Undoubtedly, automobile fuel is the most popular product today. Therefore, many would like to open a gas station. And even despite the high level of competition among sellers involved in the sale of fuel, this business is considered promising and profitable. Gas stations, not only today, but also in the future, will be able to bring good income to their owners, since the number of cars in cities is steadily growing from year to year.
According to experts, depending on the location of the gas station and the locality, engaging in such a business can earn up to a million rubles in profit per month. But we must keep in mind that when looking for an answer to the question: how much does it cost to open a gas station, it turns out that it is impossible to organize this business. According to rough estimates, an amount of 10 million rubles will be required, which is slightly less.
Opening a gas station is quite a troublesome business, so when deciding to start this type of business, you need to know some of its nuances and features in advance. Perhaps, having understood everything, you will be able to more accurately calculate the cost of opening a gas station. Today, there are two ways to build this type of business, such as opening a gas station. One of them is opening a small gas station under your own brand, the operation of which does not require cooperation with large companies. The second way is called building a franchise business. Many sources claim that franchising is the most cost-effective way to start a business. This can be explained by a number of reasons.
To take or not to take a franchise
Let's start with the fact that the process of creating this type of business contains many nuances, so it will be much easier to bring this idea to life by following the advice of experienced specialists. And there should be no doubt that large companies engaged in the oil business employ experienced employees. Therefore, they can always clearly advise you on what is needed to open a gas station, in particular, what equipment to purchase and what scale to choose so that it is optimal for your situation, and how to prepare the documents correctly. In addition, with their help it will be easier for you to find a reliable company that specializes in the construction of gas station complexes.
Another reason for choosing franchising to open a gas station is the opportunity to work with branded companies. It's no secret that today at small gas stations you can often fill your car with low-quality fuel, after which problems with the car begin to arise. This is why many motorists prefer to buy fuel at gas stations that work with large oil companies such as Rosneft. In other words, the promoted brand of large companies helps to increase sales volumes. Of course, for this partnership, which brings benefits, you will have to share the profits with your “mentor,” but there is no doubt that it is worth it.
You also need to know about the disadvantages
True, this approach to creating your own business also has disadvantages. When they explain how to open a gas station under a franchise agreement, they try not to talk about them. For example, some of the companies offering franchises stipulate that the entire work process will have to take place under the guidance of a specially hired manager. It doesn’t matter to them that this is your own business. Such a manager, as a rule, manages the affairs of several gas stations at once and over time begins to behave like an owner. And if you eventually have a desire to open a gas station on your own territory, for example, then most likely you will have to coordinate your plan with a hired manager.
Choosing a place for a gas station
If you have already decided for yourself which way of building a business suits you best, now you will need to choose a site for your gas station. When choosing a plot of land for a gas station, you need to take into account that it must certainly meet a number of requirements, in particular, the nearest residential building must be located at a distance of at least 30 meters from it. All requirements for the site and refueling are listed in the relevant documents; you can familiarize yourself with them at the authorities of the Ministry of Fuel and Energy and Rospotrebnadzor. Once a land plot for the construction of a gas station has been selected, you need to take care of drawing up complete project documentation and its approval by Rospotrebnadzor. Thus, you will have the opportunity to start construction and if you try, it will not turn into a long-term construction.
Partners have their own requirements
If you have chosen franchising to build your business, then you will need to choose a site for a gas station taking into account the requirements of the company that owns the franchise. For example, many large fuel companies have strict requirements for the width of the passage to the gas station, the number of square meters of the gas station, and even the lawn in front of the gas station. If the plot that you have selected does not meet the requirements, then you will have to make a choice, either look for a new partner, or look for a new plot of land. It is quite difficult to name even an approximate amount of costs that will be required for a plot of land suitable for a gas station, since it depends on many factors, in particular, on the location, on the type of settlement and much more. So, in large cities of Russia you can rent such a plot for an average of one hundred thousand rubles per month.
It is better to entrust the construction of gas stations to professionals
Once a site that meets all the requirements has been selected, you can start looking for a construction company that has experience in the construction of gas stations. Companies with this specialization usually offer their clients a turnkey construction service for gas stations. In addition, they can select the optimal set of equipment specifically for the gas station they have built. Today, two refueling installations with a head computer can cost you about a million rubles.
The main criterion for choosing a construction company should be its reliability. The longer a company operates in the construction market, the more gas stations it has built, which means there is no doubt about its reliability. But we must definitely remember that it is better to give preference to professionals. If you decide to start creating your own business “under the wing” of a large brand company, then all you have to do is follow the advice that its specialists will give you. By the way, they say that some giants of this type of business have subsidiaries that specialize in the construction of this kind of facilities.
Fuel supplies to gas stations
At the next stage of building a business, it is necessary to arrange fuel supplies to gas stations. To put it bluntly, resolving this important issue will not be easy. In today's fight against competitors, high-quality fuel is often a decisive factor. Therefore, you need to try to find a conscientious partner. The standard supply scheme can be represented as follows: an oil refinery produces fuel, which is supplied to bases and storage facilities, and only then distributed to gas stations. It must be admitted that today the quality of produced fuel leaves much to be desired.
To prevent “well-wishers” from reducing the quality of gasoline during transportation, you need to try to arrange supplies so that the fuel is under constant control along the entire route from the oil refinery to the gas station. This will allow you to receive fuel of the same quality as it was when it left the factory. For various reasons, this is not easy to do.
