How to open a container gas station. As an introduction

Date of writing: 14.04.2022

Reading time: 29 minutes

Capital investments – 6–7 million rubles.
Payback – 2 years.

Even a child knows that huge money revolves around gas and oil.

Gas station owners are considered lucky because they have an incredibly profitable, timeless and easy-to-manage business.

Naturally, many people want to repeat their experience, so the request, how to open a gas station, is one of the most popular among startups.

This business cannot be called simple: it has a complex registration procedure and requires...

However, this business has much more advantages.

How to open a gas station: business advantages

It’s not for nothing that many entrepreneurs look towards the oil business, because it is in this area that you can earn really huge money, and in a short time.

And if it is almost impossible to get into the oil production or oil refining sector without great connections and billions of dollars in capital investments, then even average entrepreneurs can open a gas station.

This business has other advantages:

People always need gasoline and gas, which cars run on.
No matter how much electric cars or alternative fuel sources are advertised, they cannot replace gasoline and gas in the near future.
Despite the fact that opening a gas station requires large capital investments, it is quite possible to recoup them in one and a half to two years.
It’s not for nothing that the kings of gas stations are considered the richest among entrepreneurs.
You have a choice: build your own gas station under your own brand or use a franchise of a well-known brand, such as Lukoil or TNK.
Gas stations practically do not need an advertising campaign: if you offer products of decent quality, do not inflate prices and are located along a road with a lot of traffic, then you don’t have to advertise your gas station at all.
Can be formed quite easily competitive advantages to attract as many clients as possible.

What difficulties might you encounter if you try to open a gas station?

In addition to the advantages, this business also has its disadvantages.

Those who want to open a gas station should be aware of the difficulties you may encounter:

Gas stations are classified as dangerous, so you will need to get a lot of permits, fill out a lot of paperwork, and pay a lot of fees to open a gas station.
Competition in this sector is quite high, and it is especially difficult for small players among national giants.
You will have to spend a lot of money to open this business and, if you do not have millions to spare, then it is better to look for a simpler and cheaper business to start.
You will have to invest money not only at the gas station construction stage, but also after the opening of the facility to continue investing funds to ensure the safety of your gas station.
The registration period can last for six months or longer, especially if you are not going to seek professional legal assistance, but want to open a gas station yourself.

Is it better to open your own gas station or use a franchise?

Interesting fact:
The lowest prices for gasoline are recorded in countries such as Saudi Arabia, where one liter costs only $0.16, in Libya, where you will have to pay only $0.14 per liter, and in Venezuela, where a liter of high-quality gasoline will cost only $0.05.

Gas station owners have a hard time, especially at the stage of launching a startup, when they need to knock around government offices in the hope of speeding up the issuance of documents, and building a gas station from scratch is a long and expensive process.

If you still want to open a gas station, but are afraid that you do not have enough money and energy to implement the idea, then it is better to use a franchise from a well-known company.

Opening a gas station as a franchise means taking advantage of many advantages:

You will work under the auspices of an experienced partner and will always be able to receive both consulting and other assistance.
You will bypass the most difficult stage (registration procedure) without any problems, because you will receive a ready-made package of documents.
Drivers trust well-known brands more, because they believe that they sell high-quality gasoline, than new brands.
You don’t have to agonize over the design of the premises, the search for equipment, or the concept of a gas station, because you will receive a project that is ready for implementation.
Getting a bank loan for a franchise business is much easier than for one starting from scratch.

But there is only one drawback to a gas station opened under a franchise: annually you will have to pay at least 40,000 rubles for using the brand, but this is a small amount if you take into account the possible income of the gas station.

How to open a gas station: competitive advantages

As already mentioned, competition in this sector is really intense.

Those who are thinking about how to open a gas station from scratch will have to fight not only with monopolists such as Lukoil, TNK or Yukos, but also with smaller players for the attention of customers.

