What do you need to open a gas station. We open a gas station from scratch. Step-by-step plan for opening a gas station

Opening your own gas station is an economically sound solution for those who want to organize a profitable business. After all, today this market is still being actively rebuilt and there is an opportunity to occupy your niche by creating a reliable company. In addition, the number of cars is increasing every day, and vehicles need fuel. This means that your business has every chance of becoming profitable. So, how to open a gas station? And how much money will you have to invest in your future business?

A little about business

Let's start with the fact that a gas station is a source of increased danger and a lot of permits will be required to open such a business. In terms of finance, this is most likely the most costly business, since at the initial stage it will be necessary not only to rent (or buy) a suitable plot of land, but also to build a gas station that will meet the requirements of the current legislation (there are certain requirements for the location of gas stations, the design of such facilities, as well as sanitary, hygienic and environmental requirements that must be observed). And these are quite serious expenses. In addition, after the construction is completed, it will be necessary to obtain permits from the authorized bodies for the operation of gas stations and organize high-quality security and safety of the station.

How much does it cost to open a gas station for cars? And how long will the paperwork take? The questions are very timely and very important. The paperwork required to open a gas station takes about 3-6 months, the construction itself takes the same amount, and about 12 million rubles will have to be invested. The exact amount depends on many factors).

But how quickly the initial investment will pay off is the question. On average, this takes about five years. So, when investing in filling stations, you need to prepare for the fact that this is a long-term project. True, with proper business management, investments can return in three years.

Own small gas station or franchise?

Today, you can open your own small gas station (it will be an autonomous business, only yours), or open a company under the auspices of some well-known brand by buying a franchise. At the same time, most experts agree that it is easier to organize a fuel business under the guidance of a reliable and experienced partner, so franchising is a very common phenomenon in the fuel business today. In addition, having decided to buy a franchise, you will immediately receive all the necessary documentation, and business development, and a brand, and a ready-made gas station design style (which, by the way, under the terms of the contract, you will have to strictly observe). Representatives of the parent company will help in solving organizational issues, and there will be no need to worry about the quality of fuel. This is understandable, because the owners of the brand protect their good name and will not risk it by supplying low-quality fuel to one of their gas stations.

But if you decide to go on an “autonomous voyage” (open an independent business), then you will have to worry about the quality of your product yourself and develop the style of your gas station. And this means that you will have to choose suppliers and take full responsibility for the quality of the fuel sold, which can be both good and very poor quality.

Do not forget also that most motorists prefer to refuel at gas stations of large oil companies, the so-called "brand" gas stations, in order to fill the tank with guaranteed good gasoline. So, the presence of a well-known brand on a sign can become a guarantee of business profitability.

Registration and organization of business

So you've decided to open a gas station. So, you need to take action:

First you need to draw up a business plan for the gas station, find a suitable site for the station and conclude a lease agreement with the owners.

Then you need to go through state registration (you can, but it’s better to register a legal entity, for example, which will make it possible to choose a taxation system with VAT - most suppliers prefer to work with those gas stations where).

  • Get OKVED codes.
  • Prepare a project for the future filling complex and coordinate it with Rospotrebnadzor, and then organize construction.
  • Develop and agree on the PQP.
  • Conclude an agreement on deratization with the relevant company, as well as an agreement on the export of solid waste.
  • Obtain permission from the environmental service and SES.
  • Obtain a license for the storage and sale of fuel in the Ministry of Energy.
  • Carry out workplace assessments.
  • Conclude a contract for the supply of fuel.

Plot for gas station and construction of the station

As for a suitable site for a gas station, it should be located on a high traffic road or where there is an active movement of vehicles. At the same time, it is important that there is a convenient entrance for cars.

After the site is selected, and the lease and construction documents are drawn up, you can proceed directly to the construction itself. If you have chosen franchising, then partners will help you, and if you open an autonomous business, then it is better to use the services of specialized companies that are engaged in the construction and commissioning of gas stations. There are specialists who know all the requirements of the current legislation. They will carry out the whole complex of construction works, put the object into operation and receive all the necessary documents.

All this can take from six months to twelve months, but you will be sure that everything is done correctly.

Necessary equipment

There are many different opinions about the equipment needed at a gas station and its quantity. But the minimum set should include:

In addition, it is worth taking care of special software (and, accordingly, a computer), which can help automate the process of dispensing fuel. Using such software, you will automatically not only refuel vehicles, but also receive fuel from a fuel truck and generate daily reports. This is important because it will help to almost completely eliminate the notorious “human factor” from the chain.

