How to Start an ATM Business With a Business Plan

An ATM business is a type of business that operates and owns automated teller machines that dispense cash and offer other banking services to customers. Customers find ATMs easy and dependable to get cash from, and business owners can earn extra money from transaction fees and ads. But to start an ATM business, you need to plan, research, and invest in how to run an ATM if you’re an ATM business beginner. This ATM business plan sample will provide an idea for writing a successful ATM plan.

How to Write a Business Plan For an ATM Business

A business plan is a roadmap that explains how to start an ATM business step by step. A business plan like a microfinance business plan lays out what you want to achieve, how to set up an ATM, and the strategies. So, whether you are looking to secure funding or keep tabs on your progress, a solid business plan is the key.

Your ATM machine business plan should explain how to start an ATM business with no money and cover the following sections:

• Executive Summary – A brief overview of your entire business plan, highlighting the key points and the primary purpose of your ATM business. Should make the reader curious, and tell your business idea, market chance, edge over others, money highlights, and pros and cons of the ATM business.
• Company Overview – A full explanation of starting an ATM business, with its past, mission, vision, values, goals, and objectives. Should also have information about your ATM business license, legal form, owners, managers, and place, as explained in our collection agency business plan.
• Market Analysis – A complete study of the market you work in, with the industry changes, size, growth, and future. Should study the customer groups, needs, likes, and actions, as well as the competition, strengths, weaknesses, chances, and risks.
• Business Strategy – A clear explanation of how you will operate your ATM business, including your business model, your value proposition, your revenue streams, your cost structure, your pricing strategy, your distribution strategy, your customer service strategy, and your risk management strategy.
• Financial Plan – A projection of your business’s financial performance, including your income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, break-even analysis, and financial ratios. It should also include your funding requirements, your sources of funding, and your assumptions and estimates. For example, refer to our credit repair business plan.
• Marketing Plan – A detailed plan of how you will promote and market your business, including your marketing objectives, your marketing strategy, your marketing mix, your marketing budget, and your marketing metrics.

What is the Growth Potential for an ATM Business?

According to a report by Grand View Research, the global ATM market size reached USD 22.80 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.0% from 2023 to 2030.

Image Source – Grand View Research

Here’s some more intriguing insight that shows the growing ATM market:

• There are around 3.5 million ATMs installed worldwide. 
• The total number of active ATMs in the US is between 520,000 and 540,000.
• The average withdrawal at an ATM amounts to around $80. (Source – Astute Analytica)

More and more people want automation, convenience, and security in the banking sector, especially in countries like China and India. This makes the industry grow. Also, new technologies, such as biometric authentication, smart ATMs, and mobile ATMs, can create more chances for the industry.

How much an ATM business can grow depends on many things, such as the place, the customers, the competitors, the number of transactions, the transaction fee, and the costs of running the business. Usually, an ATM business can profit 15% to 40% based on the number of machines, the number of transactions, and the bank business plan. But an ATM business also has problems, such as security risks, rules to follow, and costs of keeping and filling them.

Business plan for investors

Document for attracting equity financing for a startup or existing business. These business plans will comply with even the most complex investor requirements

Composition of an ATM Business Plan

To illustrate the composition of a business plan for ATM machines, we will use a sample ATM business plan for a fictional ATM business start-up called CashZone. CashZone is an independent ATM deployer (IAD) that operates and owns a network of ATMs in Florida. CashZone offers cash withdrawal, fund transfer, bill payment, and mobile top-up services. CashZone generates revenue from surcharge fees, interchange fees, and advertising fees.

Here is the company overview section of CashZone’s business plan that will explain how to start an ATM business in Florida:

Company Overview

CashZone is a start-up company that operates and owns ATMs in Florida. CashZone was founded in 2023 by Alex Right and Lucie Haynes, two entrepreneurs with experience and expertise in the ATM and banking industry. CashZone is registered as a limited liability company (LLC) in Florida and operates under the trade name CashZone Services.

CashZone wants to give customers easy, dependable, and safe cash access and make extra money for the business owners. CashZone wants to be the best ATM owner and operator in Florida, with top-quality machines having new features and functions and good advertising chances for local businesses.

