fuel business plan

Gas Station Business Plan Template

If you want to start a new gas station business or expand your current one, you need a business plan.

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 5,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their gas stations.

Below are links to each section of a successful gas station business plan template:

Next Section: Executive Summary >

Gas Station Business Plan FAQs

What is the easiest way to complete my gas station business plan.

Growthink's Ultimate Business Plan Template  allows you to quickly and easily complete your Gas Station Business Plan.

What Is a Gas Station Business Plan?

A gas station business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your gas station business. A filling station business plan provides details about your business concept, competition, target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

This is true for a full service gas station, filling station, convenience store gas station or a small gas station.

Why Do You Need a Business Plan for a Gas Station?

If you’re looking to start a gas station business, or grow your existing gas station business, you need a business plan. A business plan will illustrate your business goals and your strategy for reaching them. Your fuel station business plan should be updated as your company grows and changes.

What Are the Sources of Funding for Gas Station Businesses?

Gas Station businesses are usually funded through bank loans, personal savings and/or angel investors. To secure a bank loan, they will need to review your business plan and show them reasonable financials.

Angel investors are also common sources of funding.  These are wealthy individuals who will write you a check. They will either take equity in return for their funding, or, like a bank, they will give you a loan.

GAS STATION BUSINESS PLAN OUTLINE

• Gas Station Business Plan Home
• 1. Executive Summary
• 2. Company Overview
• 3. Industry Analysis
• 4. Customer Analysis
• 5. Competitive Analysis
• 6. Marketing Plan
• 7. Operations Plan
• 8. Management Team
• 9. Financial Plan
• 10. Appendix
• Gas Station Business Plan Summary

Start Your Gas Station Plan Here

Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

Gas Station Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Gas Station Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your Gas Station business plan.

We have helped over 10,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their gas stations.

Below is a sample business plan for a gas station to help you create each section of your gas station business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

Accelerate Station is a startup gas station located in Dallas, Texas. The company was founded by Bill Johnson, an experienced gas station manager who has gained valuable knowledge on how to run a gas station during the past ten years while working at GAS&GO MART. Now that Bill has experienced managing a gas station, he is ready to start his own company, Accelerate Station. Bill is confident that his business management skills, combined with his understanding of the gas station industry, will enable him to run a profitable gas station of his own. Bill is recruiting a team of gas station personnel to help manage the day-to-day complexities of running a gas station business – sales and marketing, supplier relations, financial management, and customer support.

Accelerate Station will provide gasoline, diesel, electric vehicle charging, automotive parts and accessories, and a small snack assortment. Accelerate Station will be the go-to gas station in a busy intersection located in the heart of the Dallas metropolitan area. The company will be the ultimate choice for convenience and customer service while offering the lowest prices in the area.

Product Offering

The following are the products and services that Accelerate Station will offer:

• Electric Vehicle Charging
• Air (for tires)
• Automotive Parts Assortment (lights, batteries, etc.)
• Automotive Accessories (license plate holders, air fresheners, etc.)
• Snacks & Beverages (vending machine access)

Customer Focus

Accelerate Station will target private and commercial vehicle drivers in Dallas. The company will target individuals that need to refuel as part of their commute to work and commercial drivers fueling up for a long trip. No matter the customer, Accelerate Station will deliver fast and courteous service and the lowest prices in the area.

Management Team

Accelerate Station will be owned and operated by Bill Johnson. Bill is a recent graduate of Texas University with a degree in business administration. He also has over ten years of experience working as a gas station manager for another local company. Bill will be the chief executive officer for the gas station. He will oversee the staff’s activities and day-to-day operations.

Bill has recruited a fellow business school graduate, Stephen Smith, to be the company’s chief operating officer and help oversee the gas station’s business operations. Stephen will handle supplier relationships, logistics, and budgeting for the business.

Bill and Stephen have hired a marketing professional, Mary Miller, to become a member of the Accelerate Station management team. Mary is a graduate of the University of Maine with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. Bill and Stephen rely on Mary’s expertise to execute the company’s marketing plan and advertising strategies.

Success Factors

Accelerate Station will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

• High-traffic location that is visible and accessible to passersby from multiple major streets and highways.
• Accelerate Station uses the latest technology to make it easy and convenient for customers to gas up quickly. Customers can pre-pay using the company’s app, at the pump, or in person at the central kiosk. Providing multiple payment options gives more customers an opportunity to use their preferred method of payment easily.
• The company’s leadership team has built a network of supplier relationships that will allow Accelerate Station to purchase gasoline for lower prices than their competitors. Accelerate will then be able to pass this cost-savings on to customers.

Financial Highlights

Accelerate Station is seeking $880,000 in debt financing to launch its gas station business. The funding will be dedicated towards securing the location and purchasing gas station equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated towards three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff and marketing expenses. The breakout of the funding is below:

• Gas station build-out: $480,000
• Gas station equipment, supplies, and materials: $220,000
• Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, utilities): $160,000
• Marketing costs: $10,000
• Working capital: $10,000

The following graph below outlines the pro forma financial projections for Accelerate Station.

Company Overview

Who is accelerate station.

Accelerate Station is a newly established gas station company in Dallas, Texas. Accelerate will be the first choice for drivers in Dallas for its convenient location, top-notch customer service, and low prices on gasoline, diesel, and electric vehicle charging. The company will serve drivers of private and commercial vehicles of all types and sizes.

Accelerate Station will be able to guarantee the lowest prices in the area thanks to its leadership team members’ existing supplier network connections. The company offers customers the option to pay using a convenient app, at the pump, or through the central kiosk. Customers can also purchase automotive parts and accessories, and grab a quick snack for the road at the station’s convenient vending machines.

Accelerate Station History

Accelerate Station is owned and operated by Bill Johnson, an experienced gas station manager who has gained valuable knowledge during his ten year tenure working at another local gas station. In addition to his hands-on experience, Bill has recently graduated from Texas University with a degree in business administration. Now that Bill has gained the experience and know-how he needs to manage a gas station, he is ready to start one of his own. Bill has begun recruiting a team of gas station personnel to help manage the day-to-day complexities of running a gas station business – sales and marketing, supplier relations, financial management,  and customer support.

Since incorporation, Accelerate Station has achieved the following milestones:

• Registered Accelerate Station, LLC to transact business in the state of Texas
• Has begun negotiations to purchase the property and reached out to potential builders to construct the station
• Reached out to numerous contacts to include gasoline and diesel suppliers and electric vehicle charging station providers to begin obtaining supplier contracts
• Began recruiting a staff of gas station attendants to work at Accelerate Station

Accelerate Station Services

• Automotive Accessories (license plate holders, air freshener, etc.)

Industry Analysis

The gas station industry in the United States is valued at an estimated $138B with over 13,800 businesses in operation and more than 162,000 employees nationwide. Included in the gas station industry are businesses that sell automotive fuels such as gas and diesel, automotive parts and services (such as car washes), and other non-automotive goods and services. Many gas stations also co-locate with a convenience store to drive more traffic to their business. These gas stations are part of the larger industry of “gas stations with convenience stores”, which is valued at $649B in the U.S. with over 122,000 operating businesses and 1.0M employees across the country. In addition to gasoline and automotive services, these businesses also sell groceries and other convenience goods.

Gas station market demand is dependent on the volume of drivers on the road (both personal and commercial). Profitability typically depends on industry operators’ ability to secure high traffic locations and purchase their gas for the lowest prices possible.

A growing challenge for gas station industry operators is the rise in electric vehicles. To remain competitive, many industry operators have begun offering electric vehicle charging options in addition to traditional gasoline.

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

Accelerate Station will target private and commercial vehicle drivers in Dallas. The company will target individuals that need to refuel as part of their commute to work and commercial drivers fueling up for a long trip. Accelerate will be able to accommodate vehicles of all types and sizes including diesel, hybrid, and electric vehicles. No matter the customer, Accelerate Station will deliver fast and courteous service and the lowest prices in the area.

The precise demographics for Dallas, Texas are:

Customer Segmentation

Accelerate will primarily target the following customer profiles:

• Drivers of private vehicles
• Drivers of commercial vehicles
• Drivers of gasoline vehicles
• Drivers of diesel vehicles
• Drivers of electric vehicles

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Accelerate Station will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.

GAS&GO MART

GAS&GO MART is one of the largest and oldest commercial gas stations based in Dallas, Texas. Established in 1955, the company currently operates twenty stations throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. GAS&GO MART sells gasoline and diesel, automotive parts, and snacks. GAS&GO MART aims to deliver quick service for customers on the go. The company uses a stringent inspection process to ensure all of its products are the best quality. GAS&GO MART’s team of experienced gas station attendants are available to assist customers as needed.

Speedy Gas Station

Speedy Gas Station is a small gas station catering to local drivers in Dallas, Texas. Speedy Gas Station operates one location in a busy retail district. The company provides gasoline, diesel, and a self-service car wash. Speedy Gas Station is family owned and operated by former race car drivers who know the importance of fast service. The gas station attendants are able to help customers check their oil, tires, and other small automotive issues. The company prides itself on providing the fastest service and quality products.

Express Gas Station

Express Gas Station is a trusted Dallas, Texas-based gas station that provides superior gasoline to drivers in Dallas. The company offers a spacious layout that can accommodate the largest of commercial vehicles and is equipped with an electric vehicle charging station. Express Gas Station operates a single location near the outskirts of Dallas and is in the process of opening two additional locations within the city.

Competitive Advantage

Accelerate Station will be able to offer the following advantages over their competition:

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

Accelerate Station will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:

• Customers can pre-pay using the company’s app, at the pump, or in person at the central kiosk. Providing multiple payment options gives more customers an opportunity to use their preferred method of payment easily.

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Accelerate Station is as follows:

Social Media Marketing

The company’s marketing director will create accounts on social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. She will ensure Accelerate maintains an active social media presence with regular updates and promotional content to incentivize customers to use the company’s services.

Professional Associations and Networking

Accelerate Station will become a member of professional associations such as the American Gas Station Association, Dallas Gas Station Managers Society, and the Texas Diesel Association. The leadership team will focus their networking efforts on expanding the company’s supplier network.

Print Advertising

Accelerate Station will invest in professionally designed print ads to display in programs or flyers at industry networking events. The company will also send direct mailers to local residents and businesses that are likely to frequent the gas station.

Website/SEO Marketing

Accelerate Station will utilize the in-house marketing director that designed the print ads to also design the company website. The website will be well organized, informative, and list the products and services Accelerate is able to provide. The website will also list information on discounts and promotional giveaways.

The marketing director will also manage the company’s website presence with SEO marketing tactics so that when someone types in a search engine “Dallas gas station ” or “gas station near me”, Accelerate Station will be listed at the top of the search results.

The pricing of Accelerate Station will be moderate and lower than its competitors so customers feel they receive value when purchasing the company’s products and services. Accelerate will also offer discounts to regular customers.

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for Accelerate Station.