Well, and, of course, you need to build and equip a room for the operator of the gas station, as well as additional buildings where tire fitting, a workshop, a car wash, a shop, etc. will be located (this means that you need to equip all objects with the necessary furniture, equipment, tools).

Fuel supplies

Have you bought a franchise? Then you don't have to worry about fuel supply and quality. Your partners will take care of it. But if you are running an independent business, then you will have to look for reliable suppliers and organize fuel supplies yourself. The best option is an agreement with a tank farm or processing plant. There you can get fuel at a lower price or negotiate discounts for bulk orders. The price level can be found on the Internet, and from oil refineries it is better to choose a larger one with a good reputation. So you can count on more or less good quality fuel.

Accompanying services

How to open a gas station? And how do you make your business profitable? These questions can be answered by those who have already opened gas stations. The main advice for beginners: do not stop only at selling gasoline, but also offer additional services that will help increase profits and attract customers. What is it about? For example, about the fact that you can open a tire fitting or repair shop at a gas station (especially if the station is located on the highway, away from regular workshops), a store where goods for the road, motor oils and auto chemicals, a small cafe will be sold. Sometimes it even makes sense to open a small hotel that will be in demand on federal highways, where there is a lot of transit transport, or a car wash.

Of course, you should think about additional services at the stage of planning your future business. Then it will be much easier to realize all the plans. And what is interesting, in the course of work it often turns out that the gas station itself serves to attract customers (people still stop by to refuel), and it is additional services that provide the main income. So do not neglect such important components of the business.

Safety

Safety in a fire hazardous facility is a very important issue. To begin with, it is necessary to develop all fire-fighting documentation, equip the premises with fire alarms and an alarm button, and the gas station with primary fire extinguishing equipment.

On the territory of the gas station there should be a fire pond or hydrant, boxes of sand and, of course, fire extinguishers.

It is also necessary to take care of the safety of the personnel (especially for gas stations that are located far from populated areas): provide the operator with high-quality means of communication, install an alarm button and conclude a service contract with a security company whose employees will go to the site if the alarm button is triggered. It is also a good idea to install armored glass and reinforced doors at the facility. These measures will help to avoid trouble in the event of an attack on the gas station by criminal elements.

Staff

For the normal operation of the gas station, you will need:

  • technical specialists who will provide vehicle refueling, tire inflation, and provide other repair services;
  • cashier manager (gas station operator, there should be several), who will accept money, dispense fuel and control order at the station;
  • seller (if there is a shop at the station)
  • manager

Of course, depending on what other services you plan to provide at your station, the appropriate staff will be required. For example, repairmen or electricians, a store clerk, a barmaid, a car wash operator.

How to open a gas station

The process of opening a gas station is no different from opening a regular gas station. But special attention should be paid to the equipment for the station, which must be not only modern and certified, but also verified by the specialists of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, which will confirm its safety. In addition, even before the start of construction, it is necessary to discuss with the fire inspection all issues related to the layout of the station, and coordinate the choice of land with the local administration.

Important Points

Having built a modern filling station and becoming its owner, it is important not to forget that it is an object of increased danger, which will be regularly checked by authorized bodies for compliance with the requirements of existing legislation and regulations. And these bodies will regularly monitor your activities, and if violations are found, they can not only issue a fine, but also suspend the license. And you will not be able to work until you eliminate the identified shortcomings. So, compliance with the requirements of equipment and operation of fire and explosive objects should be treated very carefully.

Initial investment

How much does it cost to open a gas station? This question is asked by almost everyone who wants to open their own station. So, as for the initial investment, their size depends on many factors: the region, the level of gas station, the need for additional buildings, the technical equipment of the business, the additional services provided by the gas station. But on average, the costs at the initial stage will be:

It can be seen from the calculations that investments for the opening of gas stations will require considerable. But if refueling monthly brings at least 1,000,000 rubles of income, the business can be considered profitable.

Opening a gas station is a rather risky decision, since competition in the fuel retail market is very strong, however, with good luck and skillful management, even one small retail outlet may well become a source of impressive profits. To achieve it, the future owner of the "gas station" will have to go through a difficult path.

First steps

The very first issue that needs to be addressed is the choice of how to work. There are only two of them and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. The gas station can be completely independent and offer products under its own brand, or you can go the second way - turn to a large supplier and start working on a franchise.

In the first case, the main advantage will be independence: absolutely all the proceeds can be used for the benefit of your business. But do not forget that in order to achieve profit, you will first have to solve the issue of brand promotion and advertising, as well as find a reliable fuel supplier, in cooperation with which there will be no problems with product quality and regularity of deliveries.

