How to Start a Convenience Store

Convenience stores are often characterized by their late hours, which is convenient for customers who may be passing through the area as they travel. The stores vary in size, ranging from small kiosks to deluxe convenience stores. Regardless of the size and what is sold on the inside of the store, many convenience stores rely heavily on selling gasoline as a source of revenue.

Learn how to start your own Convenience Store and whether it is the right fit for you.

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Start a convenience store by following these 10 steps:

  1. Plan your Convenience Store
  2. Form your Convenience Store into a Legal Entity
  3. Register your Convenience Store for Taxes
  4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  5. Set up Accounting for your Convenience Store
  6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Convenience Store
  7. Get Convenience Store Insurance
  8. Define your Convenience Store Brand
  9. Create your Convenience Store Website
  10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your convenience store. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Convenience Store Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

  • Your state's business records
  • Federal and state trademark records
  • Social media platforms
  • Web domain availability.

It's very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

Want some help naming your convenience store?

Business Name Generator

What are the costs involved in opening a convenience store?

It can cost up to $50,000 to open your convenience store. Such an amount represents the cost of leasing an appropriate space, decorating the interior, and installing the point-of-sale system and any other technology you may require. You may need to purchase additional equipment based on any additional conveniences you wish to offer customers, from pay phones to fax machines and photocopiers. Depending on your state, lottery tickets often sell well, but carry an additional equipment cost. Finally, you will need to stock the store itself with the wide variety of goods that you intend to sell, which often comprises the majority of what you spend money on.

Read our convenience store purchasing guide to learn about the materials and equipment you'll need to start a convenience store, how much to budget, and where to make purchases.

What are the ongoing expenses for a convenience store?

Some of the primary ongoing expenses for a convenience store include your monthly lease and the cost of utilities. Beyond that, the biggest chunk of your expenses comes from inventory (which some research estimates may be up to 70 percent of your monthly spending) and labor. The exact costs of all of these expenses vary due to location, store size, exact inventory, and how much you choose to pay your employees. Note that paying them more than your local minimum wage will likely result in better loyalty and performance, which translates to greater profit for you.

Who is the target market?

The stereotype of convenience store customers is that many of them only pop into the store when they need a specific item, such as when a significant other requests certain food or drink and the customer doesn't want to deal with the hassle of a full-size grocery store. While these customers are good, they are more sporadic. As such, the preferred convenience store customer is the neighborhood regular who comes in every day or two and sees himself as supporting the neighborhood. As such, he will be both a regular and a friendly customer, which is a great combination.

How does a convenience store make money?

Convenience stores make money by buying goods and selling those goods to customers. Typically, convenience stores sell things such as snacks, soft drinks, car accessories, lottery tickets, tobacco, sometimes alcohol. Your profit represents the amount of money you have taken in after you have subtracted how much you paid for these goods as well as any operational expenses accrued throughout the month.

 

How much can you charge customers?

The somewhat open secret of a convenience store is that you are able to successfully mark many items up by a higher percentage than your local grocery stores or supercenters do. Customers are effectively paying for the convenience of not having to spend the extra time and effort to visit the larger store. Effectively, you can charge customers about eleven percent more than an independent grocery store does and about 20 percent more than a mass store like Wal-Mart does. Overall, this is very helpful for your monthly profit margin.

How much profit can a convenience store make?

Generally, convenience stores are profitable propositions, with average gross profit margins upwards of $450,000. Profitable ventures may result in an opportunity to open other locations within a city or area, increasing your potential profits that much more.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Ultimately, some of the best ways to make your convenience store more profitable are to find ways to reduce costs. This includes reducing the amount of staff necessary to prepare and sell any food that you sell on site and trimming your hours down to what is reasonable for your town (for instance, you should avoid being open 24 hours in most cases). Offering some kind of drive-through to sell food and coffee will give you an edge over the competition. Finally, always consider things that will save your customer time, such as providing an ATM in the store for their convenience.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC's free Small Business Startup Guide - a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

The most common business structure types are the sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), and corporation.

Establishing a legal business entity such as an LLC or corporation protects you from being held personally liable if your convenience store is sued.

Form Your LLC

Read our Guide to Form Your Own LLC

Have a Professional Service Form your LLC for You

Two such reliable services:

You can form an LLC yourself and pay only the minimal state LLC costs or hire one of the Best LLC Services for a small, additional fee.

Recommended: You will need to elect a registered agent for your LLC. LLC formation packages usually include a free year of registered agent services. You can choose to hire a registered agent or act as your own.

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It's really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

  • Separates your personal assets from your company's assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
  • Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

  • Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business' expenses all in one place.
  • Build your company's credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

In most states, it is necessary to obtain the following licenses:

  • Tobacco vendors license: Must be renewed annually (Tobacco Products tax license)
  • A liquor license: Businesses involved in the sale of alcoholic beverages are required to obtain a liquor license from the appropriate state or local agency.
  • A lottery retailer’s license: If a convenience store intends to sell lottery tickets (as many do) it will be essential to get a lottery retailer’s license. These licenses are given out by state lottery agencies.

