 fairly used delivery vans- $20,000
• Cost of purchase and installation of CCTVs: $10,000
• The cost for the purchase of furniture and gadgets for the office (Computers, Printers, Telephone, TVs, Sound System, tables and chairs et al): $50,000.
• The cost of launching a website: $600
• Miscellaneous: $10,000

We would need an estimate of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) excluding the working capital to successfully set up our automated teller machine (ATM) business in Santa Fe – New Mexico. Our target working capital is five hundred thousand dollars (500,000) and that is what we intend loading in our various ATM machines.

Generating Startup Capital for Fin Tech® ATM Services, Inc.

Fin Tech® ATM Services, Inc. is a family registered business that is owned and financed by Lawrence Mullen and his immediate family members. They do not intend to welcome any external business partners which is why he has decided to restrict the sourcing of the startup capital to 3 major sources.

• Generate part of the startup capital from personal savings
• Source for soft loans from family members and friends
• Apply for loan from the bank

N.B: We have been able to generate about $200,000 (Personal savings $150,000 and soft loan from family members $50,000) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $800,000 from our bank. All the papers and documents have been signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited with the amount.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

It is an established fact that the future of a business lies in the number of loyal customers that they have, the capacity and competence of their employees, their investment strategy and the business structure. If all of these factors are missing from a business, then it won’t be too long before the business closes shop.

One of our most important goals of starting Fin Tech® ATM Services, Inc. is to build a business that will survive off its own cash flow without the need for injecting finance from external sources once the business is officially running.

We know that one of the ways of gaining approval and winning customers over is to offer our services (services charges) a little bit cheaper than what is obtainable in the market and we are prepared to survive on lower profit margin for a while.

Fin Tech® ATM Services, Inc. will make sure that the right foundation, structures and processes are put in place to ensure that our staff welfare are well taken of. Our company’s corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and retraining of our workforce is at the top burner.

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of three years or more. We know that if that is put in place, we will be able to successfully hire and retain the best hands we can get in the industry; they will be more committed to help us build the business of our dreams.

Check List/Milestone

• Business Name Availability Check: Completed
• Business Registration: Completed
• Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts: Completed
• Securing ATM machines: In Progress
• Opening Mobile Money Accounts: Completed
• Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
• Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
• Application for business license and permit: Completed
• Purchase of Insurance for the Business: Completed
• Leasing of facility for warehouse and remodeling: In Progress
• Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
• Generating capital from family members: Completed
• Applications for Loan from the bank: In Progress
• Writing of Business Plan: Completed
• Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
• Drafting of Contract Documents and other relevant Legal Documents: In Progress
• Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
• Printing of Promotional Materials: In Progress
• Recruitment of employees: In Progress
• Purchase of the Needed furniture, racks, shelves, computers, electronic appliances, office appliances and CCTV: In progress
• Creating Official Website for the Company: In Progress
• Creating Awareness for the business both online and around the community: In Progress
• Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement (License): Secured
• Establishing business relationship with banks and vendors – suppliers of all our needed products and ATM machines: In Progress