Fortunately for entrepreneurs, this business allows you to create competitive advantages that will help you quickly acquire regular gas station customers:

Good location.
Moving a gas station somewhere out of town and not located on the main highway only makes sense when you are going to sell excellent gasoline at a price slightly lower than that of your competitors.
Otherwise, it is better not to take risks and locate your gas station at the intersection of main traffic flows.
Reasonable price policy.
Under no circumstances should prices be raised.
If you really offer excellent quality fuel, then you can set your prices a little higher than your competitors.
But a large price gap will lead to loss of customers.
Issuance of discount or savings cards regular customers gas stations or some other loyalty program for them.
Friendly staff: cashiers who greet you with a smile, gas attendants who you don’t have to look for throughout the gas station, etc.
Good infrastructure: clean and comfortable toilets, opportunity to drink tea/coffee, have a snack, shop on site, etc.
Pleasant bonuses on holidays.
For example, in honor of March 8th, you give a 3% discount to every lady driving who stops at your gas station, give a flower and treat you to a cup of coffee.
Honesty when doing business: you do not dilute gasoline, do not deceive customers in other ways, for example, by not adding 300-400 ml to them each time, etc.
Excellent service: for example, the client does not even need to get out of the car, because the gas station attendant takes the money from him, takes it to the cashier, returns with a receipt, and then fills the car.
Nice free bonuses: washing glass and headlights, checking tires, etc.

How to open a gas station: calendar plan

Be prepared for the fact that opening a gas station is a lengthy process; the registration period alone will last at least six months.

But you will also have to build the gas station itself, hire staff, negotiate with suppliers, etc.

You shouldn’t hope that you can open a gas station faster than 10–12 months after you have the idea.

Stage	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct
Registration and paperwork
Site rental and construction
Personnel search
Fuel delivery
Opening

Registration procedure to open a gas station

In order to open a gas station, you can register both as and as.

It is better to opt for the second option (although it is longer and more expensive), because this way you will be able to deal with both individuals and legal entities, which will be an advantage for the gas station owner.

After which you receive OKVE codes, register with the Tax Service and prepare a project for the future complex, which must receive approval from government services.

It is better if you entrust the registration procedure to a professional lawyer - this will allow you to save valuable time.

So, those who are interested in how to open a gas station need to worry about contracts:

about renting the land plot where your gas station will be located, and obtaining all permits for its operation.
with companies that are engaged in deratization and removal of solid waste;
with fuel suppliers;
with SES and Fire Service.

You also cannot do without a License from the Ministry of Energy, which will allow you to store and sell fuel, as well as without workplace certification.

As you can see, opening a gas station is not so easy.

Location and premises required to open a gas station

According to the law, gas stations should not be located closer than 30 meters from a residential area, which makes it much more difficult for businessmen to choose a location for their gas station.

For the business to be profitable, you need to locate your gas station at the intersection of important transport arteries: at the entrance to the city, in the central part, near densely populated residential neighborhoods, etc.

It is also advisable to look for an area with a low level of competition, because if the area you are interested in already has several gas stations, then your income will be low due to the distribution of customers between operating gas stations.

The cost of renting a plot of land directly depends on the city in which you are going to open your business.

For example, for land in the Moscow region, get ready to pay at least 3,000,000 rubles; naturally, in the provinces this amount will be several times lower.

Of course, the price depends on the locality in which you are going to open a gas station, but more on the size of the facility itself.

If you need a small office space only for a cashier, gas station attendants and a toilet, then this will be one amount, but those who want to open a store, service station or cafe on the territory of a gas station will have to invest from 2,000,000 rubles.

Equipment for opening a gas station

To open a gas station, you need to purchase at least minimum set equipment: at least 4 columns and a computer with a cash register.

You will have to spend about 2,000,000 rubles on this.

If you also plan to open a store or cafe, then add to this amount the cost of display cases, counters, tables, kitchen equipment, coffee machines and other things.

Businessmen who are thinking about how to open a gas station where they can not only refuel a car, but also repair it, drink coffee and a snack, and purchase necessary auto products, should be prepared to spend at least 5,000,000 rubles on the equipment of such a gas station.

And this is the amount for large provincial cities, because in Moscow the prices are completely different.

Personnel needed to open a gas station

Gas stations must be open 24 hours a day if you want them to bring you maximum profit.

And with such a work schedule, you need to create at least 3 shifts.

One shift should consist of a cashier, a gas station attendant (and if the gas station is large, two gas attendants), a security guard and a cleaner.