Operation Functions:

• Bill Johnson will be the CEO of the company. He will oversee the gas station staff and day-to-day operations. Bill has spent the past year recruiting the following staff:
• Stephen Smith – Chief Operating Officer who will manage the budgeting, supplier relationships, and logistics.
• Jennifer Willams – Bookkeeper who will provide all accounting, tax payments, and monthly financial reporting.
• Mary Miller – Marketing Director who will oversee all marketing strategies for the company and manage the website, social media, and print advertising campaigns.
• Micheal Jones – Quality Control Manager who will oversee all inspections of products, equipment, and processes.

Milestones:

Accelerate Station will have the following milestones complete in the next six months.

12/1/2022 – Finalize contract to purchase property

12/15/2022 – Finalize employment contracts for the Accelerate Station management team

1/1/2023 – Begin build-out of the gas station and purchase equipment, materials, and supplies

1/15/2023 – Begin networking at industry events and implement the marketing plan

2/15/2023 – Finalize contracts with suppliers

3/15/2023 – Accelerate Station officially opens for business

Bill has recruited a fellow business school graduate, Stephen Smith, to be the company’s chief operating officer and help oversee gas station’s business operations. Stephen will handle supplier relationships, logistics, and budgeting for the business.

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

The revenue drivers for Accelerate Station are the fees charged to customers in exchange for the company’s products and services. When it comes to pricing, the station will monitor supply costs, average prices charged by competitors, and product availability in the market to ensure its prices will generate a healthy profit margin.

The cost drivers will be the overhead costs required in order to staff a gas station. The expenses will be the product itself, payroll cost, utilities, equipment and supplies, and marketing materials.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Key assumptions.

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and in order to pay off the startup business loan.

• Average sales per month: 2,000
• Average fees per month: $15,000
• Overhead costs per year: $640,000

Financial Projections

Income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, gas station business plan faqs, what is a gas station business plan.

A gas station business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your gas station business. Among other things, a fuel station business plan outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections. You can easily complete your Gas Station business plan using our Gas Station Business Plan Template here .

What are the Main Types of Gas Stations?

There are a number of different kinds of gas stations, some examples include: Franchise Gas Station, Full Service Gas Station, or Quick Service Gas Station.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Gas Station?

After you complete your filling station business plan, you can start to seek financing.

Gas Stations are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding.

What are the Steps To Start a Gas Station Business?

Starting a Gas Station business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A Gas Station Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed fuel station business plan pdf or doc that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your Gas Station business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your Gas Station business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Gas Station Business -Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your Gas Station business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws.

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your Gas Station business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms.

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations.

6. Hire Employees -There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events.

7. Acquire Necessary Gas Station Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your Gas Station business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation.

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your Gas Station business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising.

Learn more about how to start a successful Gas Station business: How to Start a Gas Station

How to write a business plan for a gas station?

Putting together a business plan for a gas station can be daunting - especially if you're creating a business for the first time - but with this comprehensive guide, you'll have the necessary tools to do it confidently.

We will explore why writing one is so important in both starting up and growing an existing gas station, as well as what should go into making an effective plan - from its structure to content - and what tools can be used to streamline the process and avoid errors.

Without further ado, let us begin!

In this guide:

Why write a business plan for a gas station?

What information is needed to create a business plan for a gas station.

• How do I build a financial forecast for a gas station?

The written part of a gas station business plan

• What tool should I use to write my gas station business plan?

Having a clear understanding of why you want to write a business plan for your gas station will make it simpler for you to grasp the rationale behind its structure and content. So before delving into the plan's actual details, let's take a moment to remind ourselves of the primary reasons why you'd want to create a gas station business plan.

To have a clear roadmap to grow the business

Running a small business is tough! Economic cycles bring growth and recessions, while the business landscape is ever-changing with new technologies, regulations, competitors, and consumer behaviours emerging constantly.

In such a dynamic context, operating a business without a clear roadmap is akin to driving blindfolded: it's risky, to say the least. That's why crafting a business plan for your gas station is vital to establish a successful and sustainable venture.

To create an effective business plan, you'll need to assess your current position (if you're already in business) and define where you want the business to be in the next three to five years.

Once you have a clear destination for your gas station, you'll have to:

• Identify the necessary resources (human, equipment, and capital) needed to reach your goals,
• Determine the pace at which the business needs to progress to meet its objectives as scheduled,
• Recognize and address the potential risks you may encounter along the way.

Engaging in this process regularly proves advantageous for both startups and established companies. It empowers you to make informed decisions about resource allocation, ensuring the long-term success of your business.

To get visibility on future cash flows

If your small gas station runs out of cash: it's game over. That's why we often say "cash is king", and it's crucial to have a clear view of your gas station's future cash flows.

So, how can you achieve this? It's simple - you need to have an up-to-date financial forecast.

The good news is that your gas station business plan already includes a financial forecast (which we'll discuss further in this guide). Your task is to ensure it stays current.

To accomplish this, it's essential to regularly compare your actual financial performance with what was planned in your financial forecast. Based on your business's current trajectory, you can make adjustments to the forecast.

By diligently monitoring your gas station's financial health, you'll be able to spot potential financial issues, like unexpected cash shortfalls, early on and take corrective actions. Moreover, this practice will enable you to recognize and capitalize on growth opportunities, such as excess cash flow enabling you to expand to new locations.

To secure financing

Whether you are a startup or an existing business, writing a detailed gas station business plan is essential when seeking financing from banks or investors.

This makes sense given what we've just seen: financiers want to ensure you have a clear roadmap and visibility on your future cash flows.

Banks will use the information included in the plan to assess your borrowing capacity (how much debt your business can support) and your ability to repay the loan before deciding whether they will extend credit to your business and on what terms.

Similarly, investors will review your plan carefully to assess if their investment can generate an attractive return on investment.

To do so, they will be looking for evidence that your gas station has the potential for healthy growth, profitability, and cash flow generation over time.

Now that you understand why it is important to create a business plan for a gas station, let's take a look at what information is needed to create one.

Need a convincing business plan?

The Business Plan Shop makes it easy to create a financial forecast to assess the potential profitability of your projects, and write a business plan that’ll wow investors.

Writing a gas station business plan requires research so that you can project sales, investments and cost accurately in your financial forecast.

In this section, we cover three key pieces of information you should gather before drafting your business plan!

Carrying out market research for a gas station

Carrying out market research before writing a business plan for a gas station is essential to ensure that the financial projections are accurate and realistic.

Market research helps you gain insight into your target customer base, competitors, pricing strategies and other key factors which can have an impact on the commercial success of your business.

In particular, it is useful in forecasting revenue as it provides valuable data regarding potential customers’ spending habits and preferences.

You may find that customers prefer to pay for gas with credit cards rather than cash, and that they could be interested in buying convenience store items when they fill up their tank.

This information can then be used to create more accurate financial projections which will help investors make informed decisions about investing in your gas station.

Developing the marketing plan for a gas station

Before delving into your gas station business plan, it's imperative to budget for sales and marketing expenses.

To achieve this, a comprehensive sales and marketing plan is essential. This plan should provide an accurate projection of the necessary actions to acquire and retain customers.

Additionally, it will outline the required workforce to carry out these initiatives and the corresponding budget for promotions, advertising, and other marketing endeavours.

By budgeting accordingly, you can ensure that the right resources are allocated to these vital activities, aligning them with the sales and growth objectives outlined in your business plan.

The staffing and equipment needs of a gas station

As you embark on starting or expanding your gas station, having a clear plan for recruitment and capital expenditures (investment in equipment and real estate) is essential for ensuring your business's success.

Both the recruitment and investment plans must align with the timing and level of growth projected in your forecast, and they require appropriate funding.

A gas station might incur staffing costs such as salaries for attendants, cashiers, and managers. Additionally, the gas station might incur costs for equipment such as pumps, tanks, hoses, and other necessary equipment.

To create a realistic financial forecast, you also need to consider other operating expenses associated with the day-to-day running of your business, such as insurance and bookkeeping.

With all the necessary information at hand, you are ready to begin crafting your business plan and developing your financial forecast.

What goes into your gas station's financial forecast?

The objective of the financial forecast of your gas station's business plan is to show the growth, profitability, funding requirements, and cash generation potential of your business over the next 3 to 5 years.

The four key outputs of a financial forecast for a gas station are:

• The profit and loss (P&L) statement ,
• The projected balance sheet ,
• The cash flow forecast ,
• And the sources and uses table .

Let's look at each of these in a bit more detail.

The projected P&L statement

The projected P&L statement for a gas station shows how much revenue and profits your business is expected to generate in the future.

Ideally, your gas station's P&L statement should show:

• Healthy growth - above inflation level
• Improving or stable profit margins
• Positive net profit

Expectations will vary based on the stage of your business. A startup will be expected to grow faster than an established gas station. And similarly, an established company should showcase a higher level of profitability than a new venture.

The projected balance sheet of your gas station

Your gas station's forecasted balance sheet enables the reader of your plan to assess your financial structure, working capital, and investment policy.

It is composed of three types of elements: assets, liabilities and equity:

• Assets: represent what the business owns and uses to produce cash flows. It includes resources such as cash, equipment, and accounts receivable (money owed by clients).
• Liabilities: represent funds advanced to the business by lenders and other creditors. It includes items such as accounts payable (money owed to suppliers), taxes due and loans.
• Equity: is the combination of what has been invested by the business owners and the cumulative profits and losses generated by the business to date (which are called retained earnings). Equity is a proxy for the value of the owner's stake in the business.

Your gas station's balance sheet will usually be analyzed in conjunction with the other financial statements included in your forecast.

Two key points of focus will be:

• Your gas station's liquidity: does your business have sufficient cash and short-term assets to pay what it owes over the next 12 months?
• And its solvency: does your business have the capacity to repay its debt over the medium-term?

The cash flow forecast

A projected cash flow statement for a gas station is used to show how much cash the business is generating or consuming.

The cash flow forecast is usually organized by nature to show three key metrics:

• The operating cash flow: do the core business activities generate or consume cash?
• The investing cash flow: how much is the business investing in long-term assets (this is usually compared to the level of fixed assets on the balance sheet to assess whether the business is regularly maintaining and renewing its equipment)?
• The financing cash flow: is the business raising new financing or repaying financiers (debt repayment, dividends)?

As we discussed earlier, cash is king and keeping an eye on future cash flows an imperative for running a successful business. Therefore, you can expect the reader of your gas station business plan to pay close attention to your cash flow forecast.

Also, note that it is customary to provide both yearly and monthly cash flow forecasts in a business plan - so that the reader can analyze seasonal variation and ensure the gas station is appropriately funded.

The initial financing plan

The initial financing plan, also known as a sources and uses table, is a valuable resource to have in your business plan when starting your gas station as it reveals the origins of the money needed to establish the business (sources) and how it will be allocated (uses).

Having this table helps show what costs are involved in setting up your gas station, how risks are shared between founders, investors and lenders, and what the starting cash position will be. This cash position needs to be sufficient to sustain operations until the business reaches a break-even point.