A little about gas station safety
Gas station security deserves special attention. To solve this issue, it is enough to take some measures, in particular, organize security at the station and install an alarm button, equip a place for the cashier, protecting it with armored doors and glass. It should be taken into account that the cashier’s workplace should not be visible from the street.
List: what you need to open a gas station
During the entire time you are building your business, you will have to deal with the preparation of the following documents:
- Draw up complete design documentation for the gas station and land plot. It must be agreed with Rospotrebnadzor;
- You must have permission from the SES and environmental service to trade in fuel. In the future, periodic checks will be carried out to ensure that the organization of your work complies with established standards;
- You will need to obtain a license to sell and store fuel. It is issued by local authorities of the Ministry of Fuel and Energy;
- You must have a fire department permit to sell fuel. It will be given to you after they check that your gas station complies with all fire safety standards;
- It will be necessary to conclude agreements for the servicing of gas stations by housing and communal services for garbage removal and deratization;
- All fuel supplied to your gas station must have certificates.
You will learn about other documents as you work.
Car filling station(gas station) is a set of equipment on a roadside area designed for refueling vehicles.
Gas station, with the right approach, is a very profitable business. Many who have invested their capital in this business today have great profits. Gas stations will be relevant for a very long time, since this is a product that is used by a large number of the population, because the number of vehicles is only increasing every year.
Types of gas stations and their equipment
The most common gas stations are those that refuel vehicles with traditional types of hydrocarbon fuel - gasoline and diesel fuel (gasoline stations).
Less common are the Automobile Gas Filling Compressor Station (CNG Filling Station) - refueling with compressed natural gas (CNG) and the Automotive Gas Filling Station (AGS) - refueling with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). There are also several types of hydrogen filling station.
Container gas station(KAZS) - a technological system of which is designed for refueling vehicles only with liquid motor fuel and is characterized by an above-ground arrangement of tanks and placement of fuel dispensers in a fuel storage container made as a single factory product.
Stationary ones are equipped with lighting and lightning protection systems.
Based on their location, gas stations are distinguished between road and city gas stations. Urban residents are subject to more stringent safety requirements; in particular, the permissible distances to residential buildings, schools, hospitals, and public buildings are strictly regulated.
At modern gas stations, the service is often not limited to the sale of fuel. Often at such stations there is, less often - a snack bar, as well as an ATM, a car wash, etc. In the USA, truck stops or travel centers are common in which the gas station itself is only part of a complex that includes parking services for heavy truck drivers, recreation centers and leisure, and shopping.
In Russia, the organization of food at gas stations to this day leaves much to be desired, since the assortment usually has nothing in common with traditional food.
What is more profitable - coffee or gasoline?
Briefly about coffee:
In the first half of 2016, Gaprom Neft (the fourth oil production company in Russia) received 1 billion rubles from the sale of coffee at its own gas stations. revenue, said the company’s regional sales director Alexander Krylov in an interview with the Gazprom corporate magazine. The same amount - 1 billion rubles. — Gazprom Neft earned for the whole of 2015.
Moreover, the coffee should be really tasty and be either on par with or better than your competitors, since the client remembers this nuance.
Opening instructions
To open your own gas station, you need to go through many authorities where you will need to collect all the necessary documents and permits. Practice says that opening your own gas station requires at least 6 million rubles. Before you invest money in this business, you need to be prepared for various difficulties that may happen in the process.
Where to start? It is necessary to draw up a business plan (example at the bottom of the page), thanks to which you can plan all the necessary expenses, it is advisable that you have an amount slightly larger than that indicated in the business plan. Choose a good place, it could be a highway, highway or other place where a large number of cars pass. Also open a gas station away from competitors, this will avoid various troubles and will allow you to gain more customers. Please note that the place must be outside the residential area; the nearest house must be at least 40 meters away.
Once the location has been selected. Decide what fuel you will trade. Contact responsible suppliers. It is advisable that the supplier is good, otherwise no one will refuel at your gas station. As a rule, all gas stations sell AI-98, AI-95, AI-92, AI-80, diesel fuel and gas, but gas, as a rule, is sold most often at individual gas stations. Do not forget that now these brands are additionally assigned Euro standards (Euro-2,...5), for example, since July 1, 2012, Lukoil has been producing gasoline of the AI-92 and AI-95 brands, only class 5 (“Euro-95”). 5"). All of these types of fuel are in demand, so they should be at your gas station.
In addition, organize trade in various goods and a cafe on the territory. You definitely need to make a toilet. Many large gas stations open a parking lot on their premises. It depends on your capital and the chosen location.
To open a gas station, the following documents are required:
- License from the Ministry of Fuel and Energy. This license will allow you to store various types of fuel.
- Permission from local authorities. Typically, this permission is given for the use of a specific area on their property.
- Land lease agreement, which is issued by local governments.
Do not forget that any gas station must have convenient entrances. The markings and organization of traffic at the gas station itself must be coordinated with road services and traffic police authorities.
Once you have received all the necessary permits and documents, you can begin construction. To do this, you need to find a company that will do this work. Purchase the necessary equipment, namely, dispensers, fuel storage tanks, building materials and other elements necessary for the work. Construction can last from 2 months to a year. It depends on the pace of construction.