And any gas station needs a manager and an accountant, because the owner will not be able to cope with such a large flow of responsibilities on his own.

The cost of wages for gas station staff in a small town will be from 210,000 rubles.

	Qty	Salary (in rub.)	Total (in rub.)
Total:			210,000 rub.
Manager	1	25 000	25 000
Accountant	1	20 000	20 000
Refuellers	3	15 000	45 000
Security guards	3	15 000	45 000
Cashiers	3	15 000	45 000
Cleaners	3	10 000	30 000

How much does it cost to open a gas station?

It’s not for nothing that they say that the oil-related business is beyond the capabilities of even a medium-sized, much less a small, business.

To open a modest gas station in a small town, you will have to invest several million rubles, and the larger the project you plan and the larger the settlement in which you plan to implement it, the higher the costs will be.

You can only operate with approximate numbers:

Expense item	Amount (in rub.)
Total:	6,000,000 rub.
Registration, execution of all documents and licenses	1 500 000
Construction of a filling complex	1 500 000
Equipment purchase	2 000 000
Annual rent of land	200 000
First fuel purchases	500 000
Additional expenses	300 000

And it should be noted that the indicated amount is relevant only for small town(where the cost of renting land is not too high) and for business, which includes only a gas station (without a store, cafe or other infrastructure facilities).

Business maintenance costs (staff salaries, utilities, fuel purchases, etc.), as well as taxes, will also fluctuate depending on the size of your gas station and the locality in which it operates.

You should prepare to spend at least 400,000 rubles monthly.

presented in the video:

Is it worth trying to open a gas station?

Of course, owning a gas station is very profitable business.

Even a small gas station located in a favorable location can bring its owner a profit of 10,000 rubles per day.

The average profitability of gas stations in the country is 25–30,000 rubles per day, and, accordingly, 750–900,000 rubles per month.

Even if you spend more than half of this amount on maintaining your business, you will still be left with a profit of 300–400,000 rubles per month.

With such indicators, it is possible to recoup capital investments of 6–7 million rubles in two years.

This business is truly profitable and promising, although it requires a huge amount of money to start.

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It is constantly growing, so the gas station business has become quite widespread. The construction of gas stations is carried out by both large network companies and private owners, who are attracted by the high profitability of fuel trading. If you want to join this industry, you should consider a gas station business plan, which will help you get information about the costs and all the features of this type of activity.

To open your own gas station, you will need to anticipate all possible difficulties.

Choosing a form of work

In the last 10 years, a form of starting a new business called franchising has become very widespread. The bottom line is to rent or sell a trademark. When it comes to car gas stations, you buy the right to use a logo, branding, and sometimes a ready-made business model. In return, you give a fairly large amount or undertake to constantly transfer to the trademark holder a part of your income, regardless of the availability of profit. In addition, the corporation providing you with the gas station brand requires compliance with certain standards and rules.

The main advantage of franchising is the ease of opening a gas station. There is no need to order the services of a designer, think about an attractive logo and a sonorous name - seeing a name known throughout the country, clients will come to you without any extra thought. If you are going to open a gas station under someone else’s brand, you can get the following advantages:

Ready-made business model for refueling and supplying fuel from a trusted source;
Positive reputation since opening;
Consultations on any issues that arise during opening and operation.

Franchising will allow you to use an existing company

We have already mentioned the additional costs of opening a gas station under someone else’s brand - this is the main disadvantage of such a scheme. However, there is another drawback - your gas station will be constantly under close supervision, and in some cases, under the control of a manager appointed by the brand holder. Any deviation from the rules threatens with a fine, and in the most severe cases, deprivation of the franchise.

Therefore, such a gas station operating model as a business under its own brand, completely independent of large corporations, is also popular. This option is cheaper and more convenient from a management point of view, however, it is more difficult at the stage of starting and establishing an enterprise. But history knows many cases of successful opening of an entire network of gas stations - and in each of them it all started with just one small station. Therefore, it’s up to you to decide exactly how to create the first filling.

Plot

For all businesses operating in the industry, location is of great importance. The gas station should be located near a major traffic intersection or highway. A location in the city is acceptable, but you should choose not a quiet street, but a large road located on the way between the business center and residential areas. To find out how to open a gas station, you must also contact the Department of Urban Planning and Architecture, having agreed with its specialists on the planned location of the enterprise. There are strict restrictions - the distance from liquid fuel tanks to nearby buildings must be at least 30 meters, and from the gas compressor station - 100 meters.