Now that you have a clear understanding of what goes into the financial forecast of your gas station business plan, let's shift our focus to the written part of the plan.

Need inspiration for your business plan?

The Business Plan Shop has dozens of business plan templates that you can use to get a clear idea of what a complete business plan looks like.

The written part of a gas station business plan plays a key role: it lays out the plan of action you intend to execute to seize the commercial opportunity you've identified on the market and provides the context needed for the reader to decide if they believe your plan to be achievable and your financial forecast to be realistic.

The written part of a gas station business plan is composed of 7 main sections:

• The executive summary
• The presentation of the company
• The products and services
• The market analysis
• The strategy
• The operations
• The financial plan

Let's go through the content of each section in more detail!

1. The executive summary

The executive summary, the first section of your gas station's business plan, serves as an inviting snapshot of your entire plan, leaving readers eager to know more about your business.

To compose an effective executive summary, start with a concise introduction of your business, covering its name, concept, location, history, and unique aspects. Share insights about the services or products you intend to offer and your target customer base.

Subsequently, provide an overview of your gas station's addressable market, highlighting current trends and potential growth opportunities.

Then, present a summary of critical financial figures, such as projected revenues, profits, and cash flows.

You should then include a summary of your key financial figures such as projected revenues, profits, and cash flows.

Lastly, address any funding needs in the "ask" section of your executive summary.

2. The presentation of the company

As you build your gas station business plan, the second section deserves attention as it delves into the structure and ownership, location, and management team of your company.

In the structure and ownership part, you'll provide valuable insights into the legal structure of the business, the identities of the owners, and their respective investments and ownership stakes. This level of transparency is vital, particularly if you're seeking financing, as it clarifies which legal entity will receive the funds and who holds the reins of the business.

Moving to the location part, you'll offer a comprehensive view of the company's premises and articulate why this specific location is strategic for the business, emphasizing factors like catchment area, accessibility, and nearby amenities.

When describing the location of your gas station, you could emphasize the potential growth of the area, noting that it has a large population and many commuters who may be in need of a convenient gas station. You could also mention the potential to add amenities to the station, such as a convenience store, that could draw in more customers. Additionally, you might highlight the accessibility of the location by emphasizing its proximity to major roads and highways, as well as its visibility from the street.

Lastly, you should introduce your esteemed management team. Provide a thorough explanation of each member's role, background, and extensive experience.

It's equally important to highlight any past successes the management team has achieved and underscore the duration they've been working together. This information will instil trust in potential lenders or investors, showcasing the strength and expertise of your leadership team and their ability to deliver the business plan.

3. The products and services section

The products and services section of your gas station business plan should include a detailed description of what your company sells to its customers. 

For example, your gas station might offer customers a convenience store and car wash to make their visit more enjoyable. The convenience store could provide snacks, beverages, and other items like motor oil and car air fresheners. The car wash could give customers the opportunity to keep their vehicles clean and running efficiently. Additionally, your gas station could offer a mechanic to check and repair vehicles, providing a valuable service to motorists.

The reader will want to understand what makes your gas station unique from other businesses in this competitive market.

When drafting this section, you should be precise about the categories of products or services you sell, the clients you are targeting and the channels that you are targeting them through. 

4. The market analysis

When presenting your market analysis in your gas station business plan, you should detail the customers' demographics and segmentation, target market, competition, barriers to entry, and any regulations that may apply.

The goal of this section is to help the reader understand how big and attractive your market is, and demonstrate that you have a solid understanding of the industry.

You should start with the demographics and segmentation subsection, which gives an overview of the addressable market for your gas station, the main trends in the marketplace, and introduces the different customer segments and their preferences in terms of purchasing habits and budgets.

The target market section should follow and zoom on the customer segments your gas station is targeting, and explain how your products and services meet the specific needs of these customers.

For example, your target market might include young adults in their 20s and 30s who live in urban areas. This segment might appreciate the convenience of the gas station and its services, such as convenient snacks, drinks, and car care products. They might also appreciate the gas station's proximity to other stores and businesses, making it a convenient one-stop shop.

Then comes the competition subsection, where you should introduce your main competitors and explain what differentiates you from them.

Finally, you should finish your market analysis by giving an overview of the main regulations applicable to your gas station.

5. The strategy section

When writing the strategy section of a business plan for your gas station, it is essential to include information about your competitive edge, pricing strategy, sales & marketing plan, milestones, and risks and mitigants.

The competitive edge subsection should explain what sets your company apart from its competitors. This part is especially key if you are writing the business plan of a startup, as you have to make a name for yourself in the marketplace against established players.

The pricing strategy subsection should demonstrate how you intend to remain profitable while still offering competitive prices to your customers.

The sales & marketing plan should outline how you intend to reach out and acquire new customers, as well as retain existing ones with loyalty programs or special offers. 

The milestones subsection should outline what your company has achieved to date, and its main objectives for the years to come - along with dates so that everyone involved has clear expectations of when progress can be expected.

The risks and mitigants subsection should list the main risks that jeopardize the execution of your plan and explain what measures you have taken to minimize these. This is essential in order for investors or lenders to feel secure in investing in your venture.

One risk your gas station might face is theft of fuel or other goods. This could occur if individuals break into the station and take products without paying for them. Additionally, your gas station could face risks from environmental hazards. For example, there could be a spill from a fuel tank that affects the environment, or a hazardous material that needs to be cleaned up and disposed of properly.

6. The operations section

The operations of your gas station must be presented in detail in your business plan.

Begin by addressing your staff, specifying the main roles and your recruitment plan to support the anticipated growth. Outline the qualifications and experience needed for each role and discuss your recruitment strategies, which may involve using job boards, referrals, or headhunters.

Next, clearly state your gas station's operating hours, allowing the reader to gauge the adequacy of your staffing levels. Additionally, mention any considerations for varying opening times during peak seasons and your approach to handling customer queries outside regular operating hours.

The key assets and intellectual property (IP) required to run your business should also be highlighted. If you rely on licenses, trademarks, physical structures like equipment or property, or lease agreements, ensure they are well-documented in this section.

You could have key assets such as the gas station building and the equipment within it. This may include the pumps, the cash register, and other items necessary for the operation of the gas station. Additionally, the gas station could possess intellectual property such as a unique logo or slogan, or any copyrighted material used in advertisements or promotions.

Finally, provide a comprehensive list of suppliers you intend to collaborate with, along with a breakdown of their services and main commercial terms, such as price, payment terms, break clauses and contract duration. Investors often seek insight into the reasons behind your supplier choices, which may include a preference for higher-quality products or established relationships from past ventures.

7. The presentation of the financial plan

The financial plan section is where we will include the financial forecast we talked about earlier in this guide.

Now that you have a clear idea of the content of a gas station business plan, let's look at some of the tools you can use to create yours.

What tool should I use to write my gas station's business plan?

There are two main ways of creating your gas station business plan:

• Using specialized business planning software,
• Hiring a business plan writer.

Using an online business plan software for your gas station's business plan

Using online business planning software is the most efficient and modern way to create a gas station business plan.

There are several advantages to using specialized software:

• You can easily create your financial forecast by letting the software take care of the financial calculations for you without errors
• You are guided through the writing process by detailed instructions and examples for each part of the plan
• You can access a library of dozens of complete business plan samples and templates for inspiration
• You get a professional business plan, formatted and ready to be sent to your bank or investors
• You can easily track your actual financial performance against your financial forecast
• You can create scenarios to stress test your forecast's main assumptions
• You can easily update your forecast as time goes by to maintain visibility on future cash flows
• You have a friendly support team on standby to assist you when you are stuck

If you're interested in using this type of solution, you can try The Business Plan Shop for free by signing up here .

Need a solid financial forecast?

The Business Plan Shop does the maths for you. Simply enter your revenues, costs and investments. Click save and our online tool builds a three-way forecast for you instantly.

Hiring a business plan writer to write your gas station's business plan

Outsourcing your gas station business plan to a business plan writer can also be a viable option.

Business plan writers are skilled in creating error-free business plans and accurate financial forecasts. Moreover, hiring a consultant can save you valuable time, allowing you to focus on day-to-day business operations.

However, it's essential to be aware that hiring business plan writers will be expensive, as you're not only paying for their time but also the software they use and their profit margin.

Based on experience, you should budget at least £1.5k ($2.0k) excluding tax for a comprehensive business plan, and more if you require changes after initial discussions with lenders or investors.

Also, exercise caution when seeking investment. Investors prefer their funds to be directed towards business growth rather than spent on consulting fees. Therefore, the amount you spend on business plan writing services and other consulting services should be insignificant compared to the amount raised.

Keep in mind that one drawback is that you usually don't own the business plan itself; you only receive the output, while the actual document is saved in the consultant's business planning software. This can make it challenging to update the document without retaining the consultant's services.

For these reasons, carefully consider outsourcing your gas station business plan to a business plan writer, weighing the advantages and disadvantages of seeking outside assistance.

Why not create your gas station's business plan using Word or Excel?

I must advise against using Microsoft Excel and Word (or their Google, Apple, or open-source equivalents) to write your gas station business plan. Let me explain why.

Firstly, creating an accurate and error-free financial forecast on Excel (or any spreadsheet) is highly technical and requires a strong grasp of accounting principles and financial modelling skills. It is, therefore, unlikely that anyone will fully trust your numbers unless you have both a degree in finance and accounting and significant financial modelling experience, like us at The Business Plan Shop.

Secondly, relying on spreadsheets is inefficient. While it may have been the only option in the past, technology has advanced significantly, and software can now perform these tasks much faster and with greater accuracy. With the rise of AI, software can even help us detect mistakes in forecasts and analyze the numbers for better decision-making.

And with the rise of AI, software is also becoming smarter at helping us detect mistakes in our forecasts and helping us analyse the numbers to make better decisions.

Moreover, software makes it easier to compare actuals versus forecasts and maintain up-to-date forecasts to keep visibility on future cash flows, as we discussed earlier in this guide. This task is cumbersome when using spreadsheets.

Now, let's talk about the written part of your gas station business plan. While it may be less error-prone, using software can bring tremendous gains in productivity. Word processors, for example, lack instructions and examples for each part of your business plan. They also won't automatically update your numbers when changes occur in your forecast, and they don't handle formatting for you.

Overall, while Word or Excel may seem viable for some entrepreneurs to create a business plan, it's by far becoming an antiquated way of doing things.

• Using business plan software is a modern and cost-effective way of writing and maintaining business plans.
• A business plan is not a one-shot exercise as maintaining it current is the only way to keep visibility on your future cash flows.
• A business plan has 2 main parts: a financial forecast outlining the funding requirements of your gas station and the expected growth, profits and cash flows for the next 3 to 5 years; and a written part which gives the reader the information needed to decide if they believe the forecast is achievable.

We hope that this in-depth guide met your expectations and that you now have a clear understanding of how to write your gas station business plan. Do not hesitate to contact our friendly team if you have questions additional questions we haven't addressed here.