Starting to work on a franchise, you can immediately count on help from the employees of the franchisor in all organizational matters and even the construction of the building and the installation of the fuel dispenser. But it is immediately worth noting that this will be precisely help in the organization - you still have to work on solving the main issues on your own.

An additional and very important advantage is a guaranteed solution to the supply problem. The franchisor company will supply fuel to the new gas station either on its own, if it is a major market player, or arrange shipment with the help of one of the existing partners.

And, finally, from the first day of operation, the gas station will lure motorists with a sign of a well-known brand, that is, no additional advertising costs will be required. In addition, statistics show that points of sale of well-known, large companies are more trustworthy and more popular with car owners than young single gas stations.

Not without drawbacks:

  • The franchisor always has a set of internal rules regarding the order of work. They will need to be strictly followed.
  • Part of the profit (fixed percentage) necessarily goes to the main company. However, when working independently, the same, or even a larger amount, would still go to advertising and other items of expenditure that can be avoided when working on a franchise.

Company registration

This question can be solved in parallel with the previous one. Since the gas station will work officially, it will be necessary to open a legal entity. In this area, it is best to choose an LLC as the legal form, since large suppliers work exclusively with legal entities (recall that an individual entrepreneur is an individual). Form of taxation - OSNO with VAT. No additional licenses or permits are required.

Selection of a site for construction

Paperwork does not end at business registration, but it will need to be interrupted to select the optimal site for subsequent development.

The search is complicated by stringent requirements of fire regulations and mandatory distance from residential buildings and public facilities. In addition, it is worth taking into account the advantage of the location of the selected site - it is extremely important that the future gas station is visible to drivers, and the way to it is convenient.

Another aspect is the possibility of further expansion. It is desirable to have a margin of space so that it is possible not only to accommodate the main facilities, but also to expand further by increasing the number of fuel dispensers and offering additional services, organizing, for example, a service point and a cafe.

You can buy a plot for construction, but with a lack of funds, which at first will require a lot, you can stop at another option - rent. After that, you will need to solve a few more bureaucratic issues:

  • It is required to submit an application to the city council for the placement of gas station facilities. In case of a positive decision, it will be transferred to the fire inspectorate, SES and other government agencies. Approval in all instances usually takes about 3-4 months, after which a building permit will be issued.
  • Next, you need to approve the technical specifications for design from companies responsible for communications: state traffic inspectorate, city gas, city water canal, gorenergo, telecom, city council, fire inspectorate.
  • Obtain an urban planning justification from the Department for the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments.
  • The collected documents and permits will be required to create a project for construction. The finished project requires repeated approvals in city services, on the basis of which permits will be issued.
  • Another permit (for digging) is obtained from the General Directorate for Improvement and External Design.
  • All collected documents, supplemented by a certificate of ownership or lease of the selected site, must be submitted to the Main Architecture. Within 30 days, the authority is required to issue a final building permit.

As in other cases that require the preparation of documents and appeals to government agencies, all work can be entrusted to an outside law firm. This will require additional investments, but will significantly save time.

The obtained permission is transferred to the construction company. After the completion of construction and connection of communications, you will need to obtain documents proving the right of ownership and register with the BTI.

The above procedure is only a guide and in fact may differ significantly depending on the region and city where it is planned to open a gas station.

Purchase of equipment

Since the process of preparing documents is quite lengthy and does not require constant direct participation, while waiting, you can search for and purchase the necessary equipment. This stage should not be postponed, since their location on the construction plan and the total required area directly depend on the size of the tanks and fuel dispensers.

In order to open a medium-sized gas station, you will need:

  • 2-4 fuel dispensers with complete connection kit,
  • twice as many tanks for gasoline and diesel fuel (one for each sleeve),
  • empty (emergency) tank,
  • capacity for the organization of "stormwater",
  • a set of furniture and a cash register to equip the workplace with them.

When calculating the optimal number of fuel dispensers, it should be taken into account that in Russia cars with diesel engines are much less common, therefore, for every 3 hoses for supplying gasoline, there should be only 1 with diesel fuel. Approximately the same ratio is true for cars refueling with gas.

If you wish, you can buy used equipment, but it is better to give preference to new. The main reason is that modern fuel dispensers and many other components are full-fledged software and hardware systems that allow you to remotely track the amount of sold and remaining product and draw up relevant documentation in a semi-automatic mode. This will greatly simplify the task of accounting for fuel (you can learn more about manual and more modern automated accounting methods).