CashZone’s goals and objectives are to:

• Start its ATM business in 2024, starting with 10 machines in strategic locations in Florida.
• Expand its ATM network to 50 machines by 2026, covering more areas and customer segments in Florida.
• Achieve a market share of 10% in the industry in Florida by 2026.
• Generate USD 500,000 in revenue and USD 100,000 in net profit by 2026. Refer to our financial advisor business plan to learn more.
• Establish strategic partnerships and alliances with local businesses and financial institutions to increase its customer base and market share.

CashZone’s management team and staff consist of:

• Alex Right, Co-Founder, and CEO, oversees strategy and vision with 10+ years in banking. Has an MBA and bachelor’s in business.
• Lucie Haynes, Co-Founder and COO, manages daily operations and supervision with 8+ years in banking. Has a bachelor’s in engineering and ATM certification.
• Chang Lee, CFO, handles financial planning, analysis, and reporting with 6+ years in accounting and finance. Has a bachelor’s in accounting and is a licensed CPA.
• Lisa Kirk, CMO, leads marketing and sales with 5+ years in marketing and advertising. Has a bachelor’s in marketing and digital marketing certificate.
• Tom Smith, CTO, oversees technology and innovation with 4+ years in IT and software. Has a bachelor’s in computer science and a software/security certificate.
• 5 ATM operators and technicians maintain and repair machines, load cash, and reconcile. Have ATM operations experience and training.

Keys to Success

The keys to success for CashZone are:

• Providing high-quality ATM machines that are secure, reliable, and user-friendly.
• Choosing strategic locations with high traffic, visibility, and demand for ATM services.
• Offering competitive surcharge fees that are affordable for customers and profitable for the business.
• Building a strong relationship with customers.
• Leveraging technology and innovation to enhance the functionality and efficiency of the ATMs.
• Marketing and branding the business effectively to attract and retain customers.

Industry Analysis

The ATM industry is a large and growing industry. ATMs provide cash and convenience services to millions of customers worldwide. According to Market Research Community, ATM Market size was worth USD 21.41 Billion in 2022, accounting for a CAGR of 4.8% during the forecast period (2023-2030), and is projected to be worth USD 32.65 Billion by 2030.

Image Source – Market Research Community

ATMs are very popular and widely used in the US. But the US ATM market also has some problems, like less people using cash, more people using digital payments, too many ATMs in some places, and higher costs and risks of running ATMs.

CashZone ATM wants to serve the people of Florida, who are about 22 million in 2024. Florida is a big and diverse state in the US, where many people need cash and convenient services. Florida is an appropriate place to do business because of:

• Low taxes
• Flexible rules
• Affordable expenses
• Strong economy
• Great infrastructure
• Booming tourism industry.

CashZone ATM’s target market segments are:

• Tourists – Florida is a popular tourist destination. Florida received approximately 137.6 million visitors in 2022 (Source – Visit Florida). Cash is helpful for tourists who want to give tips, go street shopping, try local food, and have fun. They also like ATMs that are easy to use, trustworthy, and safe and have options for different languages, money types, and cash amounts.
• Retirees – Florida is a retirement haven, hosting over 4.2 million seniors (20.1%) aged 65 and above (Source – Consumer Affairs). Retirees need cash for paying day-to-day bills, meeting medical expenses, shopping for groceries, etc. Retirees also prefer ATMs that are accessible, easy to use, and safe, as well as offer features such as big fonts, voice guidance, and fraud prevention.
• Immigrants – Florida is a melting pot of cultures, with over 4.6 million foreign immigrants (21.2%) living in Florida (Source – Migration Policy Institute). Immigrants spend cash on things like sending money home, buying what they need, and more. Immigrants also prefer ATMs that are multilingual, multicultural, and affordable, as well as offer features such as currency conversion, money transfer, and low fees.
• Low-income households – Florida is a state with high poverty and income inequality. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, over 2.87 million (12.7%) people are living in poverty in Florida. Low-income households need cash for various purposes, such as paying rent, utilities, transportation, etc. Low-income households also prefer ATMs that are convenient, reliable, and economical, as well as offer features such as no minimum balance, no surcharge, and no overdraft.

