Writing an ATM Business Plan [Sample Template]

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

ATMs were originally developed as cash dispensers, and 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.

The global ATM market size reached USD 20.18 billion in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.9 percent from 2022 to 2028. The total number of ATMs in the United States is 425,000, Independently owned ATMs deployed 222,000 ATMs, and the Average ATM fee/Convenience fee is $2.77 (source-National ATM Council).

Steps on How to Write an ATM Business Plan

Table of Content
Executive Summary

Pickford Cash© ATM Services, Inc. is an American-based business that will operate independent automated teller machine services all across the United States. Although our business will be based in New Haven – Connecticut where we intend to position our automated teller machines (ATM) all across the city, we have plans to spread across major cities in the United States within record time.

Pickford Morgan is the founder and CEO of Pickford Cash© ATM Services, Inc.

Company Profile

a. Our Products and Services

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).

b. Nature of the Business

An ATM Services business is meant to operate the business-to-consumer model or transfer completely to a business-to-business approach.

c. The Industry

Pickford Cash© ATM Services, Inc. will operate in the Automated Teller Machine industry.

d. Mission Statement

Our mission is to make cash withdrawals, cash deposits and other financial services more accessible to all and sundry and the services will also include blockchain and cryptocurrency transactions.

e. Vision Statement

Our vision is to build an ATM services business that will have an active presence all over New Haven – Connecticut and other key cities in the United States of America.

f. Our Tagline (Slogan)

Pickford Cash© ATM Services, Inc. – Financial Services Any Time, Any Day, and Anywhere!

g. Legal Structure of the Business (LLC, C Corp, S Corp, LLP)

Pickford Cash© ATM Services, Inc. will be formed as a Limited Liability Company (LLC). The reason why we are forming an LLC is to protect our assets by limiting the liability to the resources of the business itself. The LLC will protect our CEOs’ assets from claims against the business, including lawsuits.

h. Our Organizational Structure

Chief Executive Officer (Owner)
ATM Custodian/Manager
Admin and Human Resources Manager
Sales and Marketing Manager
Information Technologist
Accountant
Call Center Executives.

i. Ownership/Shareholder Structure and Board Members

Pickford Jude (Owner and Chairman / Chief Executive Officer) 51 Percent Shares
Gordon Wisdom (Board Member) 14 Percent Shares
Jude Soares (Board Member) 13 Percent Shares
Paul Nelson (Board Member) 12 Percent Shares
Zara Rodrick (Board Member and Sectary) 10 Percent Shares.

SWOT Analysis

a. Strength

Effective structures to help consumers enjoy a seamless digital experience when making use of our ATMs
Highly experienced and qualified employees and management
Active presence in key locations across cities
Access to finance from business partners
Water-tight strategies on how to expand beyond the major markets
Good returns on investment for our investors.

b. Weakness

Financial Constraints
A new business that will be competing with well-established banks with ATMs and other independent ATM service companies and traditional banks
Inability to retain our highly experienced and qualified employees longer than we want.

c. Opportunities

Partnerships and mergers between established banks are becoming more frequent.
Digital banking services are taking over
46 percent of people exclusively use digital channels for their financial needs
Good support structure for independent ATM service companies in the United States of America.

i. How Big is the Industry?

It is safe to say that the Automated teller machine (ATM) industry is a massive industry. This is so because the total number of ATMs in the United States is 425,000 (source-National ATM Council), and Independently owned ATMs are 222,000 (source-National ATM Council).

ii. Is the Industry Growing or Declining?

The Automated teller machine (ATM) industry is growing rapidly and available data shows that the market surpassed USD 20 billion in 2020 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 4 percent between 2022 and 2027.

iii. What are the Future Trends in the Industry?

New technologies, like machine learning/artificial intelligence, predictive behavioral analytics, and data-driven marketing, are what will determine the future trends in the Automated teller machine (ATM) industry.

iv. Are There Existing Niches in the Industry?

Yes, there are existing niche ideas when it comes to automated teller machine (ATM) business, and they are as follows;

Cash Dispenser ATM
White Label ATM.
Yellow Label ATM
Brown Label ATMs.
Onsite ATMs.
Offsite ATMs.
Crypto Exchange Platform.

v. Can You Sell a Franchise of your Business in the Future?

Pickford Cash© ATM Services, Inc. has plans to sell franchises in the nearest future and we will have a strong physical presence in key financial hubs (cities all across the world).

d. Threats

The arrival of a new ATM company within our market space
Unfavorable government policy and regulations.
Cyber security challenges
Liability problems
Continuously changing consumer demands especially as it relates to how they expect ATM service companies to serve them.

i. Who are the Major Competitors?

Capital One
Bank of America
Chase
Wells Fargo
Aspiration
Axos
USAA
Discover
BankMobile Vibe
GoBank
ATM Money Machine, Inc.
Cardtronics
Loomis US
Allpoint
ATM Marketplace of Florida, Inc.
Phoenix Cash Systems A Division Of The World Is Mine Corp
Micro Resources International
Hyosung America | ATM Solutions
Payroll Corporation (“Mr. Payroll”)
Bitbox ATM machines

ii. Is There a Franchise for an Automated teller machine (ATM) business?