The equipment is produced by both foreign companies and domestic ones. At first glance, it may seem that the second option is preferable, since its prices are 4-5 times lower, but during operation, Russian developments will require significantly more frequent repairs, which will lead to downtime and, accordingly, loss of profit.

It will be possible to save only on the purchase of a container for installing a storm system. It is required to collect oil products washed away by rain and melted snow. To do this, you can purchase a used tank.

And the last thing you should take care of is fire extinguishing equipment: sand containers, proven fire extinguishers and a hydrant.

Recruitment

After the paperwork and the completion of construction, the gas station can begin to accept the first customers, but without staff it will not be possible to serve them. The minimum possible team should consist of:

  • Cashiers. They are required to have computer knowledge and the ability to work with a cash register, since they will be responsible for accepting payments and dispensing fuel.
  • A senior manager or manager who will monitor the work process and take care of organizational issues. Immediately after the opening, this position can be taken by the owner of the gas station himself. So it will be possible to save on the salaries of employees, identify and eliminate problems in the organization.

It is not necessary to hire refuellers from the first days.

If the “gas station” initially offers additional services, for example, has an on-site convenience store or cafe, workers of the appropriate qualifications will be required.

Separately, it is worth emphasizing the fact that stations with additional services attract much more customers, while in the city, gas stations with a car wash are more popular, and outside the city - with a store.

When will the gas station open

After the new gas station begins to serve customers and bring at least a small but stable profit, you should pay attention to at least two important points:

  1. Safety engineering. Filling station inspections are extremely common and the penalties for failing to comply with stringent safety requirements are hefty, especially for a business that is just getting started. This also includes the need to have a janitor on staff, since the cleanliness of the territory is also directly related to safety.
  2. Equipping the facility with a video surveillance system and a security call button. They will help not only protect personnel in the event of a robbery, but also stop fuel theft by unscrupulous employees.

Even despite serious financial investments, filling stations can be considered a very promising business. Especially if they are located in regions where competition is not yet as strong as in Moscow.

Gas filling today is a fairly cost-effective and popular option for your own business. At the same time, it requires serious start-up capital and is unlikely to suit a beginner. So, how to open a gas station, what is required for this, and over what period you can recoup your investment, we will find out further.

How much does it cost to open a gas station

Opening a gas station is practically no different from a normal one. The main difference lies in the purchased equipment, which must be checked by the specialists of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. To open a gas station, first of all, you need to create a business plan. It should take into account all expenses, and add a small margin for unforeseen expenses to the amount received. The following is an example calculation:

  1. . Decide for yourself whether you want to buy or rent a site for a business. Each of the options has its pros and cons. For example, paying monthly rent can be a heavy burden, especially at first. In addition, the owner of the site can demand his property from you at any time, if the lease term has not been agreed in advance. One way or another, the cost of renting is much cheaper than buying, and is about 3 million rubles.
  2. Construction . The cost of construction depends on your project and the desired size of the gas station. In addition, the price will be affected by the availability of additional services for customers, for example, a minimarket, tire fitting (see), etc. The average cost of construction fluctuates between 6-8 million rubles.
  3. Documentation . One of the most important points, since opening a gas station without proper permits and confirmations is simply impossible. The collection of documents is not only a lengthy, but also an expensive process, which, depending on the region, may require from 500,000 to 1,500,000 rubles.
  4. Equipment and raw materials . The internal arrangement of your organization is carried out almost before the opening. It requires another 3 million rubles.

14 million rubles - that's the average cost to open a gas station. Approximately 1 million rubles can be added to this figure as an amount for additional unforeseen expenses, for example, if the profit received at first is not enough to purchase raw materials or pay rent, etc. In addition, it is important to take into account the salary of staff, which averages 25,000 rubles per person. Thus, if the staff consists of 5 people, this is already 100,000 rubles per month.

We collect the necessary documents

Proper paperwork is the most important thing you need to open your gas station. The collection of documents is a procedure that requires visiting a number of different organizations, collecting additional paperwork and, of course, a lot of time. You can do this yourself or entrust the entire process to specialists in collecting documents, who will do everything for you in a short time for a small amount.