The correct choice of site is very important

It is advisable to buy a plot for a gas station, since there are many fraudulent schemes through which highly profitable businesses built over many years are taken away from the owners. The average cost outside the city will be 80–200 thousand dollars, which depends on the specific area and the size of the area being purchased. In the centers of large cities, you should expect an amount equal to several million dollars. If your choice when creating a gas station is to lease land, it is worth it for 15–99 years, so as not to soon face the unpleasant news of a ban on continuing activities. The cost of renting land for a gas station will be approximately $500–$1,500 per month.

Construction

If you buy a gas station business plan under a franchise agreement, you will probably be offered one that will build a turnkey complex. This option is attractive due to the quick start of the business and the absence of problems, but it requires an overpayment equal to approximately 25% of the actual costs. However, even if you open a gas station yourself, you should not rely only on your own strength. You will have to study many technical regulations and standards, as well as receive education in the field of design, which will take several years.

The best option is to use the services of a professional contractor who specializes in this type of construction. When constructing a gas station, you will be provided with guarantees of quality and compliance of the result with current standards and regulations. In addition, some contractors undertake to coordinate the launch of refueling in all authorities, which will be discussed below.

The cost of implementing a refueling project depends on its parameters. The minimum price is set for a small gas station with an area of 30–50 square meters with two columns and an operator position located behind the window - it will cost 20–25 thousand dollars. If you want to place a small store (up to 100 square meters) on the territory of a gas station and install four pumps, you should expect 30–50 thousand dollars. Large complexes with cafes, shops, additional rental premises and car washes are estimated at approximately 100 thousand. When opening a gas station using a franchise agreement, you don’t have to choose - the price and layout of the building are usually set by the owner of the brand.

You can reduce costs by about 5-10 thousand dollars in each case by purchasing used equipment, but the durability of such a gas station will leave much to be desired. If you want to open a gas station equipped with a small operator's workstation, the cost of construction and installation of equipment will be approximately 12-15 thousand dollars. A methane CNG filling station with large tanks and a professional security system costs approximately 100–120 thousand dollars, so you can see such enterprises on Russian roads much less often than ordinary gas stations.

Documenting

The sale of petroleum products is considered an excisable licensed type of business, so it will definitely not be possible to work under a simplified taxation system. Experts recommend avoiding forms of private entrepreneurship without creating an organization. The ideal option is to register a legal entity in the form of an LLC. This option is convenient due to the simplicity of accounting and the security of the founder’s property - in case of bankruptcy, he is liable only with his share, but not with personal property separated from the enterprise. The gas station can also be registered as a joint stock company if you plan to attract external capital investment, but in this case you will have to undergo an annual audit and hire a professional, highly paid accountant.

It is best to register a legal entity

The enterprise is registered with the state registrar, as well as with the tax service and the Pension Fund. You will also need to go through many other authorities related to the type of business you are registering. These include:

Rospotrebnadzor - it is required to provide plans of the internal premises, the cashier’s location, and indicate the method of payment;
Fire supervision - indicate the presence of fire protection systems, as well as fire extinguishers and other equipment designed to extinguish the flame;
Sanitary and epidemiological station - show the working conditions of gas station employees, storage areas for products when selling them;
Traffic police - plans for access roads and parking areas on the territory of a gas station.

Getting everyone will not cost much - all the registration will cost approximately 5,000 rubles, provided that the authorized capital of the created legal entity will be the gas station itself. With all permissions, contact the Ministry of Fuel and Energy, which issues licenses for the sale of petroleum products. Such documents will be quite expensive - $300–400 for the sale of gasoline and diesel and another $200 for a propane-butane mixture. Registration of a methane gas station will cost more - approximately $300.

Supplies

Having figured out how much it costs to open a gas station, you need to organize fuel purchases. Naturally, you need to take care of the quality of the fuel, since unscrupulous work will quickly give your company a bad reputation, which will force motorists to drive around the gas station several kilometers away. This is quite difficult to do, but there are three common ways to ensure a supply of high-quality fuel.