Also on The Business Plan Shop

• How to write a business plan to secure a bank loan?
• Key steps to write a business plan?
• Top mistakes to avoid in your business plan

Do you know entrepreneurs interested in starting or growing a gas station? Share this article with them!

Founder & CEO at The Business Plan Shop Ltd

Guillaume Le Brouster is a seasoned entrepreneur and financier.

Guillaume has been an entrepreneur for more than a decade and has first-hand experience of starting, running, and growing a successful business.

Prior to being a business owner, Guillaume worked in investment banking and private equity, where he spent most of his time creating complex financial forecasts, writing business plans, and analysing financial statements to make financing and investment decisions.

Guillaume holds a Master's Degree in Finance from ESCP Business School and a Bachelor of Science in Business & Management from Paris Dauphine University.

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Gas Station Business Plan PDF Example

• March 5, 2024
• Business Plan

Creating a comprehensive business plan is crucial for launching and running a successful gas station. This plan serves as your roadmap, detailing your vision, operational strategies, and financial plan. It helps establish your gas station’s identity, navigate the competitive market, and secure funding for growth.

This article not only breaks down the critical components of a gas station business plan, but also provides an example of a business plan to help you craft your own.

Whether you’re an experienced entrepreneur or new to the retail industry, this guide, complete with a business plan example, lays the groundwork for turning your gas station concept into reality. Let’s dive in!

Our gas station business plan is meticulously designed to cover all critical aspects necessary for a comprehensive operational strategy. It outlines the gas station’s operational framework, marketing strategies , industry landscape, competitive analysis , organizational management, and financial projections.

• Executive Summary : Provides a concise overview of the gas station’s business model, market evaluation, leadership structure, and financial strategy.
• Facility & Location: Describes the gas station’s strategic positioning, layout, and accessibility to potential customers, emphasizing convenience and high-traffic location advantages.
• Operations & Prices: Lists the services offered by the gas station, including fuel types, pricing strategy , and additional amenities such as a convenience store.
• Key Stats: Provides important statistics on the size and growth of the gas station industry, underscoring the business’s potential within the market.
• Key Trends: Highlights significant trends influencing the gas station sector, such as the rise in electric vehicle charging stations and the focus on convenience and retail offerings.
• Key Competitors: Examines primary competitors in the vicinity, outlining how the gas station differentiates itself from them.
• SWOT: A thorough Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats analysis, offering strategic insights for business growth.
• Marketing Plan : Outlines marketing strategies aimed at building brand visibility, attracting customers, and enhancing customer loyalty.
• Timeline : Sets forth key milestones and objectives, charting the path from the initial setup through the first year of operation.
• Management: Details the team leading the gas station, highlighting their roles, expertise.
• Financial Plan: Projects the gas station’s financial performance over the next five years, including revenue streams, profit margins, and anticipated expenses.

Gas Station Business Plan

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Executive Summary

The Executive Summary introduces your gas station’s business plan, providing a concise overview of your station and its offerings. It should detail your market positioning, the range of fuel options, convenience store products, and any additional services such as car washes or auto maintenance that you offer, along with its location, size, and a summary of daily operations.

This section should also delve into how your gas station will fit into the local market, including an analysis of the number of direct competitors within the area, identifying who they are, along with your station’s unique selling points that set it apart from these competitors.

Furthermore, you should include information about the management and co-founding team, outlining their roles and contributions to the station’s success.

Additionally, a summary of your financial projections, including revenue and profits over the next five years, should be presented here to offer a clear view of your gas station’s financial strategy.

Make sure to cover here _ Business Overview _ Market Overview _ Management Team _ Financial Plan

Dive deeper into Executive Summary

Business Overview

For a Gas Station, the Business Overview section can be effectively organized into 2 main slides:

Facility & Location

Briefly describe the gas station’s physical setup, focusing on its functionality, ease of access, and the overall environment that caters to customers’ needs.

Mention the station’s location, emphasizing its accessibility and the convenience it offers to customers, such as proximity to major roads or highways and ample parking space. Explain why this location is beneficial in attracting your target customer base, such as travelers, local commuters, or commercial vehicles.

Operations & Prices

Detail the range of services and products offered, from various fuel types (like regular, mid-grade, premium gasoline, and diesel) to convenience store items and additional services (such as car washes, air pumps, and auto maintenance).

Outline your pricing strategy for fuel and in-store products, ensuring it is competitive and reflects the quality and convenience of your offerings. Highlight any special promotions, loyalty programs, or discount schemes that provide added value to your customers, encouraging repeat visits and customer loyalty.

Make sure to cover here _ Facility & Location _ Operations & Prices

Market Overview

Industry size & growth.

In the Market Overview of your gas station business plan, begin by evaluating the size of the fuel retail industry and its growth prospects. This analysis is essential for grasminating the market’s magnitude and spotting opportunities for expansion.

Key Market Trends

Continue by addressing recent market trends , such as the growing consumer preference for convenience services, the shift towards alternative fuels and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, and the integration of advanced technologies for payment and service. For instance, spotlight the demand for multi-service stations that offer not just fuel, but also convenience store products, car washes, and EV charging points, in line with the increasing focus on sustainability and convenience.

Key Competitors

Next, assess the competitive landscape, which spans from large chain gas stations to independent operators, as well as emerging trends in alternative fuel services and online fuel delivery. Highlight what sets your gas station apart, be it through superior customer service, diverse service offerings, or innovation in sustainable fuel options.

Make sure to cover here _ Industry size & growth _ Key competitors _ Key market trends

Dive deeper into Key competitors

First, conduct a SWOT analysis for the gas station , identifying Strengths (such as strategic location and diverse service offerings), Weaknesses (like high operational costs or stiff competition), Opportunities (for instance, the expanding market for alternative fuels and EV charging), and Threats (such as fluctuations in fuel prices or economic downturns that may reduce consumer travel).

Marketing Plan

Next, formulate a marketing plan that delineates strategies to attract and retain customers through targeted advertising, promotional offers, a compelling social media presence, and community engagement activities.

Finally, establish a detailed timeline that pinpoints crucial milestones for the gas station’s launch, marketing initiatives, customer base expansion, and growth goals, ensuring the business progresses with definitive objectives and direction.

Make sure to cover here _ SWOT _ Marketing Plan _ Timeline

Dive deeper into SWOT

Dive deeper into Marketing Plan

The Management section focuses on the gas station’s management and their direct roles in daily operations and strategic direction. This part is crucial for understanding who is responsible for making key decisions and driving the gas station towards its financial and operational goals.

For your gas station business plan, list the core team members, their specific responsibilities, and how their expertise supports the business.

Financial Plan

The Financial Plan section is a comprehensive analysis of your financial projections for revenue, expenses, and profitability. It lays out your gas station’s approach to securing funding, managing cash flow, and achieving breakeven.

This section typically includes detailed forecasts for the first 5 years of operation, highlighting expected revenue, operating costs and capital expenditures.

For your gas station business plan, provide a snapshot of your financial statement (profit and loss, balance sheet, cash flow statement), as well as your key assumptions (e.g. number of customers and prices, expenses, etc.).

Make sure to cover here _ Profit and Loss _ Cash Flow Statement _ Balance Sheet _ Use of Funds

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How to Write a Business Plan for a Gas Station

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A business plan gives you a daily guide on how to run your gas station. It also comes in handy when you’re seeking financing to lease or buy a station and stock it with fuel and products. Once you complete the business plan you’re ready to write an executive summary that outlines how your gas station will provide a much-needed fueling resource while standing out from competitors and making a profit.

Describe the products and services your gas station will provide, including different grades of gas and types of oil. If you want customers to come inside, explain what products you plan to sell, such as snacks, chips, beverages, souvenirs, groceries or automotive products. To increase profits, you might also want to offer mechanical repairs or a car wash.

Discuss the market for opening a gas station in the area, and provide details about your competitors, including their pricing strategy, target market, strengths and weaknesses. Explain how there is a need for another gas station and how you will differentiate your station from the others, such as by offering convenience goods, automotive repairs or the lowest prices. Your competitive advantage might focus on selling gas on a busy street where no other gas stations exist. Or you might want to explain the benefits of adding another station to the mix since so many cars travel through the area because of a busy highway, an airport or a business complex.

Develop a sales and marketing strategy that draws customers and keeps them coming back each time they need to fill their tank. Your strategy might include offering a rewards program and erecting signs to let drivers know your gas prices. Mention advertising food and beverages at the pump if you plan to sell products inside the station. If your station is part of a franchise, provide details on the marketing and advertising the parent company provides.

Explain your background as an owner so investors know you’ve got the skills and experience to build a profitable station. If you lack experience, explain how the other businesses you’ve worked for or owned will help you make this venture successful. If you lack personal experience managing a gas station, find and detail the background of a manager to bring on board who knows the industry.

Prepare financial projections to determine the startup costs of leasing or buying a gas station and making the pumps operational. Your financial documents also need to show the cost of required licenses, payroll, utilities and environmental services. Calculate the revenues you anticipate from the sale of fuel, automotive products and concessions in your revenue projections.

• Brooklyn College: How to Create an Effective Business Plan
• Bplans: Convenience Store Gas Station Business Plan
• Apex Petroleum: Service Station Plan
• Write the one- to three-page executive summary after you finish the rest of the business plan.
• Don’t leave out any weaknesses in your plan, such as the fact that there’s too much competition or not enough traffic in the area to sustain business, as investors usually discover these things. Then, they’ll wonder why you didn’t figure this out for yourself.

Nancy Wagner is a marketing strategist and speaker who started writing in 1998. She writes business plans for startups and established companies and teaches marketing and promotional tactics at local workshops. Wagner's business and marketing articles have appeared in "Home Business Journal," "Nation’s Business," "Emerging Business" and "The Mortgage Press," among others. She holds a B.S. from Eastern Illinois University.

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Gas Station Business Plan Sample

MAR.26, 2018

Do you want to start gas station business?

Are you thinking of starting a gas station ? A gas station was also known as a petrol station is a business that retails diesel, gasoline and various types of motor vehicle lubricants. The increase in the number of automobiles has pushed up the demand for gasoline and diesel which makes the  gas station business plan a lucrative venture. The oil and gas industry has in recent times gone through various challenges, but it still remains one of the most lucrative business sectors. Investing in a gas station requires a significant amount of investment, but with a sound business strategy , you can be assured of recovering your entire investment.

Executive Summary

2.1 the business.

The gas station will be registered under the name Savoy Gas and will be located in Princeton, New Jersey on Exit 2 off the New York Philadelphia interstate highway. This is an excellent location considering the high amount of vehicular traffic that uses the highway on a daily basis. Savoy gas station will be owned and managed by Mike Wall who is a Petroleum Engineer.

2.2 Management Team

Mike Wall is an expert Petroleum Engineer who has had a successful career spanning over twenty-five years. Mike has worked for large and reputable international organizations in the oil and gas industry. He has overseen numerous large-scale industry projects that have earned him respect and recognition in the industry.

2.3 Customer Focus

Savoy Gas Station aims to offer a fully equipped gas station facility for motorists using the busy Interstate highway. Identifying potential customers is a critical step of starting your own gas station business plan .

