The main steps to open or buy a gas station and convenience store in the US: buying vs. building, fuel supply, environmental and tank rules, licenses, staffing and operations.
A gas station is usually two businesses in one: fuel sales and a convenience store. Fuel brings customers in, but the margin per gallon can be small and changes with wholesale prices. The store, with snacks, drinks, coffee, prepared food and everyday items, often provides a larger share of the profit. Some stations add a car wash, an auto repair bay, quick-service food or EV charging. Understand where the money comes from before you choose a site or a format.
| Option | Advantages | Risks to check |
|---|---|---|
| Buy an existing station | Customer base, permits and equipment in place, financial history | Condition of tanks and equipment, contamination history, remaining supply contract terms |
| Build new | Choose the location and layout, new equipment | High cost, long permitting and construction time, unproven traffic |
| Lease a station | Lower upfront cost | Rent, control over operations, supply terms set by the owner |
For any existing site, environmental due diligence is essential: tank and line testing records, leak detection history, any past releases and the state of cleanup. Many buyers commission a professional environmental site assessment and have an attorney review the purchase.
Branded stations carry a major fuel brand under an agreement that typically covers supply, image standards, card programs and minimum volumes, often for several years. Unbranded stations buy from independent suppliers or jobbers and have more pricing freedom but less brand recognition. Read supply agreements carefully: length, volume commitments, pricing formulas, image upgrade costs and what happens if you sell the business.
Most gas stations store fuel in underground storage tanks, which are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and by state programs that often implement and add to the federal rules. Requirements cover installation, leak detection, spill and overfill prevention, corrosion protection, regular inspections and testing, operator training and records. Owners and operators also need to show financial responsibility, such as insurance or a state fund, to cover cleanup costs if a release happens. Air quality rules may require vapor recovery equipment in some areas. Contact your state tank program early; it is the practical source of the rules you must follow.
Many stations are open early to late or 24 hours, which means shift work, night shifts and weekend coverage. Plan for cashier and store staff, managers, food service if you have it and maintenance. Key employment rules include minimum wage (often higher at state or city level), overtime for non-exempt employees over 40 hours a week, meal and rest breaks where your state requires them and age limits for minors, including restrictions on hours and on selling alcohol or tobacco. See child labor laws, night shift work and rotating weekend schedules.
Late-night retail has particular risks: robbery, workplace violence and lone working. Common measures include good lighting, clear windows, limited cash in the register with drop safes, cameras, panic buttons, a policy of never resisting a robbery, training and, where risk is high, two staff on late shifts or a pass-through window. Some states and cities have specific late-night retail safety requirements; check yours. See our lone worker safety guide.
| Area | What to track |
|---|---|
| Fuel inventory | Daily tank readings and reconciliation against sales to detect leaks or theft |
| Cash | Shift-end counts and drops; see our cash count calculator |
| Store inventory | Fast sellers, out-of-stocks and shrinkage |
| Equipment | Pump and dispenser checks, leak detection alarms |
| Staff | Schedules, clock-ins, breaks and overtime |
| Compliance | ID checks for age-restricted sales, inspection records |
Gas stations are capital intensive. Lenders, including SBA loan programs, will look closely at your experience, the site’s financial history, environmental reports and your business plan. Build a realistic plan with fuel volume, margins per gallon, store sales and margins, labor, utilities, card processing fees, maintenance and loan payments. Card processing fees can be significant on fuel sales, so include them.
An experienced convenience store manager buys a station on a commuter route. Before closing, his attorney and an environmental consultant review the tank records and test results, and he negotiates the transfer of the existing branded supply agreement. In the first year he keeps hours at 5:00 a.m. to midnight, adds a coffee and breakfast counter, uses two staff on the late shift for safety and schedules shifts around morning and evening commuter peaks.
EZTime helps station owners schedule early, late and overnight shifts, let staff swap shifts with approval and clock in at a tablet kiosk by the register. Labor rule alerts flag overtime and missed breaks, tasks handle opening, closing and safety checklists and approved hours are exported for payroll. See EZTime for retail.
Get an environmental professional and a qualified attorney involved before you sign. See legal requirements for starting a business.
Long opening hours mean overlapping shifts, overnight coverage and frequent cash handling. Build schedules that avoid very long runs of nights, plan who can cover at short notice and decide whether overnight shifts need two people for safety. Record every hour worked, including shift handovers and cash counts. See 24-hour shift schedule, lone worker safety and shift handover.
Tick each item already handled.
0 of 6. Slow down. Due diligence on tanks and contracts comes first.
Yes. Beyond normal business licenses, expect underground storage tank registration and compliance, fuel tax and weights and measures requirements and licenses for tobacco, alcohol or food if you sell them.
The U.S. EPA sets federal rules, and state tank programs usually implement and enforce them, often with additional requirements.
Branded stations get brand recognition and programs but must meet supply and image commitments. Unbranded stations have more pricing freedom. Compare contracts carefully.
Often from the convenience store, food service and car wash rather than fuel alone, since fuel margins can be thin.
Federal law sets 21 as the minimum age to buy tobacco. State and local rules may restrict which employees can sell age-restricted products.
It depends on traffic, staffing, safety and cost. Many stations start with extended hours and adjust based on sales by hour.
As soon as you have hourly staff, two jobs take more time than most owners expect: recording hours accurately and building a schedule everyone can see. Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), employers must keep accurate records of hours worked and pay non-exempt employees overtime for hours over 40 in a workweek, and some states add daily overtime or meal-break rules. This is general information, not legal advice.
EZTime covers all three with a time clock app, employee scheduling and payroll-ready exports, from $2 per employee per month. See pricing and start a 14-day trial.
Set overtime thresholds and weekly hour limits in EZTime and managers get an alert while there is still time to change the schedule. Pricing starts at $2 per employee each month, with a $20 monthly minimum.