The first is the purchase of your own fuel tanker or gas tanker, which will be sent to pick up the goods when the tanks at the gas station are emptied. This option requires a significant investment, since even a used car of this type will cost approximately 10 thousand dollars. A new fuel truck with a large tank capable of serving a large gas station will cost 80–120 thousand dollars. In addition, it is necessary that the oil depot or oil refinery be located within 100 kilometers - otherwise this delivery method will simply be unprofitable.

The second is an agreement with the manufacturer or wholesale distributor of fuel on the support of each delivered batch by your forwarder. It will monitor the path from the oil storage tank, ensuring that there is no dilution, addition of additional components or deterioration of the fuel quality in other ways. This method involves adding the freight forwarder’s salary to the cost of refueling. In addition, not all wholesalers agree to such control of their activities.

If you buy a business plan for a gas filling station or a regular gas station from a franchise company, you can use a ready-made fuel supply scheme. The advantages of this method are the opportunity to purchase branded fuel, which is advertised throughout the country and is familiar to every motorist. In addition, the likelihood of a decrease in fuel quality will be almost minimal, since such fraud will cause damage not only to the owner of the gas station, but also to the brand holder.

Security issue

It is no secret that gas stations are very often robbed and become the target of other crimes. Therefore, during their construction, it is worth contacting security specialists who will tell you about the basic principles of interior design:

The cashier's place is separated from the sales area and equipped with a panic button;
The safe is equipped with a mechanism for self-destruction of internal contents;
There are surveillance cameras and security alarms inside.

Don't skimp on security

In addition, at least one room should be equipped with an armored door that can only be locked from the inside - this will help save the lives of your employees in the event of an armed robbery.

It is best to have the gas station guarded by a professional agency - this service has become very popular lately. You don’t have to think about security issues - agency specialists will install security cameras, contact sensors and a “panic button” inside. A security service vehicle with appropriate markings will periodically appear at your enterprise, which will scare off unprofessional robbers. In addition, the gas station will be connected to a centralized control panel, which will ensure an immediate response to any danger. Particularly large gas stations with their own cafe require a constant presence of security - it is best not to hire your own employees, but to use the appropriate service of a professional agency.

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Opening your own gas station is an economically correct decision for those who want to organize a profitable business. Indeed, today this market is still actively being restructured 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 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 to open such a business you will need many permits. In terms of finance, this is most likely the most expensive 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 current legislation (there are certain requirements for the placement of gas stations and 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 completion of construction, you will have to obtain permission from the authorized bodies to operate the gas station 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 it take to process the documents? The questions are very timely and very important. Completing the documents required to open a gas station takes approximately 3-6 months, the construction itself takes the same amount, and you will have to invest about 12 million rubles. The exact amount depends on many factors).

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

Your own small gas station or franchising?

Today you can open your own small gas station (it will be an autonomous business, just yours), or open a company under the auspices of some well-known brand by purchasing 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 in the fuel business today is a very common phenomenon. In addition, when you decide to buy a franchise, you will immediately receive all the necessary documentation, business development, a brand, and a ready-made style for the filling station (which, by the way, under the terms of the contract you will have to strictly comply with). Representatives of the parent company will help in resolving organizational issues, and you won’t have to worry about the quality of the 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 refueling. This means that you will have to choose suppliers and bear full responsibility for the quality of the fuel sold, which can be of either good or very low quality.

We should also not forget that most motorists prefer to refuel at gas stations of large oil companies, so-called “branded” gas stations, in order to fill the tank with guaranteed good gasoline. This means that the presence of a well-known brand on the sign can be the key to business profitability.

Registration and organization of business

So, you decided to open a gas station. So, you need to start taking action:

First, you need to draw up a business plan for a 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 give you the opportunity 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 have it approved by Rospotrebnadzor, and then organize construction.
Develop and agree on the PCP.
Conclude an agreement for pest control with the relevant company, as well as an agreement for the removal of solid waste.
Obtain permission from the environmental service and the SES.
Obtain a license for storing and selling fuel from the Ministry of Energy.
Conduct workplace certification.
Conclude an agreement for the supply of fuel.

