Is independent gas stations in US profitable ...

Hi,

Independent gas stations can be profitable.  Same with franchises.

The main difference you will find is that franchise gas (branded) will definitely have their gas prices set by the distributor, and the franchise (gas station) owner will make more money off concession/convenience store sales while independent gas stations will try to offset the competition of branded gas stations by offering car repairs.

Location of your shop will prevail over any option you choose.

Best of luck 

Hi ,Please stay away from gas staion business.I have owned & oprated sevral gas staions since 1986.In april 2007 I sold my last property & I am glad I did so. Neather branded or independent you will ever make any money. only two people make money in this business your Oil company & your credirt card proceser.This business has changed lot in last few years.when gas was $1.25 a gallon credit card companies charged 2% to 4% (visa,master 2%) (Discover,Wright Express 3.5%) (amx 4%) you was being charged Apx 5 cents a gallon. Now gas prices has touched $3 a gallon so now you pay over 10 cents a gallon . your credit card business will be over 75% of over all sale. You will sell all those soda cany ciggtret loto to pay your rent or mortgage. These day Gas station owner feel happy twice. Once the day he buys it Second the day he closes it .In future it will be hard to sell it.Scondly envirenmental laws will take you so badely .you will loose your sleep.I left this carnivel when it was full swing by seeing dark clouds are coming.It is not a time now to join carnivel.  

Yeah, i know from experience that lots of gas stations don't make much money (on the gasoline anyways...)

I work for a company that sells HHO and gas saving devices.  We actually have had gas station owners offer to give out flyers for us (and SAVE their customers from buying so much gas) 

...Blew me away when I first heard a gas station owner say, "yeah, I'll keep those brochures on the counter, I don't make enough off the gas"

I believe most of the profits are from selling the food items, etc, car washes.  That's my educated guess from the things I've seen and folks I'm associated with anyways, for what it's worth to you.

Drew

andy@rainingfuel.com

Well I don’t know. But do your research right and in-depth. Branded and independents may profit differently based on their location, which plays a very big part in business results. There are also cases where at places convenience store along with a gas station is a HIT and at places its a complete loss!