Your ATM Marketing Strategy

The marketing strategy section of CashZone’s business plan should include the following information:

• The marketing objectives, such as increasing brand awareness, customer acquisition, customer retention, and revenue growth.
• The marketing mix, such as the product, price, place, and promotion strategies for the ATM business.
• The marketing budget, such as the allocation of funds for each marketing channel, method, and tool.
• The marketing metrics, such as the key performance indicators (KPIs) and targets for measuring the effectiveness and efficiency of the marketing strategy.

For example, CashZone’s marketing strategy can be summarized as follows:

Marketing Objective

CashZone aims to increase the number of customers and transactions by 20% in the first year of operation.

Marketing Mix

• Product – ATMs with cash withdrawal, fund transfer, bill payment, and mobile top-up. ATMs have biometric authentication, mobile integration, and smart features.
• Price – $2.50 surcharge fee per transaction. Interchange fees from banks and advertising fees from merchants and advertisers.
• Place – 50 ATMs in Florida at gas stations, convenience stores, shopping malls, and hotels. High traffic, visibility, and demand.
• Promotion – Online advertising, social media, flyers, referrals, and word-of-mouth. Discounts, coupons, and loyalty programs for customers and merchants.

Marketing Budget

$10,000 for the first year of operation, which is allocated as follows:

• Online advertising – $4,000 for Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and Instagram Ads, targeting customers by location, demographics, interests, and behaviors.
• Social media – $2,000 for Facebook and Instagram, posting content and engaging with followers and customers.
• Flyers – $1,000 for printing and distributing 10,000 flyers, featuring CashZone’s logo, slogan, services, locations, and contact information.
• Referrals – $1,000 for a referral program, where customers and merchants earn $10 for each referral.
• Word-of-mouth – $2,000 for building a positive reputation and image by providing excellent service, quality ATMs, and competitive prices.

Marketing Metrics

• Brand awareness – The percentage of potential customers and merchants aware of CashZone and its services, measured by online impressions, social media followers, and flyer distribution.
• Customer acquisition – The number of new customers who use CashZone’s ATMs, measured by the number of transactions, surcharge fees, and interchange fees.
• Customer retention – The number of repeat customers who use CashZone’s ATMs, measured by the frequency of transactions, loyalty program enrollment, and referral program participation.
• Revenue growth – The increase in the total revenue of CashZone, measured by the sum of surcharge fees, interchange fees, and advertising fees.

OGSCapital for Your ATM Business Plan

If you are confused about how to make an ATM business plan and looking for a professional and reliable business plan service, you have come to the right place. At OGSCapital, we have a team of experienced and qualified business plan consultants who can help you understand how to start an ATM machine business with our ATM business plan and related consultation services. We have been experts in making business plans for more than 17 years, and we have helped over 5,000 clients from 42+ industries get over $2.7 billion in money with our top-notch and tailored business plans.

We understand it’s a challenge of how to open an ATM business. We can help you create a strong and strategic business plan highlighting your benefits, market size, edge over competitors, and financial goals. We will also offer helpful tips and support on how to start and run an ATM business. No matter what your purpose is for having a business plan, we can make one that suits your requirements and expectations.

We have reasonable and flexible prices based on how challenging and urgent your project is. We ensure timely delivery, confidentiality, and quality of our work. Contact us today to get started!

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to start an ATM business? 

Starting an ATM machine in the US costs between $1,200 for a used model to $3,000 for a new, freestanding machine. But that’s not all. Setting it up and maintaining it costs extra. Hence, expect to budget $2,000-$5,000 or more to start an ATM business when accounting for all costs.

Is it worth it to start an ATM business? 

Are you confused about how to own an ATM machine for profit? ATM business profit in the US can be significant, with estimates of $450-$750 per month per machine. Starting ATMs in high-traffic areas can process over 800 transactions monthly, with potential gross profits of $6,624+ annually per machine. However, profitability depends on location, surcharge fees, and transaction volume.

Download ATM Business Plan Sample in pdf