If you still decide to collect on your own, then here are the documents you need to open your own gas station:

  • First you need to register as an entrepreneur. The ideal option is the registration of an individual entrepreneur: it provides a minimum taxation, is issued quickly and on favorable terms. In addition, there is the option of registering a legal entity, i.e. companies. The procedure takes place in the tax service. Here you will also need those corresponding to the type of your activity.
  • One of the important documents is a lease agreement for a refueling site or a document confirming ownership. It will need to be presented in almost all organizations in the future.
    Pay special attention to the fact that the selected site must comply with fire safety standards, which can be found in the relevant authority. Without this, your gas station will be built illegally.
  • Then it is necessary to prepare the project of the gas station itself. First, you work out the details together with the designer, after which you submit the finished work to Rospotrebnadzor. Specialists must give written permission for the construction of the facility. Without this, it is forbidden to proceed to further actions.
  • Also, before you open a gas station, you will need to obtain a number of permits. To do this, we turn to the following authorities: sanitary and epidemiological station, fire and environmental services. Additional permits will need to be obtained if you provide additional services to clients. For example, if a food service or a minimarket is open on the territory of the gas station, a permit to sell products will be required.
  • A special license will be required for the storage of fuel and its sale. This document is issued by the Ministry of Energy.
  • Then, in order to open a gas station, you will need to find a suitable fuel supplier. A fixed-term or open-ended contract is concluded with him, which should always be at your fingertips.

Before the opening of gas stations, presented in your organization, for their compliance with existing standards.

Should I give preference to franchising?

Franchise work is a fairly modern and profitable option for starting a business, which allows a novice businessman to work under a brand that has already made a name for itself. There are also a number of other benefits:

  1. Help in opening from knowledgeable professionals. You will be able to get advice from experienced people on all issues related to starting a business.
  2. There will be no need to create your own business model - you will be provided with a ready-made one.
  3. Getting fuel from a trusted supplier.
  4. The average cost of start-up capital is reduced, if only because you will no longer need additional advertising, finding the right fuel supplier, etc.

The main disadvantage of this method is that you will have to give part of the proceeds (see also) to the company that provided the franchise. Despite this, franchising is considered more profitable than independent work.

Considering that the cost of fossil fuels tends to only increase, many businessmen are thinking about whether it is profitable to open a gas filling station, because every year there are more and more cars that use gas equipment. However, traditional fuels are now in no less demand. Therefore, a completely logical question may arise: "How to open a gas station?"

Relevance of the problem

At the moment, in the world (and Russia is no exception), large and small businesses are developing at a fairly rapid pace. For an entrepreneur, the most demanded and popular areas are the following: agriculture, trade and the service sector.

The last one is the most relevant. If we talk about how to open a gas station, it is worth noting that this can be a particularly profitable venture. This type of business is becoming more and more popular, as almost everyone has their own vehicle: motorcycles, cars or trucks, etc.

Fuel is a fairly valuable energy source and an indispensable component for the functioning of transport, because all cars run on gasoline and diesel fuel. The first is a valuable product of oil refining, which is why it is constantly in demand. Therefore, if you are considering how to open a gas station, then you should know that this business can become very profitable. It's worth considering how to do it from scratch.

Location selection and required documents

The first thing you need to organize a business in this area, as in any other, is to register with the IFTS as an individual entrepreneur or LLC. In the second case, you will need more time and money, but this will give you the opportunity to make transactions with individuals and legal entities.

In the first case, we can talk about the possibility of making transactions exclusively with individuals. During the registration process, you will be required to pay government fees. After that, it will be necessary to collect certain documents, namely, to take a license from the Ministry of Fuel for the storage of oil and fuel, obtain permission from local authorities to lease land, and also conclude a lease agreement.

If we talk about how to open a gas station, then it should be noted the importance of placing it correctly. It would be best to organize gas stations in an area where there is no competition. The first thing to do is to take a look at the area.

It is advisable to build a gas station on the outskirts of the city, or at the exit from it, since there are usually not so many of them in such places. Speaking about how to open a gas station, it should be noted the importance of developing a list of services provided, namely: the sale of various brands of gasoline, gas and diesel fuel.

Acquisition of necessary equipment and provision of additional services

In the event that you are wondering how much it costs to open a gas station, it should be noted that the cost will include the purchase of the necessary equipment, namely: fuel dispensers, control systems, showcases, fire stands, cash registers, bar counters, shelves, kitchen appliances and others. All this equipment is quite expensive.

However, it is not enough just to buy it, it is important to place everything correctly and rationally. Speaking about how to build a gas station, it should be noted that you can not only sell fuel, but also organize a store nearby where spare parts and tools will be sold. The opening of a cafe can be very promising, as passing drivers will have the opportunity to eat and relax.

Supplies

Understanding how much it costs to open a gas station, it should be noted that the business plan provides for the next step, which is to set up fuel supplies. To do this, you need to find a good supplier. This is not a problem in a big city, as there are many companies supplying gasoline, gas and diesel fuel.