To work, you need to hire approximately 8 people, including:
- the head of the gas station, supervising the work of the station and operators and having absolute knowledge of the software;
- repairman responsible for premises and equipment; it is desirable that he also understands software;
- operators responsible for dispensing fuel, working with revenue, incl. handing it over to collectors.
You definitely need to hire an electrician, who can be signed under a contract. At first, you can do without tankers.
It is important to train these people and give them a good salary so that they carry out their duties honestly. Also for work you will need to hire:
- Sellers-cashiers – 1-2 people.
- Security guards – 1-2 people.
- Refuelers - depending on the flow.
This quantity may vary based on your preferences and the total area of your gas station. You need to pay special attention to security guards, because they will protect your business from various attacks, so it is better to work with a good security company that is responsible for its reputation.
Useful video:
Having opened a gas station, provide your customers with good service and high-quality fuel, in this case you will acquire a large number of customers and perhaps in the future you will be able to create a whole network of gas stations.
Gas station business plan
We present to you a free ready-made example of a gas station business plan with all approximate calculations. But remember that this is just an example, as in your case things may be completely different.
If you decide to open a gas filling station, then in this example simply change the data to suit you.
- How I opened a gas station // KP.RU - the story of the experiment of Komsomolskaya Pravda journalist Valery Butaev
- Gas station partnership. Part 1. Part 2 // BUYBRAND Inform – about franchising in this area
Retail sale of automobile fuel is a highly profitable business. For this reason, many novice entrepreneurs are wondering: how to open a gas station from scratch and how much does it cost?
In this article we will look at how to open a gas station and present a detailed example of a business plan with calculations. We will also find out what permits are needed for this, and calculate the size of the required financial investments in order to understand how much it costs to open a gas station.
Business specifics
Opening your own gas station is not an easy task and requires a lot of entrepreneurial experience. This type of business requires investing a lot of money, so it is worth making an adequate assessment of your financial capabilities. Not every newcomer will be able to compete with Rosneft gas stations.
Experts do not recommend this type of entrepreneurship if you are opening your first business. It will be easier for market newcomers to open a gas station as a franchise and work under the wing of a well-known brand. In this case, they will be provided with stable fuel supplies and a wide base of potential customers.
Running a business independently involves searching for loyal suppliers with flexible terms of cooperation and stable, regular supplies of fuel. As a rule, such suppliers are small oil refineries.
Drivers often give preference to gas stations with a well-known name, which must also be taken into account. To win regular visitors, we can recommend introducing your own system of cumulative bonuses for regular customers, so that it is profitable for them to refuel with you. It is constantly necessary to generate new ideas for promoting your brand.
Every year the number of motorists increases, and hence the demand for automobile fuel. The very high barrier to entry into this niche is compensated by a fairly quick payback, and for this you need to draw up the necessary business plan.
First steps
First of all, you need to study the gas station market and assess the level of supply in your region. Determine your competitive advantages. At this stage, it is worth understanding whether you will run a completely independent business, or resort to franchising.
There are two more ways to become the owner of your own gas station: buy a ready-made business or become a tenant.
Services for the sale of fuel and lubricants are subject to licensing. You will have to take care in advance of obtaining a license for the right to store and sell fuel. This right is confirmed by the presence of documents stamped in the established format.
Two different formats
As already noted, before opening your own gas station, you need to decide on the fundamental principle of your future business. This can be a completely independent activity or franchising. Going free in this area and opening a gas station from scratch, without having the relevant experience, is too risky an undertaking due to many complex nuances.
According to experts, the best option for a beginning entrepreneur is to work under a franchise from leading market leaders. A recognizable logo of a large company such as Gazprom or Lukoil always attracts car enthusiasts.
Franchising has a number of advantages, including:
- Assistance from experienced specialists at the stage of opening a business.
- Consulting during the organization of gas station operation.
- Ensuring fuel supplies from reliable suppliers.
- Working on behalf of a well-known brand means a steady flow of clients.
Buying a franchise also has its disadvantages:
- strict adherence to corporate standards;
- lack of freedom in matters of pricing policy;
- mandatory and regular franchise payments.
Having decided on the format of the business, you should consider the issue of registering it with municipal and tax authorities. Large companies like Gazprom operate on a common taxation system, therefore, they are VAT payers.
For this reason, suppliers such as Rosneft cannot include transactions with individual entrepreneurs in their expenses and income. Hence the main recommendation: a gas station requires registration as a legal entity - a Limited Liability Company (LLC). After acquiring this status, your company will have its own corporate seal.
Having registered your business, you can proceed to the next, no less important steps - choosing the location of your future gas station and preparing design estimates.
Selecting a location
Location is an extremely important issue, both from the point of view of potential profitability and from the point of view of security requirements. You will need to study a lot of information about the state of the market. You should carefully analyze the traffic flow in your city and the availability of vacant land.
Gas stations are usually located on busy highways and junctions. Refueling must be provided with convenient access. The size of the required area is determined by the following criteria:
- A variety of types of fuel sold (gasoline, diesel fuel, methane, propane).
- Number of dispensers.
- Presence/absence of operating cafes, mini-stores, etc. within the gas station.
The average plot area is usually 100 m2.
You can download it here to use as an example.
Project preparation
Every new enterprise, especially a large one, requires high-quality design preparation. Here specialized design organizations are at your service. They begin their work with a well-written technical specification.