2.4 Business Target

To succeed in its mandate, the gas station intends to focus on harnessing the latest technologies in the oil and gas industry to offer quality and reliable services to motorists.

Company Summary

3.1 company owner.

Mike Wall is a Petroleum Engineer who has worked for several high profile oil and gas companies across the United States. He is credited for his professionalism and spearheading of numerous technical projects. Mike has worked in various senior capacities in different organizations, as well as participated in numerous local, regional and global petroleum conferences.

3.2 Aim of Starting the Business

Starting your own gas station requires a good understanding and knowledge of the oil and gas industry. Having been in the industry for almost three decades, Mike was deeply involved in policy making and technical implementation of gas station projects. Working closely with gas station stakeholders, Mike thought it would be a great idea to transfer his expertise to entrepreneurship.

3.3 How the Business will be Started

As a Petroleum Engineer, Mike Wall already has the technical knowhow of the infrastructure and technologies required to start a gas station. However, he has closely worked with financial experts to formulate a sound financial plan to support the business model. The following is key financial information for Savoy Gas station.

Services for Customers

Savoy Gas station is focused on offering a professional service in line with the growing demand for well-equipped gas station facilities in Princeton, New Jersey. Opening a gas station requires great innovation in service delivery. Savoy Gas station will offer the following diversified services.

• Provision of retail gasoline and diesel
• Selling automotive related products such as oil and lubricants
• Automotive repair services i.e. Wheel Balancing, Wheel Alignment and Vulcanizing
• Selling soft drinks, snacks, groceries and selected household items.

Marketing Analysis for Gas Station Business

For Savoy Gas station to be successful, a comprehensive market analysis was carried out to pinpoint areas of focus that will drive business development.

This gas station business plan sample explains the strategy the gas station intends to follow to meet its targets. Using this strategy, the business intends to get a good amount of revenue considering it lies on a main interstate highway that is used by thousands of commuters on a daily basis. Currently, commuters don’t have a well-equipped shop where they can get adequate food supplies while travelling since the nearest gas station is over 15 miles away.

5.1 Market Segmentation

After realizing there are few gas stations around Princeton area off the interstate highway, Savoy Gas has found a market it can effectively explore and provide a critical service for its customers. Based on market research and findings, the business is targeting the following customers for inclusion in its gas station marketing plan . Anyone looking for gasoline and diesel as well as a well-stocked food and drinks outlet is a potential customer for the business.

5.1.1 Automobile Owners

Automobile engines rely on gasoline and fuel in order to operate efficiently. Savoy Gas station will be located on the main New York to Philadelphia Interstate highway at Princeton, New Jersey. This is an extremely busy highway with thousands of vehicles using the highway on a daily basis. The nearest gas station is about fifteen miles away and Savoy gas station knows it’s located in a strategic location to offer key services to vehicle owners. In addition, the business intends to sell automotive products such as oil and different types of lubricants which are essential products to car owners. Given the scarcity of gas stations in the area, Savoy gas station intends to capitalize on the untapped market by setting up a fully equipped and professionally managed gas station. Motorists are the key customer target included in this gas station business plan template.

5.1.2 Commuters and Travellers

Because of the gas station’s strategic location on a main highway, services and products offered will help regular commuters, as well as long distance travellers using the interstate highway. With the wide range of services offered by the gas station, the business intends to rely on the high number of people using the highway to stop and buy food, snacks, drinks and other products at the facility.

5.1.3 Households

Princeton, New Jersey has nearby residential households that will benefit a great deal when the gas station is set up. The gas station business plan has focused on stocking a wide variety of foodstuffs, drinks and other products that primarily cater for household consumers. Starting a gas station business plan should include a strategy that incorporates the local community as customers. Local communities living around the gas station are excellent customers because the gas station business plan will get steady revenue from them. Savoy gas station is expected to be nearest shopping facility that stocks basic items.

5.1.4 Students

The vicinity of the gas station has many educational facilities including the famous Princeton University. Savoy gas station plans to market its products especially drinks and snacks to students from nearby high schools, colleges and universities.

5.2 Business Target

Savoy gas station intends to open in an area with a lot of business potential. There is no doubt one of the greatest strengths and advantages outlined in this gas station business plan is the strategic location. The plan is to implement a unique business model that focuses on an exemplary customer service approach and provision of topnotch products and services. Savoy gas station will recover its entire startup capital after three years in operation. There is a projection of annual sales growth of between 20-25%.

5.3 Product Pricing

A good gas station business plan & startup guide should always give guidance on how product pricing will be implemented. In the case of Savoy gas station, prices for various products and services have been determined using a competitive approach. After considering price ranges from nearby gas stations, the business has carefully priced its products.

High Quality Business Plan and Professional Support

It was amazing to work with OGS Capital for our business plan. They promptly responded our enquires and delivered document on time.The document was well organized high quality and content.We succeded with Alex and his team support. We thank you guys again for professional approach and easy communication.

In order to understand how to open a gas station and be successful, there must be a well-defined sales strategy. Mike Wall has cooperated with business startup and strategy gurus to find a creative and smart way of boosting business revenue. The following is a detailed sales strategy for Savoy gas station.

6.1 Competitive Analysis

Savoy gas station is located in an excellent location off a busy interstate highway and near a large residential area. This is the only gas station within a fifteen mile radius, the demand for gas station business plan and products is expected to be high.

6.2 Sales Strategy

To ensure Savoy gas station captures the intended market, the gas station business model will rely on the following sales strategy to increase customer numbers and boost sales.

• Create awareness of the gas station by distributing introductory letters to local residents, merchants, transport companies and other interested parties.
• Conduct a grand opening party of the gas station to capture the attention of residents who are a priority customer segment for Savoy gas station.
• Advertise the gas station business plan on various media channels i.e. local TV stations, newspapers and popular radio stations.
• Invest in a search engine-friendly website and market using various social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
• Hire expert marketing firms to formulate innovative sales strategies that will be used on a continuous basis to attract customers.
• Always meet customer expectations and learn to listen to what customers are saying to better understand their needs.
• Erect billboards on the highway and within strategic locations in the neighborhood to let potential customers know about the gas station.
• Come up with an exciting loyalty program to reward regular clients.

6.3 Sales Forecast

Savoy gas station is keen to implement its sales strategies to achieve its targets. Below is a summary of sales forecasts for the gas station.

Personnel Plan

Savoy gas station has diversified its product range and service niche meaning the business requires staff of different expertise and backgrounds to run the gas station business plan . When determining how much does it cost to start a gas station business , the issue of staff and their salaries has to be considered.

7.1 Personnel Plan

Savoy gas station is owned by Mike Wall, a Petroleum Engineer who will also be the Chief Executive of the gas station. The gas station business plan will employ the following staff to work in various departments.

• Gas Station Manager
• Assistant Manager
• Convenience Store Manager
• Three Pump Attendants
• Two Marketing Executives
• One Cashiers
• Two Security guards
• Two Automobile Repair Technicians

Successful applicants will undergo an intensive training and induction session before the gas station opens to the public.

7.2 Average Staff Salaries

Savoy gas station intends to pay its staff the following salaries for the first three years after launching operations.

Financial Plan

Savoy gas station has an elaborate financial plan that will serve as the business roadmap towards attaining success. Opening a gas station cost must be known and other key financial variables that will steer the gas station business plan to prosperity identified. The gas station startup capital will come from Mike’s personal savings as well as a loan to supplement initial capital. Two investors will also contribute to the initial business startup capital. Aside from determining how much does a gas station cost to open , other important financial variables have been captured in the sections below.

8.1 Important Assumptions

Savoy gas station’s financial forecasts are based on the assumptions shown below.

8.2 Brake-even Analysis

Savoy gas station Brake-even Analysis is illustrated in the graph below.

8.3 Projected Profit and Loss

Profit and Loss information for Savoy gas station calculated on a monthly and annual basis is shown below.

8.3.1 Monthly Profit

8.3.2 Yearly Profit

8.3.3 Monthly Gross Margin

8.3.4 Yearly Gross Margin

Below is Savoy gas station’s Profit and Loss Analysis.

8.4 Projected Cash Flow

The diagram below shows pro forma cash flow, subtotal cash received, subtotal cash from operations, subtotal cash spent on operations and subtotal cash spent.

8.5 Projected Balance Sheet

Depicted below is Savoy gas station Projected Balance Sheet that shows capital, assets, liabilities, long term assets and current liabilities.

8.6 Business Ratios

Business Rations, Business Net Worth and Ratio Analysis for Savoy gas station have been show below.

Download Gas Station Business Plan Sample in pdf

OGS capital professional writers specialized also in themes such as creating a franchise business plan , service business marketing plans , plumbing company business plan , locksmith business plan , business plan for horse training , handyman business plan , church business plan and many others.

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Welcome to Vaisus Business Plans

How to write a gas station business plan: Step-by-step guide

posted on 6:23 am

If you want to start a new gas station business, the first thing you will need is a comprehensive gas station business plan. A business plan will give you clarity on what you will need for your business, and the operational requirements. A business plan is also an important tool for acquiring financing from lenders or investors. This post outlines the important sections with a summary of the key points to capture when writing a gas station business plan.

At the end of this post, you can download a complete gas station financial forecast tool with 3-year financial projections including income statement, start-up costs, break-even analysis, and cash flow statement. This template has been used by gas station business owners to plan their business finances and apply for funding from banks and other lending institutions. 

Overview of a Business Plan  

A well-written business plan should include the following sections:

• An executive summary

Introduction

• Business industry and overview
• Marketing strategy and analysis
• Risks and significant opportunities

Location and assets

• Management and human resource

Financial plan and budget

Executive summary  .

Your executive summary should outline how your gas station will provide fuel for motorists and at the same time stand out from competitors. It should be short and precise and appealing enough to capture the attention of your audience. The executive summary motivates the reader to read the entire plan. Its, therefore, important to highlight the key points for each so that the reader can grasp briefly what you intended to put across. Among the important points to articulate are your gas station business objectives, fuel business industry environment, fuel products and services, location, target market, competitive advantage (unique selling point), and the specific gap you will be filling.

This section introduces your gas station business by briefly describing the company profile,  mission, vision, core values, organizational structure, and strategic objectives. The profile gives a brief history of the business, the fuel products and services you will be offering, the location of the gas station, and your projected growth. The vision should include your long-term and short-term goals and how you will achieve them. Also, include the organizational structure, your daily workflow, and other operational activities that will make your business achieve your desired goals.

Business industry and overview 

In this section, you talk about industry trends and the external factors that affect the gas station business, both positively and negatively. Also, state the major players in the gas station with convenience stores business both nationally and your direct local competitors that influence your business. The major players in Canada you may mention include Suncor (Petro-Canada), Imperial Oil Limited (Esso), Shell, 7-Eleven, Superstore (Mobil), Co-op etc. Locally you can mention businesses at most five to ten kilometers from your desired location. Additionally, describe the products and services your gas station will offer, including the grades of gas and types of oil for instance regular gasoline, midgrade gasoline, premium gasoline, diesel fuel, automotive services, etc.