Fuel from famous brands, for example, Lukoil, is most valued. This is where franchising comes into play. And then the question arises, how much does it cost to open a Lukoil gas station? Franchising assumes that the future businessman enters into an agreement on the right to use the brand.

Usually it costs about 25-30 thousand rubles a year. However, this is a useful investment, because this way you can attract many customers. Most drivers prefer to buy gasoline exclusively from well-known companies. So you can increase the demand for the products offered, and hence your income.

Recruitment

If you are thinking about how to open a gas station, you should understand that this will require recruiting a staff. We can recommend hiring people with at least some experience in this area. How many people do you need to organize a full-fledged activity?

To work, you will need two tankers, sellers, security guards, as well as a leader. All of them must be certified in this profession. The number of employees is directly dependent on the size of the gas station, as well as on the number of cars for which it is designed. Usually eight, but there may be other options.

When the staff is recruited, the fuel price will need to be set. It is worth noting that well-known brands like Lukoil will be in demand the most. LUKOIL is a rather large company whose activity is the sale of oil and oil products.

If you are wondering how much it costs to open a gas station, then it should be noted that in order to establish a business, you will need to fulfill a number of conditions: rationally locate the gas station and equip it, do not overcharge, and also provide a high level of service quality. It is also necessary to think about the fact that all personnel must comply with fire safety requirements, because gasoline is a liquid that is quite flammable.

Gas station: business plan

Not everyone can open a gas station. This business is quite expensive. On average, Lukoil needs about 6 million rubles to organize refueling. It takes a lot of money to rent a piece of land. It will take 100-1500 thousand rubles.

The purchase of equipment for gas stations is also associated with quite significant costs, and here we are talking about a million rubles or more. In addition to everything, the construction of gas stations will require about two million rubles. Approximately the same amount will be required to pay salaries to staff. These calculations are relevant for any city, regardless of size.

However, you should not immediately be afraid of such large expenses, because the income from the activities of the gas station will be considerable, approximately 20-30 thousand rubles a day. A cafe and a car parts store can be additional sources of income. For a month, revenue may well reach the amount of 600 thousand rubles.

An important component of the fuel business is building relationships with suppliers. It will be most beneficial to develop relations with large oil companies that have not only a tank farm, but also the rest of the infrastructure. This is the only way to guarantee high fuel quality.

Safety

Even if you are interested in how to open a gas station, then you should know that such a business requires special precautions. A modern fuel station should more closely resemble a serious banking institution than a minimarket.

By all means, windows and doors should be armored, and the cashier and his equipment should not be visible at all. Under no circumstances the cashier has the right to open the doors during working hours and go beyond his place. The obligatory equipment that the gas station should be equipped with is an alarm button.

Control

An important component of the business plan before opening a gas station is the compliance of work standards with current legal requirements. A lot of inspection organizations will constantly monitor your activities. You must always be ready and not be afraid of any checks.

Most often, gas stations are visited by representatives of the trade inspectorate, oil inspectorate, fire and tax services. The station must be built in an appropriate way, as well as be interested in compliance with all existing rules. This is very relevant if the business owner intends to stay in this market for a long time.

Sales norms

On average, gas stations sell about 3-5 cubic meters of gasoline per day. If you constantly take care of the quality of the goods, then this figure may be slightly overestimated. If you are interested in how to organize electric filling stations, then it is worth noting that it is better to combine them with traditional filling stations.

Professional tricks

In this business, there are a number of tricks that at first glance seem small, but they are very expensive. It is known that gasoline can expand in volume from high temperatures. Therefore, you must definitely monitor the temperature that the substance has when poured into a fuel truck.

During the acceptance of gasoline, the receptionist may stick the measuring tape too far into the storage container. From this, the liquid will splash, which will lead to the formation of a wave. The result of this will be the fact that the ejected liquid will refuse to be unaccounted for.

All of the above about how to open a gas station can lead to the conclusion that this activity is quite expensive and difficult. This business has a significant advantage - a gas station can be built in just a few weeks.

And the payback of such an enterprise is quite fast, while the profit is very high. In the business plan, the most important place is given to the correct location of the gas station. It should be a territory without competitors in the city center or at the exit from it. The construction of a gas station will require the purchase of expensive equipment.

Choosing the right employees is essential to business success. They must have a suitable education as well as certificates. In order for the business to start working, you will need to collect a complete list of the necessary documentation.

Otherwise, we are talking about illegal business. If you have initial capital, you have certain organizational skills, as well as a desire to increase your own wealth, then the construction of a gas station will be an excellent direction worth investing.