Design documents of the planned structure must take into account many requirements for high-risk facilities. The current building regulations provide for the implementation of the following standards:
- fire protection;
- sanitary;
- environmental protection
According to established standards, gas stations cannot be located at a distance of less than 30 m from residential buildings, schools, kindergartens and other public institutions. The placement of gas stations must not violate the current city general plan.
You should be mentally prepared to work with many licensing authorities. Approval procedures take a lot of time and effort. It is necessary to take into account the considerable time required for project approval. Many entrepreneurs managed to resolve this issue within six months.
After approval of the gas station project, construction work on the construction of basic infrastructure can begin. A parallel process will be the search and purchase of technological equipment.
Equipment selection
Today's market is replete with offers from both foreign and domestic manufacturers. You should not chase cheapness in this matter, because the quality of the equipment largely depends on its service life. Of course, it is worth carefully studying the existing offers and finding among them the optimal one in terms of price and quality.
Its minimum composition may look like this:
- Fuel storage tank, V=15 m3 – 4 pcs.
- Emergency fuel storage tank, V=15 m3 – 1 pc.
- Capacity for storm drainage system, V=10 m3 – 1 pc.
- Fuel dispenser (fuel dispenser) with two sleeves – 2 pcs.
If it is technically possible, it is better to connect the storm drainage system to city communications. In addition to purchasing the basic equipment, you will need various shutoff valves, cables, and remote controls. A separate stage will be setting up the software for maximum automation of the gas station. The software's tasks also include printing information remaining.
A mandatory part of the work will be the installation of security alarms and CCTV cameras. The high cost of material and technical assets and the increased danger of the facility require proper organizational security measures.
Integral elements are the laying of high-quality asphalt pavement and the installation of rain shelters. The road surface requires the application of the required markings using wear-resistant paints and varnishes.
Gas stations selling gaseous automobile fuel require specialized equipment.
Gas stations
Market experts highly appreciate the prospects for the development of gas stations that sell gaseous fuel. No wonder Gazprom is actively developing this area.
The organization of methane gas stations requires ensuring the technological possibility of inserting into the communications of the city gas pipeline. If your gas station sells propane, then start searching for appropriate equipment and a supplier of this type of fuel in advance. The operation of a gas filling station requires the purchase of additional compressor equipment.
The quality of construction work depends, first of all, on the qualifications of the performers. Let's look at the issue of required personnel in more detail below.
Staff
Considering that the gas station operates around the clock, work should be organized in several shifts. The following staff are required to perform each work shift:
- cashier – 1 person;
- fuel dispenser operator – 2 people;
- security guard – 1 person.
To ensure a stable supply of fuel, a car gas station requires a supply department. The staff should also include repairmen and electricians in case of equipment failure. Financial statements should be entrusted to an experienced accountant with a personal seal.
The staff must be neat, polite and attentive to customers. Service at Gazprom-level gas stations is at a solid level. You should look up to him. For recognition, you need to order the production of original uniforms for the employees of your gas station.
Opening cost
We will calculate the estimated cost of opening a gas station on your own and the possible amount of income from its operation. The figures below may vary depending on each specific region. The cost of purchasing and renting a plot of land can vary, even within the same city.
So, the average items of expenses and income look like this:
| 1 | Purchase of land | 15÷25 million rub. | |
| Preparation of design and estimate documentation and registration of permits | 2 million rubles |
||
| 3 | Construction work | 6÷10 million rub. | |
| 4 | Purchase of capital equipment | 3 million rubles | |
| 5 | Payment of utilities | 0.120 million rubles/year | |
| 6 | Staff salaries | 5.5 million rubles/year | |
| 7 | Purchasing fuel | 10 million rubles/year | |
| 8 | Payment of duties, taxes and fees | 1.5 million rubles/year | |
| 9 | Depreciation charges | 2 million rubles/year | |
| 10 | Sales of fuel to the public | 24 million rubles/year | |
| 11 | Other income (mini store, cafe, etc.) | 1 million rubles/year |
In total, the minimum investment will be 26 million rubles. The indicated level of annual costs is indicative.
Payback periods largely depend on the success of the business. When selling 50 thousand liters of fuel per month, full payback is achieved in 4 years. This figure can be significantly reduced if you open a gas station as a franchise. Replacing the purchase of a land plot with its rental will also help reduce the payback period.
Profitability can increase if, in addition to the gas station, a related business on its territory brings profit. This can be achieved through the activities of a store or cafeteria.
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Investing your savings in the gasoline business is like buying a thoroughbred stallion. First, you will have to invest a fairly large sum: “blue” blood is not cheap, and in order for the stallion to grow up smooth, playful and agile, you also need to try. However, you will soon realize that your money was not wasted. The new business will not only return the money spent in full, but will also bring significant profit. If, of course, you follow all the rules for maintaining and caring for your source of income. And, of course, you will learn a number of necessary subtleties, and our gas station business plan will help you with this.
Map of gasoline influences
First, let's take a look around and determine on the ground how much this sector of the economy has been developed. There is no doubt that activity in this area is increasing noticeably every day. Gas stations appear like mushrooms after rain. Today there are about 1.5 thousand of them in the Moscow region alone. Naturally, the gas station owners are different.
At the moment, several major players have emerged. Among them are LUKOIL, YUKOS, Rosneft, Slavneft, Sibneft, TNK, Tatneft. However, it is too early to consider this market to be permanently divided. Because its active restructuring is currently underway.