More information regarding these licenses and how to obtain them can be found on your state’s local website.

Certain other state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a convenience store. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

Most states require retail businesses to obtain a seller’s permit. A seller’s permit enables states to record and collect taxes from goods (and sometimes service) sales.

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.

Music Licensing

In order to play music in a business setting, permission must be acquired from the composer or license holder. Typically, it is possible to obtain a “blanket” license allowing a businesses to play music owned by a large catalog of artists and recording studios. Such licenses can be obtained from Performance Rights Organizations, such as ASCAP or BMI.

Certificate of Occupancy

A convenience store is generally run out of a storefront. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO). A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.

  • If you plan to lease a location:
    • It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
    • Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a convenience store.
    • After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.
  • If you plan to purchase or build a location:
    • You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
    • Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your convenience store will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers' Compensation Coverage.

FInd out what types of insurance your Convenience Store needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Convenience Store.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you aren't feeling confident about designing your small business logo, then check out our Design Guides for Beginners, we'll give you helpful tips and advice for creating the best unique logo for your business.

Recommended: Get a logo using Truic's free logo Generator no email or sign up required, or use a Premium Logo Maker.

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a convenience store

Relative to other businesses, a convenience store doesn't need as much direct marketing because much of your traffic will be people who drive up as the need arises. Still, putting up billboards in the city or using bright and visible signage around your own store can help to get their attention. Similarly, you should embrace social media as a cheap way to engage customers and establish yourself within the community while also letting followers feel like insiders when they hear about deals. Speaking of that, many convenience stores use some form of loyalty programs. These may offer them all-purpose coupons or conveniences such as free coffee or food. This encourages regular visitations and may make customers likelier to come to your store than the competition.

How to keep customers coming back

Consider offering more "above and beyond" services at your convenience store. This may include a car wash, employees pumping gas and wiping windshields, and even employees greeting the door. This helps your customers feel pampered and makes them likelier to return. Consider some "outside the box" conveniences like having a Redbox rental station where customers can rent movies and video games. Embrace the kinds of loyalty programs mentioned above and don't forget that the best way to get a customer's attention is with attractive and organized displays within your store.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

  • All legitimate businesses have websites - full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
  • Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
  • Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.

Other popular website builders are: WordPress, WIX, Weebly, Squarespace, and Shopify.

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2023 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it's fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

This business is for someone who doesn't mind working different schedules as needed. This is because convenience stores typically open early and stay open late, so if anything happens with your employees, you may need to cover an unexpected shift. The job involves a lot of interaction with strangers, so being a "people person" can be a useful quality. The job is also good for creative people who are able to successfully manage an inventory with a large variety while also showcasing the different products sold in creative displays.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

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What happens during a typical day at a convenience store?

Some of the daily activities of running a convenience store include managing the schedules of employees and scheduling, receiving, and unpacking shipments of inventory. You must be vigilant about the health and safety regulations regarding your store, particularly if you choose to sell food that you prepare yourself. You will be overseeing the payroll of your employees, and must monitor that there are no errors. A large part of any given day is spent setting up displays and straightening up shelves so that the store looks clean and organized for customers. And, of course, checking out customers throughout the day will consume much of your time.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful convenience store?

Experience in working or especially managing a convenience store can be invaluable in helping you to run a store. Similarly, a formal education in something like business can help you with some of the aspects of the job, ranging from managing to accounting. Having a solid relationship with the community you set the shop up in can also help you become a solid fixture of the neighborhood more quickly.

What is the growth potential for a convenience store?

The growth potential of a convenience store is relatively steady. In the last three decades, the industry has doubled in size, so these stores now represent about a third of America's retail outlets. Recent research shows that it continues to grow as an industry, growing by one percent in 2015. And a successful convenience store owner may eventually branch out into owning multiple locations.

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Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

  • Funding
  • Events
  • Guides
  • Support

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a convenience store?

One important tip is to make sure your store caters to women as well as men. Many convenience stores unintentionally cater primarily to men, which means they are losing a lot of potential business. Another tip is to research the competition, both within the city and throughout the state. Understanding what helps other convenience stores find success can help your own business be competitive.

How and when to build a team

As businesses go, a convenience store is pretty straightforward. Employees are necessary to ensure the store is properly staffed and able to cater to customers during all hours of operation. Your exact coverage will be determined by the size of your store and the hours that you keep. Beyond that, you shouldn't need to expand the team unless you are expanding said hours or potentially opening another convenience store.

Read our convenience store hiring guide to learn about the different roles a convenience store typically fills, how much to budget for employee salaries, and how to build your team exactly how you want it.

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