You probably have long noted for yourself the fact that every year the number of cars on the roads and tracks is growing exponentially.

On the one hand, this is a serious disadvantage for large and small cities. After all, the environment is deteriorating significantly.

But if you look at such a development of events from the side of business, then everything is shaping up as well as possible. The best option for the owner of sufficient capital is to open a gas station. The business plan, calculation of average costs, business payback and other details will be described below.

Where to start

The first item will not be the purchase of equipment, fuel or the recruitment of maintenance personnel. Don't know how to open a gas station? Start by renting or purchasing land. A very important point is to be well positioned. The number of customers, as well as the profit of your business, directly depends on this.

The site with a gas station should be located in close proximity to busy sections of roads, highways and highways, on which a large number of cars pass daily. Such land, of course, will cost quite a lot. But on the other hand, the profitability of gas stations in this case increases significantly.

Lease or purchase of land

Here, everything directly depends on the amount of initial investment available. The purchase of a land plot for the subsequent construction of a gas station is formalized for a long time. In addition, you will have to immediately lay out a significant amount of money, which will form an impressive burden on the initial investment.

There is an option to take a loan. But in this case, be sure to take into account the additional costs in the form of interest, which must be regularly paid to the bank. In this case, the risk of falling into a serious debt hole is greatly increased. Indeed, at first, a business may not give enough profit (and, most likely, it will).

The main advantage of renting a plot is that you do not have to pay a large amount of money right away. But at the same time, in the end, you will give much more for using the land than in the case of a purchase. But all the main expenses will be reflected in the business gradually, which is not felt so painful during the payback period of the project.

Paperwork

It is always worth considering that the question of how to open a gas station is complicated not only from the financial side. A real paperwork test awaits you. It will be a question of issuing a mass of permits and obtaining a license for the storage of fuels and lubricants and fuel.

Without timely receipt of all necessary documents, you simply cannot start working. Otherwise, such commercial activity will be recognized as illegal. Of course, paperwork costs money.

You can not spend your own free time on paperwork, but entrust this to a specialized company, having previously concluded an agreement with its employees for the provision of relevant services. However, in this case there will be additional costs. After all, such companies do not engage in charity and do not provide services for free.

You will have to include an additional line in the points of the gas station business plan, which will surely hit your pocket significantly. Meanwhile, the independent execution of all necessary papers through the Ministry of Fuel and Energy will take a little more time. But you can save a nice amount.

Hiring staff

It is unlikely that you will find enough free time to independently serve all the customers at your gas station. Remember that the profit of gas stations directly depends on the level and quality of service. Therefore, you need to hire competent, polite and certainly efficient staff. You need to refuel cars as quickly as possible so that a queue of disgruntled drivers is not created. As soon as the level of service begins to decline, the so-called word of mouth a radio that spreads negative reviews at an astonishing rate.

At the same time, the mentality of the people is such that it is much more difficult to earn a positive reputation. People share enthusiastic reviews extremely sparingly, leaving all the most interesting and useful information exclusively for themselves.

To answer the question of how to open a gas station that will generate a stable income, it is necessary to develop a competent strategy for working with personnel. Remember that the main thing in your business is the right motivation. Offer your employees a small salary and a percentage of the work done. This will be a great motivation for quick customer service.

Another option is to set up a fuel sales plan. You can also take into account some particular brand (for example, the most expensive). For the implementation of the plan, the employee will receive a cash bonus. The main thing is not to set impossible tasks for the staff.

We buy equipment

What largely determines the characteristics of filling stations for customers? An important role in this matter is played by high-quality and high-tech equipment. You will need several filling machines, as well as a computer to control the process (the equipment is managed by staff).

In order for your gas station, the business plan of which will help to establish the necessary price framework for the purchased equipment, to work without downtime and queues, you need to put on average 8 columns with gasoline.

What about franchising?

There are two options for starting a gas station business. The first involves starting a business from scratch. In this case, we are talking about the autonomous existence of the station. The second option involves the conclusion of a franchise agreement. And it is precisely this development of events, as practice shows, that is considered more profitable. What is hidden behind the term "franchising"?

In fact, this is just the conclusion of an agreement for the construction of gas stations under a certain brand name. The thing is that sometimes a popular and vibrant brand is much more important than the highest quality service and products. It is already known to people, so you don’t even have to spend money on advertising. The cost of making such
contracts can vary greatly depending on the brand.

The average price is about 1000 US dollars. The peculiarities of doing business in this regard are that you will have to strictly comply with the requirements of corporate identity. Therefore, it will not be enough to wonder how to build a gas station.