Yes, there are franchises for Automated teller machine (ATM) businesses are here are some of them;

ACFN – Initial investment: $39,230 – $63,820
Bitbox ATM machines – Initial investment: $38,590 – $157,980
Payroll Corporation (“Mr. Payroll”) – Initial investment: $68,800 – $328,000
ATM Money Machine, Inc. – Initial investment: from $2,100
BitCash USA – Initial investment: $13,500 – $250,000

iii. Are There Policies, Regulations, or Zoning Laws Affecting Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Business?

In the United States of America, the automated teller machine (ATM) machine business, like all financial services is regulated at both the state and federal levels. Each of the 50 states and the federal government has passed its own body of laws that may apply to financial services providers.

Please note that because of the scope, scale, and dynamism of the automated teller machine (ATM) services industry, the sector is often regulated by multiple regulators, both within certain types (e.g., multiple government regulators) and across types (e.g., governmental, self-regulators, and market regulators).

Please check with your zoning or planning department to find out what options are available to you.

Marketing Plan

a. Who is Your Target Audience?

i. Age Range

Our target market comprises adults above 18 years old who have the finance to do business with us.

ii. Level of Educational

We don’t have any restrictions on the level of education of those who will make use of our automated teller machines.

iii. Income Level

There is no cap on the level of income of the people that can use our automated teller machines.

iv. Ethnicity

There is no restriction when it comes to the ethnicity of the people that can make use of our automated teller machines.

v. Language

There is no restriction when it comes to the language spoken by the people that can make use of our automated teller machines. We have different language options in our ATM machines.

vi. Geographical Location

Anybody from any geographical location will be welcome to make use of our automated teller machines.

vii. Lifestyle

Pickford Cash© ATM Services, Inc. will not restrict people based on their lifestyle, culture, or race.

b. Advertising and Promotion Strategies

Host Themed Events That Catch Attention.
Tap Into Text Marketing.
Make Use of Bill Boards.
Share our Events in Local Groups and Pages.
Turn our Social Media Channels into a Resource
Develop our Business Directory Profiles
Build Relationships with players in the financial services industry.

i. Traditional Marketing Strategies

Marketing through Direct Mail.
Print Media Marketing – Newspapers & Magazines.
Broadcast Marketing -Television & Radio Channels.
OOH, Marketing – Public Transits like Buses and Trains, Billboards, Street shows, and Cabs.
Leverage direct sales, direct mail (postcards, brochures, letters, fliers), print advertising (coupon books, billboards), and referral (also known as word-of-mouth marketing).

ii. Digital Marketing Strategies

Social Media Marketing Platforms.
Influencer Marketing.
Email Marketing.
Content Marketing.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Marketing.
Affiliate Marketing
Mobile Marketing.

iii. Social Media Marketing Plan

Start using chatbots.
Create a personalized experience for our customers.
Create an efficient content marketing strategy.
Create a community for our target market and potential target market.
Gear up our profiles with a diverse content strategy.
Use brand advocates.
Create profiles on the relevant social media channels.
Run cross-channel campaigns.

c. Pricing Strategy

When working out our pricing strategy, Pickford Cash© ATM Services, Inc. will make sure it covers profits, insurance, premium, license, and economy or value and full package for each transaction. All our pricing strategies will reflect;

Cost-Based Pricing
Value-Based Pricing
Competition-Based Pricing.

Sales and Distribution Plan

a. Sales Channels

Our channel sales strategy will involve using partners and third parties—such as referral partners, affiliate partners, strategic alliances in the automated teller machine industry, the finance and banking industry, and freelancers to help refer clients to us.

Pickford Cash© ATM Services, Inc. will also leverage the 4 Ps of marketing which are place, price, product, and promotion. By carefully integrating all these marketing strategies into a marketing mix, we can have a visible, in-demand service that is competitively priced and promoted to our customers.

b. Inventory Strategy

The fact that we will need cash supplies per time means that Pickford Cash© ATM Services, Inc. will operate an inventory strategy that is based on a day-to-day methodology for ordering, maintaining, processing, and feeding cash in our ATMs. We will develop our strategy with the same thoroughness and attention to detail as we would if we were creating an overall strategy for the business.

c. Payment Options for Customers

Here are the payment options that Pickford Cash© ATM Services, Inc. will make available to her clients;

Payment via automated teller machines

d. Return Policy, Incentives, and Guarantees

At Pickford Cash© ATM Services, Inc. we will refund our clients when the transaction does not pull through but the customer was charged. We will also guarantee our customers the safety of their card details and financial details.

e. Customer Support Strategy

Our customer support strategy will involve seeking customer feedback. This will help us provide an excellent return on investment (ROI) and customer service to all our clients and investors. We will work with effective CRM software to be able to achieve this.

Regularly, we will work towards strengthening our Customer Service Team and also Leverage Multi-Channel Servicing as part of our customer support strategy.

Operational Plan

We plan to expand our revenue by 50 percent in the second year and the plan will include a marketing, sales, and operations component. The operations component of the plan would include attracting investors and strategic partners like banks et al that will enable the firm to boost our service offerings and support revenue growth.

a. What Happens During a Typical Day at an ATM Services Business?