Back in the mid-90s. the state distributed the regions among different large oil companies. Rosneft got the center of Russia, in particular Moscow, Smolensk and some other regions. TNK received the Ryazan region, YUKOS - Buryatia. Each company developed a business strictly in the territory allotted to it, built its own infrastructure there - oil refineries, oil depots, a network of gas stations, and did not try to penetrate the neighbor’s fence.
Until 2001, all major oil companies strictly adhered to the established rules of the game. And then the picture began to change dramatically - the main players stopped complying with territorial obligations and began to penetrate into areas of interest to them, becoming competitors of the structures already deployed there. Thus, Sibneft was actually the last to enter the Central Russian market. Therefore, she had to seize territories that already belonged to someone. Now the company is poorly represented in the Moscow region, but has already “set its eye” on part of this market. And LUKOIL, which had not previously sought to enter the capital, set itself the task of owning more than a hundred gas stations in Moscow and the Moscow region. It is planned that the company's share in this market will be 10%. In fact, such investment diversification tactics are now very popular among large players: in each region, giant companies are trying to cover approximately this market segment.
However, the aggressive policy also has its advantage - it benefits the consumer, because the giants are doing their best to promote their brands in the country. How can you surprise a buyer who is unaccustomed to commodity shortages these days? Only the level of service and the quality of the product.
However, despite the active changes, there are still uninhabited areas in the oil business, i.e. free seats. And if you are excited about the idea of entering this market, then it is better to immediately choose your path. You can do everything yourself: build your own gas station and run your business completely independently. That is, to become a so-called “jobber”. Another option is to organize a company under the trademark of a well-known oil company, entering into a franchising relationship with it.
Today, both direct subsidiaries of LUKOIL, YUKOS, Rosneft and other large players, as well as private owners, are appearing in large numbers. Moreover, many oil companies are rapidly revising plans for the construction of new gas stations towards intensification, trying to have time to acquire their own distribution network before the general fall in prices for export oil. Experts believe that by 2005 the gasoline retail market will be saturated and new pumps will not be needed.
Gas station construction cost
First, you will have to rent land and acquire special licenses for storing oil, gas and their products. Licenses are issued by the Ministry of Fuel and Energy. However, you should not be afraid of difficulties. There is a very small fee for processing documents at the ministry.
But you will have to pay for the right to build a gas station on a specific site. Land, for example, in the Moscow region, with the preparation of all the necessary documents, will cost $100,000. There are companies that, for this money, will take care of all the paperwork and organizational red tape and bring ready-made documents to your office. The high cost is explained by the fact that in Russia there are quite strict construction standards, and hence the need to coordinate construction documents with various authorities.
It is for this reason that mini-gas stations are not yet possible in our country, as is customary in many Western countries. But a small gasoline tank and just one pump on the sidewalk in Paris, for example, bring huge profits. Alas, our SNiPs and rules do not allow business to be conducted in this way. Therefore, there is not a single gas station inside the boulevard ring in Moscow. They say it’s close to home – less than 30 m. Although such trade would be extremely profitable. Any aspiring gasoline seller, when choosing a potential location for his gas station, should keep this figure in mind.
Naturally, you cannot do without special equipment. The cheapest minimum set of 2 columns and a computer costs $40,000. But two columns are too small a gas station, although they are capable of dispensing several types of fuel at once. Usually there are at least four pumps at a gas station. Of course, there are differences between columns: there are cheaper models, and there are more expensive ones. Typically, savvy businessmen spend from $100,000 to $200,000 on equipment.
And everything else: access roads, a building for the operator, gasoline tanks - at a minimum - from $50,000. This is if you decide to do without a store, car wash and auto repair shop. But at first they are not necessary. In general, a turnkey gas station costs $500,000. This includes all permits, land and other associated costs.
The most important thing is not to get too carried away with bank loans in pursuit of future profits. Now gas stations of many companies are mortgaged for debts. Their owners took out a loan and built a gas station with the money they received. However, they were in no hurry to repay the debt, and they took out a new loan as collateral for the finished gas station in order to build another gas station. The result was a pyramid. Moreover, it is quite shaky. Such a business can disappear in an instant. Well, if the margin received from the gas station is high, then perhaps there will be enough money for everything. It will also be possible to repay the debt. What if there is a crisis? Or will wholesale fuel prices skyrocket? In such situations, gasoline sales volumes at gas stations fall, and gas stations built on the word of honor are threatened with bankruptcy.
Franchising
Many gasoline sellers believe that the favorable location of a gas station and its technical equipment do not guarantee sustainable profits. That's why so-called franchising is popular today. A small gas station owner, using the brand of one of the well-known oil companies, increases sales. As the experience of the Smolensk region has shown, only moving under the wing of LUKOIL doubles the sale of gasoline at an ordinary private gas station.
A franchise agreement costs a gas station owner only $700 per year. In fact, this is a rental fee for a well-known trademark. At first, nothing else will be required from you. But in exchange you can receive gasoline of proven quality. If, of course, this is geographically possible. When choosing a patron company, first find out if there is an oil depot or oil refinery that it owns near you. Otherwise, there may be interruptions in the supply of quality fuel. After all, you can’t carry gasoline from afar: the capacity of the most common ZIL fuel tanker is 12 cubic meters. m, and more powerful cars are able to transport up to 40 cubic meters. m.