Site for gas station and station construction

As for a suitable site for a gas station, it should be located on a high-traffic road or where there is active traffic. It is important that there is convenient access for cars.

Once the site has been selected, and the lease and construction documents have been drawn up, you can proceed directly to the construction itself. If you choose franchising, then your partners will help you, and if you are opening an independent business, then it is better to use the services of specialized companies that are engaged in the construction and commissioning of gas stations. They employ specialists who know all the requirements of current legislation. They will carry out the entire complex of construction work, put the facility into operation and receive all the necessary documents.

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

Necessary equipment

There are many different opinions regarding 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) that can help automate the process of dispensing fuel. Using such software, you will not only automatically refuel your vehicle, but also receive fuel from the tanker 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 premises for the gas station operator, as well as additional buildings where a tire shop, workshop, car wash, store, etc. will be located (this means that you need to equip all the facilities with the necessary furniture, equipment, and 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 this. But if you run an independent business, then you will have to look for reliable suppliers and organize fuel supplies yourself. The best option– an agreement with an oil depot or processing plant. There you can get fuel at a lower price or negotiate discounts for bulk orders. You can find out the price level on the Internet, and from oil refineries it is better to choose a larger one with a good reputation. This way you can count on more or less good quality fuel.

Accompanying services

How to open a gas station? And how to make a business profitable? These questions can be answered by those who have already opened a gas station. 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, that at a gas station you can open a tire service or repair shop (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, or 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 traffic, or a car wash.

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

Safety

Safety at a fire-hazardous facility is a very important issue. First, you need to develop all fire safety documentation, equip the premises with a fire alarm and panic button, and equip the gas station with primary fire extinguishing equipment.

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

It is also necessary to take care of the safety of 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 enter into a service agreement with a security company, whose employees will go to the site if the alarm button is activated . It would also be a good idea to install armored glass and reinforced doors at the facility. These measures will help avoid trouble in the event of an attack on the gas station by criminal elements.

Staff

For normal operation of the gas station you will need:

technical specialists who will provide refueling of vehicles, inflation of wheels, and provide other repair services;
manager-cashier (gas station operator, there should be several of them), who will accept money, dispense fuel and lubricants and control order at the station;
seller (if there is a store at the station)
manager

Of course, depending on what other services you plan to provide at your station, you will need appropriate employees. 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 not only be modern and certified, but also tested by specialists from 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 inspectorate 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 gas station and become its owner, it is important not to forget that it is a high-risk facility that will be regularly checked by authorized bodies for compliance with the requirements of existing legislation and regulations. And these authorities will regularly monitor your activities, and if violations are detected, they can not only issue a fine, but also suspend your license. And you will not be able to work until you eliminate the identified deficiencies. 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, its size depends on many factors: region, level of gas station, the need for additional buildings, technical equipment of the business, additional services provided by the gas station. But on average the costs at the initial stage will be:

From the calculations it is clear that significant investments will be required to open a gas station. But if the gas station brings in at least 1,000,000 rubles in income every month, the business can be considered profitable.

When drawing up a detailed business plan for a gas station, a novice businessman will have to take into account a number of important points. First of all, you need to decide on the option for conducting the project. It can be a full-fledged complex with its own rules and regulations. It is somewhat easier to open a parking lot under the name of a popular brand (franchise).

Possibilities

This type of business allows you to work within the framework of franchising. In this case, the entrepreneur will be forced to accept the rules of a particular brand. For young businessmen, this decision will be most beneficial. Despite the fact that in this situation the entrepreneur will have to pay significant amounts annually for the franchise (within 400 thousand rubles), the highest quality fuel will always be available. In this case, the businessman will receive a business plan for a gas filling station, fully thought out and calculated. He is also given a full range of all documents necessary for profitable and successful activities.

When deciding to get involved in this area, many young entrepreneurs ask themselves: how much will it cost to open a project? To answer this question, it is recommended to carry out all the necessary calculations in detail. It is especially important to consider the following factors:

expenses for renting or purchasing land;
distance from busy roads and highways;
availability of high-quality access roads.

Investment calculations

It’s not enough to think about how to open a gas station; drawing up a business plan is much more important. You will have to invest at least 5 million rubles in the project. What should be included in this project? In order for the business to turn out to be truly promising and profitable, it is worth paying special attention to:

additional costs that will go towards obtaining numerous permits.

