The LBD's who own most of the convenience store/gas stations around here have the low rent help situation covered- - - - -everybody in the family including middle school age kids man the cash register- - - - -mostly for little or no pay!
My dad owned one and fed us and paid the bills for 24 years. As has been stated, basically 0 income from fuel sales. This week you get a load of fuel for $3 a gallon and the next day the guy down the street gets a load for $2.89 you’re going to have to match his price and take it in the shorts for a bit to keep the store traffic flowing. Maybe next time around the roles are reversed.
Fountain drinks used to be a major money maker. For 12-15 years dad sold 20 and 32 ounce fountain pops for 50 cents. Cups were 8 cents, lids a nickel, straws a penny, water, syrup and CO2 about a nickel. Then all of the sudden everything went up by about 2-300 percent, and not during the FJB days. Fountain pops in town now are 1.75-2.25 at any of the C stores or drive through.
Tobacco and beer were always good profit items. As were sandwiches and stuff oilfield and farm hands could grab for lunch. All the candy and stuff was usually keyhole priced, IE buy for a quarter and sell for half a dollar.
Another big draw that will get people in and therefore spending money is to have a clean store with nice bathrooms. People will remember and be back.
He did well enough and ended up selling to a guy who had a couple dozen stores scattered around nearby. I don’t know what he got for his store but I know he sold out and retired well before SS age.
Just my opinion, but you will never make a living selling gas alone. And there are so many of the so-called convenience stores around that the bigger chains are buying up all the smaller chains. Better to own a garage that sells gas and has a couple good mechanics that everyone trusts. But anyway, here's a story on who owns the gas stations.
I will say, the rural ones, that have maybe 3-4 gas pumps, but when you drive by, there are people parked in the parking lot (i.e. not getting gas), those places usually have pretty good food.
My bride was astonished when I suggested we stop at one in tiny town SC for a breakfast sandwich. Grandma took our orders and we watched her cook them right there on the griddle while we chatted with her. Great b-fast sandwich.
Have found such places in Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, South Dakota, North Dakota, Kansas. Haven't had much luck in western states.
My dad owned one and fed us and paid the bills for 24 years. As has been stated, basically 0 income from fuel sales. This week you get a load of fuel for $3 a gallon and the next day the guy down the street gets a load for $2.89 you’re going to have to match his price and take it in the shorts for a bit to keep the store traffic flowing. Maybe next time around the roles are reversed.
Fountain drinks used to be a major money maker. For 12-15 years dad sold 20 and 32 ounce fountain pops for 50 cents. Cups were 8 cents, lids a nickel, straws a penny, water, syrup and CO2 about a nickel. Then all of the sudden everything went up by about 2-300 percent, and not during the FJB days. Fountain pops in town now are 1.75-2.25 at any of the C stores or drive through.
Tobacco and beer were always good profit items. As were sandwiches and stuff oilfield and farm hands could grab for lunch. All the candy and stuff was usually keyhole priced, IE buy for a quarter and sell for half a dollar.
Another big draw that will get people in and therefore spending money is to have a clean store with nice bathrooms. People will remember and be back.
He did well enough and ended up selling to a guy who had a couple dozen stores scattered around nearby. I don’t know what he got for his store but I know he sold out and retired well before SS age.
Good info. Thank you. I didn't think much about the cost of the cups until a few years ago when local guy started giving $0.50 off for bringing in your own coffee cup.