Keep in mind that when concluding a franchising agreement with you, after some time the company will require detailed compliance with its corporate identity. According to large companies, this increases the competitiveness of gas stations. For example, LUKOIL has released an entire brochure with recommendations on the use of corporate identity for gas stations cooperating with it. This brochure covers every detail: what size and color signs should be, what uniforms staff should wear, at what height flags should be hung, and even how to place trash cans. So, you will have to rebuild the gas station according to a certain standard. Remodeling can be very expensive - up to $150,000. In order not to waste money, it is better to build a gas station for “someone” from the very beginning.
Where and how much to buy gasoline
An important element of the gasoline business is a close relationship with the tank farm or refinery. Here you can negotiate better wholesale prices and arrange the most convenient mode for receiving goods. For example, on consignment terms. However, no matter how much you flirt directly with the oil depot, experience still shows that it is most profitable to establish relations with a large oil company that has both its own oil depot and the rest of the infrastructure. This guarantees the quality of gasoline.
To better navigate the wholesale fuel prices, it is useful to use the Internet. The most complete and up-to-date information is on the website www.kortes.ru. Daily information costs about $50. However, there is also a free way - through the Internet exchange for the sale and purchase of petroleum products (www.nge.ru). True, analytical information about market trends is still provided for money.
Prices today in the European part of Russia.
The highest selling prices for gasoline grades A-76/80, A-92 and AI-95/96 are from the Kinef plant (Surgutneftegaz Oil Company) - 9015.6; 11763.6 and 12813.6 rubles/t, respectively.
Lowest selling price:
for gasoline grade A-76/80 from the Salavat NOS plant - 6612.0 rubles/t;
for gasoline grade A-92/93 at the Moscow Refinery (NK Sibneft) - 8500.0 rubles/t;
for AI-95/96 gasoline from the NK Slavneft plant (Yaroslav NOS) - 10,000.0 rubles/t.
Highest price:
for winter diesel fuel at the Ukhtaneftepererabotka plant (LUKOIL Oil Company) - 8500.0 rubles/t;
for summer diesel fuel at LUKOIL plants (Nizhny Novgorod NOS and Volgogradneftepererabotka) - 7450.0 rubles/t.
Lowest price:
for winter diesel fuel at the Nizhnekamsk Oil Refinery (NK Tatneft) - 6,700.0 rubles/t;
for summer diesel fuel from the Salavat NOS plant - 5800.0 rubles/t.
Prices today outside the Urals.
The highest selling prices for gasoline of the A-76/80, A-92/93 and Ai-95/96 brands are at the Angarsk Petrochemical Company (YUKOS Oil Company) - 8200.1; 10200.0 and 11600.2 rubles/t, respectively.
Lowest price:
for gasoline grade A-76/80 - Surgut ZSK - 6832.0 rubles/t;
for gasoline grades A-92/93 and AI-95/96 - Omsk Oil Refinery (NK Sibneft) - 8900.0 and 10300.0 rubles/t, respectively.
The highest selling prices for summer and winter diesel fuel are at the Angarsk Petrochemical Company (NK YUKOS) - 6600.0 and 9400.1 rubles/t, respectively.
The cheapest summer and winter diesel fuel is from the Omsk Refinery (NK Sibneft) - 6200.0 and 8500.0 rubles/t, respectively.
Selling prices include all indirect taxes: excise duty, value added tax (VAT), tax on the sale of fuels and lubricants (NDF).
We must remember that this does not always happen. The Tax Code allows excise taxes to be collected both from oil refineries and tank farms, and from gas stations. Therefore, when buying gasoline, you need to pay attention to what exactly is included in the selling price of fuel. Indeed, depending on this, the price gap can be significant. The excise tax in Russia for A-76(80) gasoline is 2190 rubles/t, for A-92 and A-95 - 3000 rubles/t, for diesel fuel - 890 rubles/t.
Safety
There is an opinion that the gasoline business is criminal. However, the level of its criminalization is no higher than throughout the country. Local authorities are not interested in the death of an enterprise that lays “golden eggs.” True, in response they force owners to take maximum precautions. A modern gas station should resemble a banking institution, and not an ordinary minimarket. Doors and windows should certainly be made armored, and the cashier and his equipment should not be visible. Plus, under no circumstances does the cashier have the right to open the door and go outside during working hours.
Every gas station must have a panic button. According to the agreement, a police team will urgently arrive at the gas station if something happens. The contract costs little: on the highway - 1000 rubles. per month, in the city - 7,000 rubles. per month. If there is a store, then it should still have its own paramilitary security. Salaries of security guards can vary greatly - from 3,000 rubles. up to $3000
Opinion Now the market is gradually becoming saturated, and it is not so much the supply of gasoline that is coming to the fore, but the desire to provide the buyer with a quality product. Today this is the basis of competition. And high quality can only be achieved if the company has a vertically integrated structure. That is, everything: refineries, oil depots, and gas stations.
It may not be profitable to transport gasoline directly from refineries, because... it may be very far from the gas station. Then supply disruptions cannot be ruled out. You never know what will happen along the way, and the fuel truck will not arrive on time. At this time, gas at the gas station will run out. We'll have to contact the nearest oil depots. What you will get from them is not known in advance. Typically, companies deliver approximately 100 tons of fuel to the oil depot and place it in storage. And then, as needed, they take the same amount. As a rule, what they get back is not their own gasoline: either brought by another company, or completely mixed. After all, other enterprises can deposit gasoline of their production. And who will guarantee that their products are of the same good level as yours? As a result, the quality of the goods received may decline.