The office is open for the day
ATMs are loaded with cash
Documentation and other administrative works are conducted throughout the day
Marketers go out in the field to market our services
Transactions are facilitated and pending queries are resolved
Maintenance of the server and all payment gateways are carried out as scheduled.
Maintenance and servicing of ATM machines
The report for the day is written and submitted to the required authority
The office is closed for the day.

b. Production Process

There is no production process when it comes to the Automated teller machine (ATM) business.

c. Service Procedure

When it comes to the service procedure of ATM service providers, it is important to note that the internet service provider (ISP) plays an important role in ATMs. This provides communication between ATM and host processors. When the transaction is made, the details are input by the cardholder.

This information is passed on to the host processor by the ATM. The host processor checks these details with an authorized bank. If the details are matched, the host processor sends the approval code to the machine so that the cash can be transferred.

Please note that to use a cardless ATM, you need to open the app on your mobile device, choose the linked bank account you want to withdraw from, and tap your phone against the designated reader. To complete the transaction, the ATM will then prompt you to either type in your PIN (just as if you had inserted your physical card).

d. The Supply Chain

e. Sources of Income

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).

Financial Plan

a. Amount Needed to Start your Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Services Company?

Pickford Cash© ATM Services, Inc. would need an estimate of $1.2 million to successfully set up our automated teller machine (ATM) company in the United States of America. Please note that this amount includes cash in our ATMs and the salaries of all our staff for the first month of operation.

b. What are the Costs Involved?

Business Registration Fees – $750.
Legal expenses for obtaining licenses and permits – $7,300.
Marketing, Branding, and Promotions – $5,000.
Business Consultant Fee – $2,500.
Insurance – $5,400.
Rent/Lease – $200,000.
Internet Infrastructure and Software Development – $250,000
Other start-up expenses include commercial satellite TV subscriptions, stationery ($500), and phone and utility deposits ($2,800).
Operational Cost (salaries of employees, payments of bills et al) – $80,000
Start-up Inventory – $15,000
Store Equipment (cash register, security, ventilation, signage) – $4,750
Furnishing, Equipping and ATM machines – $350,000
Capitalization Base: $500,000
Website: $600
Opening party: $3,000
Miscellaneous: $2,000

c. Do You Need to Build a Facility? If YES, How Much will it cost?

Pickford Cash© ATM Services, Inc. will not build a new facility for our ATM service company; we intend to start with a short–term lease for locations where we intend to install our ATMs.

d. What are the Ongoing Expenses for Running an ATM Services Company?

Server maintenance
Transaction fee to third-party providers
Transport and logistics
Utility bills (internet, phone bills, signage and sewage et al)
Salaries of employees

e. What is the Average Salary of your Staff?

Chief Executive Officer – $65,000 Per Year
ATM Custodian / Manager – $42,000 Per Year
Admin and Human Resources Manager – $39,000 Per Year
Information Technologist – $38,000 Per Year
Accountant – $35,000 Per Year
Call Center Executive / Customer Service Executive – $30,000 Per Year.

f. How Do You Get Funding to Start an ATM Service Company?

Raising money from personal savings and sale of personal stocks and properties
Raising money from investors and business partners
Sell shares to interested investors
Applying for a loan from your bank/banks
Pitching your business idea and applying for business grants and seed funding from the government, donor organizations, and angel investors
Source for soft loans from your family members and friends.

Financial Projection

a. How Much Should You Charge for your Service?

At Pickford Cash© ATM Services, Inc. our fee will be based on the volume of transactions on our payment platform. But averagely, we charge between $1.50 to $3.50.

b. Sales Forecast?

First Fiscal Year (FY1): $500,000
Second Fiscal Year (FY2): $750,000
Third Fiscal Year (FY3): $1.2 million

c. Estimated Profit You Will Make a Year?

d. Profit Margin of an ATM Service Company

The average net profit margin of Pickford Cash© ATM Services, Inc. is approximately 12%. The average net profit margin can be higher or lower depending on our additional service offerings and the number of our overhead expenses.

Growth Plan

a. How do you intend to grow and expand?

Pickford Cash© ATM Services, Inc. will grow our automated teller machine (ATM) services company by first installing our ATMs in key cities in the United States of America within the first five years of establishing the business and then will start selling franchises from the sixth year.

b. Where do you intend to expand to and why? (Geographical locations)

Pickford Cash© ATM Services, Inc. plan to expand first to Los Angeles – California, New York City – New York, Chicago – Illinois, Washington, D.C., Boston – Massachusetts, Miami – Florida, Seattle – Washington, Dallas – Texas, and Philadelphia – Pennsylvania.

We intend to expand to these locations because available statistics show that the cities listed above have the highest and most thriving financial markets in the United States.

Exit Plan

The founder of Pickford Cash© ATM Services, Inc. plans to exit the business via merger and acquisition. We have placed structure and processes in place that will help us achieve our plan of successfully merging with one of the leading players in the finance and banking industry or even in the automated teller machine (ATM) services industry. With that, we can rest assured that the business will be under the care of a well-structured management team.