To increase your customer base, you may want to include other complementary products and services such as a convenience store that sells snacks, chips, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, tobacco and lottery products, groceries, souvenirs, mechanical repair service, and automotive services such as car wash. Finally, mention the government and industry policies and regulations, permit requirements i.e. health, safety, and environment. Other than regulations, you can talk about your initiative of innovation and investment in the environment to show your interest in protecting communities, people, and the environment as a whole.

Market strategy and analysis  

A marketing strategy describes your overall game plan for reaching prospective. Talk about the marketing strategies you will use to introduce your gas station to the market and how you plan to attract and retain customers. One thing to note is that marketing in the gas station industry is highly dependent on your supplier’s brand name. Most customers are loyal to specific brands. You therefore have to choose your supplier diligently and brand your station to reflect your supplier’s brand image and standard of service. This way you will benefit from increased business due to their larger marketing efforts and customer loyalty programs, such as rewards programs with grocery stores.

Also, discuss in detail your specific target market list down your direct competitors, and write down a summary of their product/service offering, pricing strategy, target market, strengths, and weaknesses. Mention how you plan to differentiate your gas station from your competitors i.e., by offering in-demand convenience goods, automotive repairs, after-sale services (e.g. windscreen cleaning), your supplier’s brand image, etc. Your unique selling point may focus on your choice of location which can be an area with high traffic with no other existing gas station.

SWOT analysis

In your SWOT analysis, explain how you will maximize on your strengths and take advantage of the business opportunities. Also, indicate how you will minimize your weaknesses and threats. These points can touch on your target market, the location of the gas station, the fuel options, and industry trends. Some of the strengths as a result of industry trends you can mention include low capital requirements, low imports, high revenue per employee, and low product/ service concentration. Weaknesses on the other hand may include high competition and high customer class concentration. You may also want to mention the opportunities presented by the industry such as high revenue growth and high per capita disposable income. Threats majorly facing the industry that you will want to address in your mitigation strategies include the world oil price, which is expected to decrease, heavy regulation of the industry, low demand for fuel due to the pandemic, etc.

Mention where you plan to set up your gas station and indicate why you selected that area. If you have any future growth plans list down the locations, where you plan to open other gas stations. State your equipment and fuel procurement plans indicating where you plan to buy or lease your gas station and convenience store and oil depot solution which are necessary for the operation of the business.

Management and human resources

This section identifies the personnel responsible for the running and management of the business. Here you talk about the founders, team leader, or manager of your business, the entire employee workforce, their roles, and employee benefits. Also, discuss their profiles pointing out how suitable they are for the running of the business.

Insurance for a Gas Station Business

From leaky fuel tanks to burglaries, running a gas station can be a risky endeavor. Insurance will secure the business in the event of unanticipated circumstances. You therefore should state the insurance packages you will be having.

This is the most important section of your business plan to your audience. The investor or lender will want to know how your business is going to perform financially. Prepare financial projections for the next five years to determine the start-up costs of leasing or buying a gas station and making the pumps operational. Your financial documents should show the cost of required licenses, insurance, payroll, interest expense for servicing the loan or return to the investor, utilities, and environmental services. Calculate the revenues you anticipate from the sale of fuel, automotive products, and concessions in your revenue projections

Conclusion  

In summary, a gas station business plan document is a requirement in the business planning process. It enables you to realize your vision and achieve your goals. A well-crafted, comprehensive, and appealing plan for your gas station will enable you to capture all aspects of your business in an enticing manner. You can get in touch with us at Vaisus Consulting to help you prepare an exhaustive, funding-ready gas station business plan that is customized to meet your needs. To speak with one of our consultants,  schedule an appointment  with us.

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Gas Station Business Plan Template [Updated 2024]

Gas Station Business Plan

If you want to start a new gas station business or expand your current gas station, you need a business plan.

The following gas station business plan template gives you the key elements to include in a winning business plan for all types of gas stations including a petrol station, automotive services, filling stations and other gas stations.

You can download our Business Plan Template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here.

Gas Station Business Plan Example

Below are links to each of the key sections of a sample business plan. Once you create your plan, download it to PDF to show banks and investors.

I. Executive Summary II. Company Summary III. Industry Analysis IV. Customer Analysis V. Competitive Analysis VI. Marketing Plan VII. Operations Plan VIII. Management Team IX. Financial Plan

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Gas Station Business Plan Home I. Executive Summary II. Company Overview III. Industry Analysis IV. Customer Analysis V. Competitive Analysis VI. Marketing Plan VII. Operations Plan VIII. Management Team IX. Financial Plan

Starting A Petrol Station Business Plan (PDF)

Starting a petrol station business is a highly lucrative venture, given its essential role in the daily lives of millions. A petrol station also known as a gas station, filling station, or a service station is a facility that sell fuel and engine lubricants to motor vehicles. Fuel dispensers are used to pump fuel directly into the tanks of the motor vehicles. In the ever-growing automotive world, the demand for fuel remains consistently high, making petrol stations a cornerstone in both urban and rural landscapes. This business not only caters to the basic needs of vehicle owners but also serves as a critical component in the supply chain of goods and services. The profitability of a petrol station is underscored by its ability to maintain robust margins, stemming from the high volume of sales and the diverse range of services and products it can offer.

The appeal of owning a petrol station business lies in its resilience to economic fluctuations. While other industries may falter during economic downturns, the need for fuel remains relatively constant, providing a stable source of income for station owners. Moreover, with the integration of additional services such as convenience stores, car washes, and maintenance services, petrol stations have evolved into multi-faceted establishments, further enhancing their profitability. This diversification not only boosts revenue but also attracts a broader customer base, increasing the station’s visibility and market presence. This article will outline how start start a petrol station business and the petrol station business plan – PDF, Word & Excel.

Market Research

When starting a petrol station business, market research is a critical step that cannot be overlooked. It begins with a detailed demographic analysis to understand the population in your target area, focusing on factors such as income levels, vehicle ownership, and commuting patterns, which are crucial in estimating the potential customer base and their service needs. Equally important is location scouting, where the success of your petrol station largely depends on choosing a site with high traffic volumes, easy accessibility, and little competition, ideally near highways, commercial hubs, or residential areas. Additionally, a thorough competition analysis is vital, requiring you to identify and study existing petrol stations in the vicinity to understand their offerings, pricing, customer volume, and how you can differentiate your station.

The market research should also include trend analysis and an understanding of the regulatory landscape. Keeping abreast of the latest trends in the fuel industry, such as the rise of electric vehicles, fluctuations in fuel prices, and environmental regulations, is essential for future-proofing your business. At the same time, being well-versed in the legal requirements, including environmental regulations, safety standards, and local zoning laws, is crucial for smooth operation. Customer preferences and expectations must also be at the forefront of your research. Conducting surveys to understand what potential customers expect from your petrol station, whether it be additional services like car washes, convenience stores, or food options, is key to catering to their needs effectively.

The financial viability of your petrol station business is a cornerstone of your market research. This involves analyzing the initial investment, ongoing operational costs, and potential revenue streams. Such a financial assessment not only aids in creating a realistic business plan but also determines the feasibility and potential profitability of your petrol station. Comprehensive market research not only aids in making informed decisions but also sets the foundation for the successful establishment and operation of your petrol station, ensuring it’s not just about selling fuel but about fulfilling the evolving needs of your customers in a competitive market.

Location for Petrol Station Business

The choice of location is most important when setting up your petrol station business. You must choose a location close or next to strategic and busy road networks. This can refer to major highways or major streets. Still on this, it might seem best to choose a location in urban settings. There are some possible issues with that e.g. high land or leasing costs and proximity to competitors. Try also looking into peri-urban and even rural areas. You can still get good business there and chances are high that competition will be limited.

You want a spot that generally has a smooth and level terrain. If you are starting from scratch and the terrain is rough and uneven, it might cost you more to work on it. Ensure that your petrol station allows easy access and exit for all types of vehicles. Your petrol station must be clearly visible from all angles and from a considerable distance away. Then of course be it you settle for urban, peri-urban, or rural, try to set up your petrol station not too close to other competitors. Do not forget that there are environmental implications in setting up or operating a petrol station. That is why it is wise to engage the local authorities for guidance and ratification. The cost of acquiring or leasing the land & premises should be included in the filling station business plan.

The premises of your petrol station play a pivotal role in shaping the overall customer experience and operational efficiency. A well-designed and maintained physical space not only attracts customers but also ensures their safety and convenience. Your petrol station’s layout should provide ample space for fueling lanes, parking, and easy traffic flow. Clearly marked entrances and exits, along with well-lit areas, enhance safety during both day and night. Adequate landscaping and aesthetics can also contribute to a positive image, drawing in more customers and fostering a sense of trust and reliability. The primary structure, which typically houses the convenience store and administrative offices, should be strategically located and well-designed to maximize visibility and accessibility. It’s essential to create an inviting and functional interior space, ensuring that customers can easily browse your store’s offerings and access essential services like restrooms and ATMs.

Equipment is the backbone of any petrol station operation, and its proper functioning is essential for delivering reliable services to your customers. First and foremost, fuel dispensers are the heart of your business, and they must be well-maintained and calibrated to dispense fuel accurately and efficiently. Regular inspections and servicing of these machines are crucial to prevent fuel wastage and ensure customer satisfaction. Underground storage tanks are another critical piece of equipment that requires diligent maintenance. Regular leak detection tests and compliance with environmental regulations are imperative to avoid costly environmental contamination issues and potential fines. Ensuring the structural integrity of these tanks is vital for the safety of your premises and the community.

A petrol station canopy is a crucial component of any fueling station infrastructure. It serves as a protective cover over the fuel dispensers, providing shelter to customers and vehicles during refueling, regardless of weather conditions. The canopy also plays a significant role in branding, as it often displays the petrol station’s name and logo, making it easily identifiable to passing motorists. Beyond aesthetics and branding, the canopy offers practical benefits by shielding customers from rain, sun, and other environmental elements, enhancing their overall experience and safety at the station. Other required equipment include fill pipes, fire extinguishers, back-up generator, air compressor, surveillance cameras, branded uniforms, protective clothing, safe, office equipment and supplies, and signage. In addition to fuel-related equipment, convenience store equipment, such as refrigeration units, cash registers, and security systems are required. Other equipment needs will be informed by additional services you choose to offer. The costs of purchasing the equipment should be included in the gas station business plan.

Products & Services

The core business of a petrol station is fuel retail. The commonly sold fuels are petrol/gasoline and diesel. There are 3 types of petrol station services that you can offer as follows:

Full Service

Let us suppose you get to a petrol station and an attendant comes to serve you. They ask how much fuel you want and they pump it in for you. They also proceed to clean your windscreen (also known as the windshield). They go on to offer to do oil and water checks in your engine. They then wrap it up by checking the pressure of your tyres. As a customer, you do not get to do anything at all; the attendant does it for you. This is what a full service is all about.