Until now, almost all major sellers are content with socialized gasoline. There is nowhere else to get another one. So gas station employees have to acquire so-called samples: small bottles that are sealed immediately after the gasoline is delivered to the gas station. Even the driver autographs them, saying that he delivered gasoline of normal quality under personal responsibility. This will be required in case of litigation, if you have to make claims against the oil depot.
So far, 90% of gasoline on the market is, alas, low-octane A-80. It is not suitable for a normal car. Therefore, with the help of special additives it is brought to the level of 92 or 95. However, this does not mean that gasoline becomes excellent. We must remember that quality attracts buyers. People are ready, if anything, to wait even a day and not refuel, just to get good fuel. Quality is the main thing now! Companies are making extraordinary decisions. For example, LUKOIL tints its gasoline so that car owners know: this fuel came directly from the proprietary LUKOIL oil depot, and a car filled with it will not suddenly stop.
Personnel
The main problem for gas stations is staffing. Especially if the station is located far from a large populated area. Qualified personnel are difficult to find. A gas station employee must, at a minimum, be proficient in using a personal computer. However, often people who offer themselves cannot even find “enter” on the keyboard.
According to the rules, each gas station employee must have a special certificate confirming his professional training. Therefore, it is necessary to either outbid specialists or teach them. However, a whole training system has been established. As part of oil inspection, there are mandatory courses. If you want to sell gasoline, send your employees there for training. The cost of the courses is about 2000 rubles. per person. Moreover, everyone must complete them: drivers, cashiers, and gas station attendants. The oil inspectorate then certifies the workers.
Control
The quality of gas station work is monitored by a number of inspection organizations. And you must always be prepared for this. For example, oil inspection representatives often visit gas stations completely unexpectedly.
However, in addition to them, there are other inspectors: the trade inspectorate, the tax service, firefighters. However, you shouldn’t be afraid of the latter. Compliance with fire safety rules is primarily beneficial to the owner of a gas station, because it is better to sit “on a powder keg” with insurance. As for the tax authorities, experience shows that it is not profitable to run away from taxes at gas stations. It is better to trade conscientiously and stay in this market longer, because the profit is already quite sufficient.
Sales norms
If we talk about the provinces, then usually a gas station sells an average of 3-5 cubic meters. m of gasoline per day. However, if you clearly care about the quality of your product, you can increase these indicators. Today, when there is no shortage of gasoline to speak of, it is quality that enters the battle for the buyer. Thus, the experience of the Smolensk branch of LUKOIL showed that it is possible to sell 10-15 cubic meters. m of gasoline per day and even higher. Average sales data for gasoline in Smolensk and the Smolensk region are presented in table. 1, 2. In general, the sales record belongs to the gas station located at 99 km of the Moscow-Minsk highway - 100 cubic meters. m per day.
Table 1. Average daily sales of fuel and lubricants at gas stations in Smolensk (44 gas stations)
Brand Volume, cubic meters m
Table 2. Average daily sales of fuels and lubricants at gas stations in the Smolensk region. (194 gas stations)
Brand Volume, cubic meters m
The turnover and profitability of gas stations largely depend on the location of the station. If you work on a franchising basis, then the choice of the company under whose flag the fuel is sold also plays a significant role. The quality of the roads on which the gas station is located is of great importance. A simple example. In 1998 After the crisis, the flow of transport decreased by 4-5 times. They started buying less gasoline. Only now the sales level has recovered. Now other criteria are important. The flow of traffic is affected by the road surface. People don't want to drive on bad roads, killing their car. And if there are potholes and potholes around the gas station, it means they won’t come there for gasoline. It is obvious that in the near future, gasoline competition in the domestic market will force entrepreneurs to take up the roads.
There are other ways to attract clients. Increasingly, gas station owners are starting to build gas station complexes. There you can buy gasoline, wash and repair your car, and at the same time eat and even spend the night. The pioneers were British Petroleum gas stations. There are McDonald's restaurants next to some of their gas stations.
Now everyone wants to do this. LUKOIL has entered into contracts with Rostix, and the sale of fried chicken will be organized at its gas stations. YUKOS took the Kopeyka chain of stores as its partners.
Professional tricks
In this business there are some small, but quite expensive tricks. And the owner of a gas station must constantly remember this. Thus, it is known that gasoline greatly increases in volume at high temperatures. Employees of oil depots and gas stations often play on this, stealing goods. For example, a fuel truck driver on a summer day can stock up on canisters so that along the way he can drain the fuel that has increased in volume from a tank hot in the sun. When the tank is large, the volume of “extra” gasoline becomes substantial. As a result, your losses increase. Let's say 1 liter of 92 gasoline costs 10 rubles. The canister contains 20 liters. And there may be a dozen of these canisters! So at one point, 100 of your dollars disappeared into the driver’s pockets.
Gasoline receivers are also cunning: during acceptance, they forcefully “stick the measuring stick” into the gasoline storage container. This causes the liquid to splash and form a wave. This is where the amount of gasoline is measured. True, the volume is determined by the lower risk, in the place where the wave just left.
As a result, the drained liquid remains unaccounted for. Pennies, at first glance. But when we are talking about a capacity of 100 tons, then one division is equal to several thousand rubles. And this can happen day after day.