It is extremely important, when developing a business plan for a gas station in tables and figures, to provide that renting the territory will cost approximately 100 thousand rubles. This amount is not for the whole year, but payment for a month.

It is equally important to take into account the regulations. A station located in populated areas must be located at a distance of at least 30 meters from buildings and residential structures. The first and most significant point is the acquisition of equipment. This step involves an investment of about 3-4 million rubles. You should buy at least 4 units of fuel dispensers with a central computer. You also need to purchase tanks. These include containers for:

fuel storage and release;
stormwater system;
emergency fuel transfer.

Essential Details

It is very important to take into account that for the successful operation of a gas station, care should be taken to have repair specialists on staff. It is equally advisable to hire good gas station operators and find a reliable manager who is able to regulate the work of the entire team as efficiently as possible. At the same time, the business plan of a promising gas station must include a line regarding the remuneration of employees. About 100 thousand rubles should be allocated for this monthly.

Other important points deserve special attention. You need to spend money to obtain various permits and complete a package of documents. If a novice entrepreneur decides to use a franchise, then he will have to spend approximately 300-400 thousand rubles. Opening your own gas station will cost a lot.

Don't forget about utilities. Since the gas station covers a fairly large area, the costs for this item, as a rule, are at least 10,000 rubles per month.

Documentation and permissions

When organizing a business in this area, first of all, an entrepreneur will need to register. To do this, you should contact the Federal Tax Service. It is optimal to transfer your own project to the category of individual entrepreneurship. It is also possible to operate successfully as an LLC. The second option will require significantly more investments and time from the young entrepreneur. But it is important to consider that such an approach will allow transactions with both legal entities and individuals.

As for the first option, a detailed business plan for such a gas station will be quite simple to draw up. The organization of individual entrepreneurs in this area allows cooperation only with individuals.

In the process of registering a project, a young businessman will need:

remit payment ;
visit the Ministry of Fuel;
obtain a license document permitting the storage of fuel and oil.

In addition, the entrepreneur must contact local authorities to obtain a document allowing to rent land. Then all that remains is to conclude a lease agreement for the territory.

The payback of the project deserves special attention. As statistics show, a gas station with excellent cross-country ability will allow you to dispense up to 30 tons of fuel every day. It is very important that the gas station is designed for sale:

AI-92 gasoline;
AI-98 gasoline;
AI-95 gasoline;
AI-76 gasoline;
diesel fuel

Payback and profitability

Each type of fuel will certainly have its regular customers, especially if the products are of different quality. Considering the cost of the goods, it will be easy to make calculations. You can expect that gas stations can easily receive about 20,000 rubles daily. Consequently, the monthly income will be within 600,000 rubles.

However, you should not assume that the entire amount received can be safely recorded as profit. From this income you will need to subtract part of the money that will be used for issuing wages gas station employees. You will also need to take funds from the funds received to pay for utilities. Thus, the net balance will be approximately 450,000 rubles.

As practice shows, the profitability of such business projects reaches 60%. For the enterprise to fully pay for itself, it will take at least 2.5-3 years of active work. The key disadvantage of such a business is the significant financial investment. In addition, many young entrepreneurs are stopped by the need to collect a voluminous package of various documents.

To make the business more profitable and profitable, it is worth supplementing it with a tire service, a mini-market, a cafeteria or a car wash.

How to write a business plan: Video

Types of gas stations

Gas stations are divided into two types: container-type stations (KAZS), as well as at gas stations with underground and external locations of tanks intended for storing fuel.

Please note that gas filling stations are used mainly for temporary use. The operation of such stations as part of the retail sale of fuels and lubricants is considered inappropriate for certain objective reasons, since they are subject to very stringent safety requirements from regulatory authorities, as a result of which the costs of completing the required documentation and installing equipment increase significantly.

How to register a gas station

An important factor for further successful promotion of the chosen direction is the choice of taxation system. In this industry, almost all organizations use a common system that requires working with VAT (value added tax). Fuel suppliers are extremely reluctant to enter into contracts with enterprises that operate without VAT.