Partial Service

This one is quite common in some countries. It entails the attendant only pumping in the fuel for you. That is their sole responsibility. Cleaning the windshield you would do yourself, that is if the equipment is even there. Oil, water, and pressure checks are all your responsibility.

Self-Service Petrol Station

Here the customers does everything themselves, including the pumping. This is also common in some countries and almost non-existent in some countries. There is an interesting variation to this self-service approach. This is whereby there are no attendants at the petrol station at all. That functions using sophisticated software and specialized pumps – the petrol station can be totally unmanned.

Additional Products & Services

It is strategic to not just sell fuel or gas alone. One of the keys to success in the petrol station business is having several revenue streams. Look into offering additional but related services to lure more customers. You can have a convenience store at your petrol station – this is like a mini-grocery shop which sells basic goods and snacks. Other possibilities are setting up a car wash, selling vehicles accessories, selling lubricants, selling LP gas, selling kerosene (i.e. paraffin), or offering tyre repairs (plus sales) services. You can even do actual vehicle repairs, diagnostics, wheel alignments, and the like. This will significantly endow your petrol station business with a superior value proposition. All the products and services that you offer should be included in your fuel station business plan.

Branding is a critical aspect of establishing a strong and recognizable presence in the highly competitive petrol station industry. Your petrol station’s brand identity encompasses more than just a logo; it encompasses the overall perception and image your station conveys to customers. Effective branding not only fosters customer loyalty but also attracts new patrons to your station.

Your brand should reflect the values, mission, and commitment of your petrol station business. It should convey trustworthiness, reliability, and a commitment to customer satisfaction. Elements such as signage, canopy design, color schemes, and even the cleanliness and appearance of your premises all contribute to your brand image. Consistency in branding across all touchpoints, including advertising, social media, and physical locations, reinforces your station’s identity and helps build a loyal customer base. Remember that a well-defined and appealing brand can set you apart from competitors and create a lasting impression in the minds of consumers, ultimately driving the success and growth of your petrol station business.

Staff & Management

A filling station business does not need that many people. It is commonplace to get to a petrol station and find a few personnel. The number of pumps you will have and how busy the petrol station generally is can call for more hands on deck. Otherwise the most basic line-up of staff that suffices for a petrol station is fuel attendants, an administrator, and operations manager (also known as site manager). The additional services you choose to offer will also determine your staffing needs. The gas station business plan should include the salaries of all your staff.

Budgeting and Financial Planning

Starting a petrol station business is a significant undertaking, and success in this venture hinges on meticulous budgeting and financial planning. To begin, you’ll need to allocate funds for your initial investment. This includes selecting a prime location, covering land and construction costs, obtaining the necessary licenses and permits, and ensuring environmental compliance. These initial steps are pivotal in establishing a strong foundation for your petrol station.

Equally crucial is budgeting for equipment and inventory. This entails factoring in the cost of fuel pumps, storage tanks, and the initial fuel inventory. Additionally, you should consider stocking your convenience store with an array of products to attract customers. Operating expenses such as employee salaries, utilities, maintenance, and marketing efforts must also be budgeted to ensure the smooth daily operation of your petrol station.

Financial projections and contingency planning play essential roles as well. Creating a detailed financial forecast that considers various factors affecting the petrol station industry, such as fuel price fluctuations and seasonal demand, will help you chart a successful course. Including a contingency fund in your budget is essential to handle unforeseen expenses and maintain your business’s stability. Exploring financing options and establishing robust financial management systems will further contribute to the financial health and long-term sustainability of your petrol station business.

Understanding the spectrum of potential customers is essential in the petrol station business, where diverse groups have distinct needs and preferences. One primary group is commuters/individuals with cars, who make up a significant portion of the customer base. These individuals prioritize convenience, efficiency, and reliability, often choosing petrol stations that are easily accessible and offer quick service. Another important segment includes commercial vehicles and fleets, such as trucks, buses, and company vehicles, which require regular refueling. These customers often seek contractual fuel supply agreements, and offering bulk pricing or loyalty programs can be particularly attractive to them. Additionally, local residents in the vicinity of your petrol station can become regular patrons, especially if additional services like a convenience store, car wash, or café are available.

Travelers and long-distance drivers represent another key customer group, especially for petrol stations located near highways or popular routes. These customers often look for more comprehensive services, including rest areas, food options, and clean restrooms, along with fuel. On the environmental front, there’s a growing segment of environmentally conscious consumers who prefer eco-friendly options. Catering to this demographic might involve offering alternative fuels or electric vehicle charging stations, aligning with the increasing awareness and demand for environmentally responsible choices.

The potential customer base also includes emergency and service vehicles, such as ambulances, fire trucks, and police cars, depending on the location of the petrol station. Serving these critical services can enhance the station’s reputation within the community. By tailoring services and facilities to meet the specific needs of these diverse groups, a petrol station can not only attract but also retain a broad and loyal customer base.

Keys To Profitability

Achieving profitability in your petrol station business hinges on several critical factors. First and foremost, efficient operations play a pivotal role. Streamlining your processes, ensuring well-maintained fuel dispensers, and implementing robust inventory management systems are essential steps. Well-trained staff who provide excellent customer service can foster customer satisfaction and loyalty, which in turn contributes to profitability.

Another key element is pricing strategy. Developing a competitive pricing strategy that accounts for location, competition, and cost structures is paramount. Dynamic pricing strategies can also be advantageous to adjust fuel prices based on market conditions. Additionally, investing in marketing and promotional efforts, such as digital advertising and loyalty programs, can attract new customers and keep existing ones engaged.

Managing your convenience store for profitability is equally important. Optimizing product selection and layout to encourage impulse purchases, offering high-margin items, and controlling operational costs are vital steps. To maintain profitability, focus on cost control by monitoring expenses like utilities and staff wages. Prioritizing safety measures and staying compliant with environmental and regulatory standards can prevent costly liabilities. Building customer loyalty through excellent service and rewards programs will also contribute to long-term success. Financial monitoring is crucial to track your performance and adjust strategies based on data and market trends.

Pre-Written Petrol Station Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel): Comprehensive Version, Short Funding/Bank Loan Version and Automated Financial Statements

For an in-depth analysis of the petrol station business, we encourage you to purchase our well-researched and comprehensive filling station business plan. We introduced the business plans after discovering that many were venturing into the gas station business without enough knowledge and understanding of how to run the business, lack of understanding of the financial side of the business, lack of understanding of : the industry, the risks involved , costs and profitability of the business; which often leads to disastrous losses.

The StartupBiz Global gas station business plan will make it easier for you to launch and run your petrol pump station business successfully, fully knowing what you are going into, and what’s needed to succeed in the business. This is a complete business plan for a fuel station business. It will be easier to plan and budget as you will be aware of all the costs involved in setting up and running the petrol station business.

Uses of the Petrol Station Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel)

The fuel station business plan can be used for many purposes including:

• Raising capital from investors/friends/relatives
• Applying for a bank loan
• Start-up guide to launch your filling station business
• As a petrol station business proposal
• Assessing profitability of the fuel station business
• Finding a business partner
• Assessing the initial start-up costs so that you know how much to save
• Manual for current business owners to help in business and strategy formulation

Contents of the Filling Station Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel)

The business plan for fuel service station includes, but not limited to:

• Marketing Strategy
• Financial Statements (monthly cash flow projections, income statements, cash flow statements, balance sheets, break even analysis, payback period analysis, start-up costs, financial graphs, revenue and expenses, Bank Loan Amortization)
• Industry Analysis
• Market Analysis
• Risk Analysis
• SWOT & PEST Analysis
• Operational Requirements
• Operational Strategy
• Why some people in the gas station business fail, so that you can avoid their mistakes
• Ways to raise capital to start your fuel station business

The fuel station business plan package consists of 4 files

• Petrol Station Business Plan – PDF file (Comprehensive Version – 78 Pages)
• Petrol Station Business Plan – Editable Word File (Comprehensive Version – 78 Pages)
• Petrol Station Business Plan Funding/Bank Loan Version- Editable Word File (Short version for applying for a loan/funding – 43 pages)
• Petrol Station Business Plan Automated Financial Statements – (Editable Excel File)

The business plan can be used in any country and can be easily edited. The financial statements are automated. This implies that you can change eg the costs, amount of fuel sold etc, and all the other financial statements will automatically adjust to reflect the change. 

Click below to download the Contents Page of the Petrol Station Business Plan (PDF)

Testimonial 6

I purchased a business plan from you, and I’m glad to inform you that I was able to get my loan, and I’m starting my poultry farming business on the 1 st of July. This was made possible because of your business plan. Thank you very much, you made my dream come true.

Testimonial 1

StartupBiz Global provided a very professional and comprehensive business plan which I used for my business. The business plan was easy to edit, and I was able to get the funding which I wanted. I highly recommend their business plans.

Testimonial 2

Many thanks for your incredibly efficient service and thorough business plan. I am very impressed with the business plan. Before I bought the business plan, I tried to do my own business plan – it was such a nightmare and it turned out badly, also not to mention the stress it caused me. I wish I knew about your website earlier!

Testimonial 8

Just wanted to say I am very happy with the business plan and I will gladly recommend your products, thank you very much and have a great day.

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I was extremely lucky to come across StartupBiz Global. Their business plan exceeded my expectations, and most importantly I was able to secure a loan from my bank. Thank you guys, now my dreams are coming true!

Testimonial 7

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Testimonial 4

The business plan which I purchased from your website saved me TIME and MONEY! The layout of the business plan was excellent. The financial statements were detailed and easy for me to edit. I will come back to purchase another business plan soon.

Testimonial 5

I was able to understand the business side of farming because of your business plan. You did extensive research; the business plan was well prepared and fully detailed.  It made everything clear, and I have somewhere to start now. I am confident that I am going to succeed in my business because of the guidance from your business plan.

Get the Petrol Station Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel)

Click Buy Now  below to purchase using Paypal, Credit Card, or Debit Card. After you have purchased, you will immediately see the download link for the business plan package on the screen. You will also immediately get an email with the business plan download link. The Pre-written business plan package (PDF, Word, and Excel) costs $30 only!

If you want to purchase multiple business plans at once then click here: Business Plans Store.

The business plan package is a zipped compressed file containing the PDF, Word and Excel documents. To open the package after downloading it, just right click, and select Extract All. If you have any problems in downloading and opening the files, email us on [email protected] and we will assist you.

We wish you the best in your petrol station business! Check out our collection of business plans  , and more business ideas .

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App Development , Blog , Fuel Delivery App , Startups

How to Start a Fuel Delivery Business?

• By Aasheen Khan

If starting your own Fuel Delivery Business is your dream, then you’re at the right place. In today’s blog, we will cover all the fundamentals of How to Start a Fuel Delivery Business. So keep reading further to learn all the basics of starting a fuel delivery business and how an on-demand fuel delivery app will help you boost your business.

IdeaUsher experts are here to tell you everything you need to know about starting your online fuel delivery business and What it takes to run it successfully.