In order not to burn out on gasoline, you again need to take into account a number of subtleties related to the specifics of this substance. For example, it is known that gasoline evaporates quickly, especially in summer. Moreover, the higher its octane number, the faster the evaporation process occurs. Therefore, if your gas station is located on the highway, you should not stock up on expensive 98-grade gasoline on a hot day. Limousines rarely drive there, and waiting for all the gasoline to evaporate is, to say the least, stupid. Every day the losses are estimated at thousands of rubles.
Of course, in this business, as in many others, there is always a rate of attrition. It is included in the tonnage when purchasing flammable substances. This rate is not high, about the same as in the alcoholic beverage industry - 0.01%. But with large volumes, the loss can result in a very significant figure. So it is better to always try to cut your losses.
Perhaps one of the main features of us Russians is the ability to take an ironic approach to the circumstances offered by life. As soon as a crisis was declared in the country, we ran to car dealerships to buy tons of cars (an item, if not a luxury, then not an essential necessity).
All this can only mean one thing: even in economically difficult times, opening a profitable business is quite possible. Gas stations are an interesting and, most importantly, promising investment option.
Before we begin
The famous formula “demand creates supply” is more relevant here than ever. Despite the seemingly tough competition, you can find your niche in this business and take a profitable place in the sun. Our country is riddled with large and small transport arteries. Endless streams of cars require timely maintenance. No one will stand in a long line at a gas station, knowing that in a couple of tens of kilometers there will be another gas station. What are we talking about? No matter how many such points there are on the roads, most likely they will be in demand.
Where to start
First of all, you are faced with the question: open your own business from scratch or purchase a franchise.
Keep in mind: this business is very specific. Organizing a gas station requires the involvement of many specialists, compliance with various standards and safety rules. A competent approach is needed to this universally hated bureaucracy. Will you risk dealing with this on your own? Perhaps, for this reason alone, the option of choosing a franchise will be the most optimal. The franchisor will help with organizing the work process, preparing the necessary package of documents, and also advise on emerging issues. If you want to open a gas station as a franchise, then pay attention to the Lukoil company
Don’t forget about the important advantage of a franchise – the reputation of a well-known brand. In some regions, this will be the only way to withstand competition.
Main risks in this business are due to the fact that there is quite tough competition in this area. In addition, opening a gas station is a very expensive business. Approximately, you will have to invest 12-15 million rubles in it. To withstand the competition, recoup expenses and stay in the black, you will have to keep your finger on the pulse all the time.
“Step-by-step instructions on how to open your own gas station”
Location
The ideal location of a gas station that brings real profit would be on a popular highway with busy traffic. The return on costs on a large highway will be much higher and faster than on rural roads, where the site will cost less, but there will be many times fewer customers. An additional privilege will be provided by the proximity of a road junction and/or populated areas.
The choice of location for a station should be considered not only from the point of view of demand, but also taking into account the necessary technical characteristics. The refueling area must be level. This is necessary for the correct and safe location of equipment, as well as for optimal organization of entry and exit of vehicles.
Equipment
The construction of a gas station complex begins with the construction of a building for staff and cash registers. Fuel tanks (main and reserve), depending on the type of station, are located underground or on the surface. The canisters are equipped with a fuel supply system to the dispensers, an opening for contact with the fuel tanker and devices to protect the fuel from weathering.
A priori, the station must be equipped with a full-fledged fire shield, since the gas station is an object of increased fire hazard.
No gas station would be complete without information boards. Boards indicating the fuel brand will be located above the columns, and the price board will be oriented toward the route.
Additionally, you will need to equip sections of road surface that provide comfortable entry and exit for cars. Appropriate markings are applied to the entrances, agreed with the traffic police and road services.
The “brain” of your station is special software that automates all work: from controlling the fuel supply to providing reports.
Personnel
Any gas station must have a manager who controls the entire work process. In the first few days, it would be most logical for you to take on this responsibility.
Minimum staff:
- Cash register operators fluent in software
- Maintenance engineer responsible for the operation of station equipment
- Refueling operators (not necessary, self-service option is possible)
Documents and license
Be prepared for the fact that the approval of all necessary documentation will take about six months on average.
Start by registering a trademark to establish your status as a gas station owner. Individual Entrepreneurs in this business will face many problems and obstacles, so it is preferable to open a gas station as a Limited Liability Company. Fuel suppliers will primarily cooperate with LLCs, since such relationships guarantee a deeper level of responsibility.
As for taxation, gas station owners most often choose a system that involves paying VAT.
In total, you will need to prepare a package of documents for the registration of the land plot, the design and construction of the station, the structures and equipment of the gas station. You will also have to obtain permits to operate from the sanitary, hygienic and environmental authorities.
Marketing
How to attract clients?
It is important to constantly take care of your reputation. There are no small details in creating a positive image. Everything, from the politeness of the staff to the cleanliness of the bathroom, works for you.
At the point, you can organize the sale of essential goods that the driver may need on the road. First of all, these are drinks and food, as well as auto parts and tools.
Resume
When opening your own gas station, you need to have the courage and patience to invest a round sum of money in an enterprise that will become self-sustaining in 3-5 years. However, we can say with confidence that this market will be in demand until the fuel resources of our planet are depleted. Let's hope that there will be enough of them for our humble age.
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