It is worth considering that large suppliers and corporate clients prefer to deal with LLC (limited liability company). This form of business activity allows for a more in-depth approach to solving certain legal and financial issues that arise in the process of mutual cooperation between enterprises.

Licensing of gas station activities canceled.

Selection of land

Particular attention should be paid to the selection of land for the construction of a gas station, since the choice of location is the main criterion for the success of future activities. The ideal condition for locating a gas station is the presence of:

road junction,
federal roads with heavy traffic,
parking lots,
as well as, if possible, the maximum proximity of the object to populated areas.

A good indicator would be to locate a gas station in an area where there are no “promoted” gas stations. Of course, getting a plot that meets all the listed requirements is very rare, but at least one of these conditions must be present.

Advice: To determine its suitability for use as a road service facility (road service facility), an independent examination is required. The future fate of your endeavor largely depends on this.

The size of the plot is determined taking into account the gas station project you choose. But do not forget that for the smooth operation of a gas station, it is necessary to have convenient entrances. The marking of such entrances and the organization of traffic through gas stations is coordinated with the traffic police and road services.

Before choosing a project, an analysis of the location of the gas station should be carried out, based on the results of which the required quantity and equipment of the fuel dispenser (fuel dispenser) with which the gas station will be equipped is determined.

Regulatory documentation

No less responsible is the preparation of documentation for the registration of a land plot. All requirements for the conditions for locating a gas station, design, construction and organization of the territory of a gas station must be unconditionally met. Considering that at the time of opening your first gas station you will be faced with a number of problems previously unknown to you, you should entrust the solution to these issues to specialists.

Today, there are many organizations that will comprehensively carry out all the work, starting with the preparation of design documentation for a land plot and ending with the commissioning of the facility with the provision of all necessary certificates, approvals, permits and approvals. There is no point in listing all the requirements and provisions with numbers and dates of documents, since they are accepted at the regional level and may differ significantly from each other.

General list of necessary requirements:

Requirements for placement of gas stations.
Requirements for the design and construction of a gas station.
Basic requirements for gas station buildings, structures and equipment.
Environmental and sanitary-hygienic requirements for the design of gas stations.

Advice: You must clearly understand that failure to comply with even the most insignificant, in your opinion, points will subsequently lead to problems, the solution of which will require a significant amount of time, finances and your own nerves. A gas station is a high-risk facility.

Equipment

There are many different models on the market from both domestic and foreign manufacturers. When choosing, you should be guided by the price and quality of the product offered.

Specialized stores have almost all the components for servicing and repairing a fuel dispenser. This usually does not cause problems during operation. I will list the minimum set necessary equipment to equip a small gas station, taking into account the fact that two types of fuel will be supplied from each fuel dispenser.

Tank for storing and dispensing fuels and lubricants - 4 pcs. volume 15 m 3 each.
Tank for emergency fuel transfer - 1 pc. 15m 3
Tank for storm water system, any used one - 10m3
Broadcasting dispenser - 2 pcs. 2 sleeves each.

Control panels, cables and shut-off valves are included in the fuel dispenser kit. The cost of all of the above depends on the model and manufacturer you choose.

All gas stations use reliable software that can fully automate the entire cycle of the fuel dispensing process, starting from emptying the fuel tanker into the tank and ending with the submission of a daily report with its preliminary sending to the accounting department. Thereby reducing to zero the possibility of unforeseen situations arising as a result of circumstances that are commonly called the “human factor”. Such equipment and software for it are not expensive and can be installed in a matter of hours.

Staff

The next issue that should be considered when opening a gas station is the selection of personnel. Everything is simple here:

Gas station manager- 1 person, control over the operation of gas stations, work with operators, absolute knowledge of the program that ensures the operation of the fuel dispenser.
Repairer- 1 person His responsibilities include repairing equipment and premises, and, if possible, understanding gas station software.
Gas station operator- 4 people, fuel supply, control over revenue and delivery to collectors.

You will also need an electrician, who can be hired under a contract. I do not consider workers directly involved in refueling cars on site, since at first you can do without them.

Conclusion

On average, it takes from 3 to 6 months to approve all the documentation required to open a gas station; construction of a gas station takes 6-12 months. The cost of opening a budget gas station is 12 - 15 ml. rubles The payback period of the project is 3-5 years.