Gas station businesses attract customers by selling gasoline, which most people need for their vehicle. Gasoline is just one of the many products that gas stations may sell to travelers, though. Many stations also offer foods, drinks and convenience store items. According to IBISWorld , the gas station industry brings in $89 billion annually through selling products like these.
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We have put together this simple guide to starting your gas station. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.
Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.
A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:
Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.
Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Gas Station Name Generator
If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.
When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:
It's very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.
The startup costs associated with opening a gas station business are substantial. According to JUX Law Firm , business owners should expect to spend around $300,000, which breaks down as follows:
Depending on the location of a gas station and what buildout is involved, the startup costs for a particular station may be more or less. In some cases, the startup expenses can be much more than noted here.
The ongoing expenses for gas station businesses are high. Gas stations must pay for the fuel they sell, which alone often runs over $1 million annual for many stations. They must also purchase other products that are sold, and pay employees’ wages, utilities, taxes and permit fees.
A gas station business’ ideal customer is either a family that’s traveling or a long-haul truck driver. Traveling families won’t purchase a lot of fuel, but they’ll frequently get snacks or beverages for everyone in the family. Long-haul truck drivers will also frequently purchase some food or a beverage, and they’ll also often spend hundreds of dollars filling up their truck’s tank.
While these are ideal customers, gas station business owners aren’t picky about whom they serve. Anyone who comes into a gas station is a likely customer and will probably spend at least a few dollars on an item.
A gas station business makes money by selling products to drivers and passengers. Stations are named for their primary product: gasoline. This is just one of many products that gas stations sell though. Most gas stations also offer:
The price of gasoline fluctuates on a daily basis, but most gasoline station businesses don’t try to make a lot on the fuel they sell. Instead, they use low fuel prices to attract drivers -- and then sell other products that have higher markups. Most gasoline stations have many pre-made foods, snacks, beverages and convenience items available for less than $5. Each sale may be small, but lots of sales over the course of a day can generate a significant revenue.
Gas stations can generate millions of dollars in revenue, but much of this is often consumed by ongoing expenses. In an example that JUX Law Firm provides, a gas station that earns $2.4 million annually might have ongoing expenses of $2.1 million, and that doesn’t take into account all the salaries and some other fees the gas station must pay. According to The Nest , gas station owners make around $70,000 each year. (Profits may increase once a station’s loan is paid off.)
Gas stations can add revenue streams and increase their profit margins by incorporating sideline businesses. Car washes, auto shops and restaurants are popular side businesses to add.
Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC's free Small Business Startup Guide - a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!
One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your gas station is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they're a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.
This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business's debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business's liabilities.
In practice, this means that if your gas station were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.
More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We've negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.
Note: If you're interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).
You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.
In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It's really easy and free!
You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?
There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.
Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.
When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.
Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:
Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.
Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.
Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.
Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.
Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.
Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a gas station. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits .
Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.
A gas station is usually run out of a storefront. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO). A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.
Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.
There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.
Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers' Compensation Coverage.
FInd out what types of insurance your Gas Station needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Gas Station.
Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.
If you aren't feeling confident about designing your small business logo, then check out our Design Guides for Beginners, we'll give you helpful tips and advice for creating the best unique logo for your business.
Recommended: Get a logo using Truic's free logo Generator no email or sign up required, or use a Premium Logo Maker.
If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.
The most effective way to promote and market a gas station business is through onsite signage. Highly visible signs are the best way to attract passing drivers, and people aren’t likely to go far out of their way for fuel.
Gas station businesses can keep customers coming back by providing low fuel prices and clean facilities. In many cases, these traits alone can set a gas station apart from much of the competition.
After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.
While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.
Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:
Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.
Other popular website builders are: WordPress, WIX, Weebly, Squarespace, and Shopify.
Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.
There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2023 to find the best phone service for your small business.
Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com
Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it's fair pricing.
Anyone who has an acumen for business and enjoys interacting with people may be well-suited for running a gas station business. Understanding how to operate a business will help ensure that a gas station is run efficiently, and it helps to be a people person because gas stations often serve hundreds of customers in a single day.
Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!
On a day-to-day basis, a gas station business owner or their employees will need to:
When not working on these tasks, business owners must also schedule and manage employees, place orders for products and pay bills.
Running a gas station business requires knowledge of many different aspects of business. Business owners must identify and source products that customers will want to purchase, hire and manage employees, place service orders when equipment malfunctions, and follow permitting laws in their area.
Business owners may want to take some business classes before opening a gas station, or they might want to work as a manager for another gas station first. Joining professional organizations, such as The Association for Convenience & Fuel Retailing , can also help business owners learn about the industry.
A gas station business owner may operate a single gas station, or they may have several in a region. Owners who have one station can operate as an independent business or a franchise, while those who have multiple stations in a region often elect to get franchises. Pronto Food Mart in Austin, Texas is an example of an independent station. Chevron is one gas company that has franchises available around the country.
For fun informative videos about starting a business visit the TRUiC YouTube Channel or subscribe to view later.
