These are strange times. With COVID-19 dominating the news these days, most people are wondering how they will continue to earn a living while committing to social distancing. How will the kids be homeschooled? How will the economy handle the necessary changes in how we do business?
The good news is that there are ways you can earn a good living from the comfort of your own home.
Becoming an IAD
By choosing to start your own Independent ATM Distributor (IAD) business, you can make money from the comfort of your own home. Here are some tools you can use to set up and market your business:
Where to Begin?
One of the best ways to start a IAD business is to create a website. You can create your own website using online templates from places like Squarespace or WordPress. Likewise, organizations such as Squarespace or GoDaddy will host your website for you for a monthly or annual fee.
Create Relationships
In order to place your first ATM, you will need to establish relationships with businesses in your community that could use an ATM in their facility. Think take out restaurants, shops, dispensaries, grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores – basically anywhere that people like to use cash to pay for goods and services.
Pick Up the Phone
Since in a lot of ways we’re going old school at the moment, in lieu of face to face introductions with new businesses, you’ll want to pick up the phone. Introduce yourself and your business and explain to them how having an ATM within their business will increase foot traffic, resulting in increased sales and ATM convenience fees. Given the need for businesses to make money any way possible right now, having an in-house ATM to generate sales and income sounds like a win-win situation.
Partner with and ATM Distribution Business
When you partner with GoldStar ATM and purchase your ATMs, you tell us where you want them installed and we’ll do the rest for you! We will install and program the ATM, and can conduct any service needs, including routine maintenance and restocking the ATM with cash.
Lead Generators
Now that you’ve placed your first ATM, you’ll want to market your IAD business to increase your ATM placements. This is where the internet comes in handy. Creating an online presence via social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, etc.) will allow you to connect with potential customers from your home office. You can write blogs for your website, and ask for client reviews to be posted on your Facebook page, Yelp profile, and Google business profile.
Keeping in Contact
It will be important to keep in contact with your customers. You’ll want to make sure that your ATM is working properly and reassure them that you are available to them for any ATM issues or concerns. Utilizing online chat platforms such as Zoom or GoToMeeting are great ways to have face-to-face meetings online. It’s reassuring for your customers to know that there is a friendly face behind the name.
As social distancing needs ease in the coming weeks and months, you can revert to more in-person ways of connecting with customers and potential businesses. However, being innovative with online tools and systems will allow you to create a multi-faceted business – one that you can run from your basement office or from the beach in Bermuda.