You will also have to think about the level at which the company flags should be placed, the distance of how many centimeters to leave between the urns with symbols, etc. However, experts say that franchising is the easiest way to attract the attention of the largest number of consumers in the shortest possible time with minimal costs.

Choosing a partner

In order to profitably conclude a franchise agreement and start making a profit from the very first days, it is necessary, first of all, to decide on the trademark with which commercial relations will be formalized. This must be done on the basis of the principles of self-interest. If you do not know how to open a gas station, while reducing all kinds of costs to a minimum, then first try to find a fuel supplier whose base is located near the gas station.

This way you will reduce your shipping costs. Be sure to agree on the possibility of receiving goods from another base, if delivery from the selected location is not possible for any reason. Remember that gasoline at your gas station should always be. Otherwise, the reputation will suffer greatly.

Suppose you have solved the issue with the land plot. It's time to calculate the cost of building a gas station building. And in this case, everything will depend on the project. In addition, you need to decide whether you will build only the gas station building, or build a car wash, a cafe, a store and other additional joys for your customers nearby.

The more objects, the more significant financial investments will be. So, how much does it cost to build a turnkey gas station? Let's consider a specific example. Let's start from the ground. If you acquire it as a property, then its price will be approximately 200 thousand US dollars. However, the figure can vary greatly depending on the chosen location. The more attractive it is, the more expensive the plot will be. Also consider the size of the land. The construction of filling stations together with the purchase of all the necessary equipment will cost approximately 0.8-1 million US dollars.

We consider the profitability of refueling

So, we answered the question of how much it costs to build a gas station. As you can see, the costs are considerable. Now you need to calculate how profitable this business is. Let's say the initial financial investment was $1.2 million. Now we need to consider the costs for each month. On average, a small car filling station sells about 2,000 liters of gasoline per day.

The cost of 1 liter is within 1 US dollar. The price depends on the foreign exchange rate. Consequently, another $60,000 in fuel is added to the monthly cost. This figure may be slightly less if you receive a discount from your supplier. It is also necessary to add the salary to the employees of the gas station, as well as the purchase of goods for the store, if it is provided for in your business plan.

The higher the final figure, the higher the price of gasoline, as well as everything that is sold at the gas station, should be. At the same time, you need to keep in mind your competitors. Too expensive fuel simply will not be bought. On average, this type of business pays off in 5 years and is generally considered very profitable, subject to a competent approach to entrepreneurial activity.

We increase profit

In order for the automotive fuel business to generate a sufficient level of income, many entrepreneurs resort to a small trick. As a rule, they also open a cafe, shop or car wash at the gas station. Sometimes it is this type of business that becomes the main one in terms of profit. And refueling cars only attracts more customers.

Important little things

Don't forget to protect the property. How to open your gas station with minimal risk? Give her a safe existence. Recently, there have been cases of attacks and robberies with the aim of seizing the daily proceeds at gas stations. Therefore, it is very important to equip the object with surveillance cameras, as well as an alarm button.

In the event of a force majeure situation, the gas station employee must be able to discreetly call security. Fire safety is a separate issue. Do not forget about the availability of all special means for extinguishing a fire. In addition, it is necessary to strictly ensure that no one smokes on the territory of the gas station. This applies to both staff and clients.

Possible problems

In any business, specific obstacles arise from time to time. In the case of your own gas station, this may be the theft of products by staff. To prevent such an incident, it is necessary to install surveillance cameras, as well as introduce a system of mandatory fines.

In addition, the amount of wages should eliminate the need for theft. Always keep in mind that the supplier may bring poor quality fuel. This is also a significant disadvantage in business, as it can ruin the gas station's reputation. You also need to consider the cost of gasoline. Most often it does not exceed 5%.

How to register your business

So, you have calculated everything and come to the conclusion that this type of entrepreneurial activity will bear fruit. Next, you need to register as a legal entity or an individual entrepreneur, providing all the necessary documents for this.

Open a bank account. It is through him that you will have to pay for products to suppliers. The proceeds are also deposited with the bank. Choose very carefully the credit institution in which you will store all the funds of your business.

If desired, you can open several current accounts at once. But remember that for each of them you will have to pay a commission at the bank's rates. It also somewhat complicates the system of settlements with counterparties. But there is also a significant advantage. The fact is that if a bank is declared bankrupt, legal entities that have opened accounts in it may not particularly hope for compensation of funds. As a rule, all money is lost. And in the case of having several current accounts, there is a chance to save at least part of the finances.