Fuel delivery at your doorstep still seems to be a distant dream. However, in some parts of the world, it is already an ongoing trend. Some companies promise to deliver fuel (petrol, diesel, oil) to your doorstep.

Sounds pretty exciting, right? Forget about the nuisance of going to the gas stations in the heavy traffic, which ends up wasting a lot of your time. With fuel delivery businesses, you can have fuel delivered to your doorstep with just one click on your phone.

Before we discuss the methodology, please tell us a bit more about the Fuel delivery Business and how it works.

What is a Fuel Delivery Business?- A Brief Introduction

How does fuel delivery business work, how to start a fuel delivery service step-by-step explanation., on-demand fuel delivery app and its significance on the business., 5 key features of an on-demand fuel delivery app, how much does it cost to build a fuel delivery app, challenges faced by fuel delivery businesses, best fuel delivery app solutions with ideausher, conclusions.

With the dawn of digitalization, a lot of things are shifting towards the virtual world of the internet. Especially after the pandemic hit the world, all the businesses, big or small, were forced to operate online.  

However, online fuel delivery is still a new concept for many. It is making its way into the market at a very quick pace. It is quite famous in some parts of the world such as the USA and the UK. 

Those who are using this service are so convinced by the benefits that fuel delivery businesses provide. Since fuel delivery service is an extremely convenient and effective way of refueling your vehicles. Furthermore, it saves a lot of time and money that would have otherwise been wasted going to and fro to gas stations.

According to Transparency Market Research, the global fuel delivery systems market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.4% from 2016 to 2024. This growth trajectory indicates an increase in market value, rising from US$4,330.7 million in 2015 to an estimated US$5,969.1 million by 2024.

Since we have known about the fuel delivery business, let us quickly know how a Fuel Delivery Service works. So a fuel delivery service operates its business through a mobile-based application. 

The user needs to download the app and then register himself on the application using email or any other registration option. After registration, the location-aware application automatically pins the location of the vehicle that needs refueling.

However, you can pin the location on the map manually, too, if the vehicle’s location is different from your current location.

The fuel driver can navigate your pinned location through their own app. After that, he will reach your location and refuel your vehicle. The money is deducted from the payment option you chose earlier while registering on the app.

With this last step, you’re now done refueling your vehicle at your doorstep using an online refueling service. Sounds pretty simple and straightforward, Isn’t it?

If you want to learn more about Fuel Delivery Business, check out our detailed Fuel Delivery App blog .

In this next segment of our blog, we will cover all the steps that one should follow to start their own Fuel Delivery Business. We have simplified the whole process by dividing it into 5 simple steps. So, with any further ado, let us begin with the steps!

Step 1 License Approval

The first and foremost step to start a fuel delivery business is to get an approved license by the authorities. If you want your fuel delivery business to operate smoothly, you must follow all the latest norms and guidelines. In the USA, all the fuel delivery startups follow the guidelines regulated by EPA and PHMSA .

Safety guidelines and regulations are pretty much universal to fuel-based businesses. Safety is the most crucial aspect of this kind of business. Henceforth, you must comply with all the rules and regulations. Getting an approved license from federal and state authorities is one of them.

Step 2 Building a Fleet of Fuel Delivery Trucks

Once you get an approved license from the authorities, the next step is to build a fleet of trucks. These trucks are the ones that will deliver the fuel to the customers. Building a fleet of trucks is part of creating a fundamental groundwork for fuel delivery services.

When you build a fleet, make sure that your mini trucks are equipped with mobile fuel dispensing units. Furthermore, make sure that they have GPS trackers installed in them to track them effectively. Also, ensure that your truck adheres to the federal and state authorities’ safety and quality guidelines.

Step 3 Hire Professional Truck Drivers

We are dealing with hazardous material (HAZMAT) in this business. Fuel is a combustible substance that requires professional drivers who can deliver the fuel safely to the customer’s doorstep.

HAZMAT drivers understand how to safely transfer combustible fuel to your doorstep. Similarly, they know how to take the road routes smartly according to that area’s population density. Henceforth, you must hire professional HAZMAT drivers for your fuel delivery business. 

Step 4 Partnering with Fuel Providers

The last and most important step to start a fuel delivery business is to collaborate with the fuel providers. Without the fuel, your fuel delivery business is just useless. No one wants any interruptions in the fuel supply; hence you must collaborate with the right fuel provider for your business. 

These were some of the basic steps to start your fuel delivery business. Follow these steps to ensure a smooth and profitable fuel delivery business.

The whole motive for starting this business is to simplify refueling vehicles without having to go to the gas stations.

Henceforth, it is very much clear now that a Fuel Delivery Business is just impossible without a robust and strong mobile application. An on-demand Fuel Delivery App is a must for this business. The app must include features to improve the user experience and the driver’s experience.

A fully featured mobile app is the spine of a fuel delivery business. You can’t process your business without an integrated app with all the required tools and features. Henceforth, it is important when you are starting a fuel delivery business; that you do not compromise on the mobile app’s quality.

The app must consist of a smart and simplified user, driver, and admin panel. Through the admin panel, the business owner could keep an eye on all the orders and transactions. Similarly, the admin can also track the location of the drivers and manage everything through this panel.

However, developing an app is not a simple task. It requires expertise and precision. As you are developing an app to improve customer service and enhance their experience. It is indispensable that you choose the best developers. With IdeaUsher, you can create a robust and strong Fuel Delivery App in your budget. So do remember to check out our Fuel Delivery App Portfolio .

There are definitely some features of the app that can make or break your fuel delivery business. We have covered a list of the most important features that you must integrate into your fuel delivery app. The features are as follows-

1. Location-aware app (GPS Tracking)

A location-aware app would enable the fuel truck drivers to know the delivery location quickly. This feature will enhance the productivity of your app by simplifying the whole process of ordering fuel online.

Also, make sure that you have advanced features in your app where users can manually pin their location on the app. This feature is necessary so that users can pin their vehicle location even if their vehicle is parked somewhere else.

This feature comes in very handy when someone is stuck in the middle of an obscure area. By using this feature they can easily pin their location to get their vehicle refueled.

2. Select Type, Quantity, and Time of Fuel

A very important and primitive feature of any fuel delivery app would be its ability to allow its users to customize their orders. With this feature, the users can choose the type of fuel (petrol or diesel) they will need for their vehicle.

Similarly, they can also choose the quantity of the fuel. Furthermore, users can even choose the time frame of when they will need the fuel. By enabling these features in the app, you make it easier for the users to get customized fuel delivery very efficiently.

3. Payment Options

Now, this feature is universal for all On-demand delivery services across the globe. You must provide a bunch of different payment options to your customers. It will ensure that they have a wide variety of options to choose from, increasing the app’s productivity. 

It would be best to enlist all the options such as Cash, Internet Banking, e-wallets, Cards, etc., in the app. Also, ensure that all the payment gateways you’re integrating into your app are extremely safe and reliable to use.

4. In-App Call & Text

It is one of the most understated features of an On-demand delivery app. By integrating this feature in your app, you are helping users to connect with the drivers directly. By doing so, this feature can easily resolve all users’ concerns without having to leave the app.

Henceforth, ensure that you must integrate an In-app call and text feature in your app.

5. Real-time Fuel Delivery Tracking

We all are very eager to know where our parcel is soon after we place an order. Using this feature customers can track the fuel truck’s location. This will ensure that they are not waiting hopelessly for their fuel to arrive. 

These are some of the features that you must include in your fuel delivery app. These features will help you to boost your fuel delivery startup to a greater extent.

Another most important question that arises while thinking about creating their own mobile app is its development cost. However, to answer this question, we have to consider a lot of other factors.

These factors include Geographical location, Target Platform(Android or iOS), Integrated Technologies, and Features. Developing an app in the USA or Europe is relatively higher than creating an app anywhere else. Similarly, if your target platform is both Android and Apple, the cost of development would be higher in that case. The more advanced the features, the more the cost of development.

 Apart from UI/UX designing and front and back-end development, testing tools also cost a lot. The cost of developing an app also depends on the fact that if it is a Native app or a Hybrid app. Want to know more about native and hybrid apps? And which is better for your business? Check out our detailed comparison of Native and Hybrid apps to learn more.

Taking into consideration all the above-given factors, the cost of developing a robust Fuel Delivery App with all the features is around $20000 to $30000. 

But if budget is your constraint, then you need not to worry. With Idea Usher, you can create a stellar Fuel Delivery App within your budget without compromising on quality. We will deliver you the best service that too within your budget and help you fulfill all your dreams

We are talking about How to start a Fuel Delivery Business. Thus, it is equally important to know about the challenges and problems one might face while starting up a new business. In the case of the fuel delivery business, it comes with its own challenges. In this segment, we have amalgamated all the challenges faced by fuel delivery businesses.

• Extreme Competition

In today’s hypercompetitive world, each and every sector of the industry faces large competition from its peers. Due to this, it becomes extremely difficult to differentiate genuine firms. Ever-increasing competition can take a toll on your fuel delivery business if you do not keep it in sync with the latest technology.

• Financing the Business

It is well-known that fuel is not cheap. It is one of the most expensive commodities in the world. Henceforth, financing a fuel delivery business is not a cakewalk. You have to have a stable source of income to fund this business.

However, having said that, if you can fund your business initially, it can be a great source of profitable income. Consequently, you can even expand your business with profits.

• Safety Issues

As mentioned earlier in the blog, safety issues are of great concern when dealing with the fuel delivery business. You have to get an approved license from federal and state authorities. Similarly, your truck should comply with the safety regulations.  You have to be extremely careful operating a fuel delivery business.

These were some of the most common challenges faced by Fuel Delivery Businesses across the globe. If you are able to overcome these challenges then nothing can stop you from running a successful and profitable fuel delivery business.

If you are looking to create a Fuel Delivery App then you happen to be at the right place. IdeaUsher is a leading software development company that designs web-based and mobile-based solutions for you.

From design to development we have got you covered! Our team of the best developers will guide you through each and every process of app development. We cater to all your needs and requirements to produce best-customized solutions.

Furthermore, we use cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence , Blockchain Development , and Machine Learning, and complement them with human-centric UI/UX design to offer solutions that are futuristic and result-driven.

Our services are not limited to just designing and developing your app. We offer our services post your app’s launch too. Furthermore, we will even help you form effective PR strategies to boost up your app’s performance in the market.

Contact us today to get your dream project started today! Do not forget to check out our portfolio of apps.

Learn how to convert your site visitors to your clients by optimizing your website. Get our E-book for FREE today to unlock the secrets of successful conversions to boost up your business.

Setting up a fuel delivery business is not an easy task. You must acknowledge the fact that you are setting up in one of the most competitive sectors of the market. There is so much you have to do in order to set up your business and run it profitably and successfully.

Here is a simplified list to show you what you will need to start a fuel delivery business-

• Robust App with User, Driver, and Admin Panel
• A Website Panel
• Approved License from the Authorities(Federal and State)
• Fleet of Fuel Trucks
• Professional (HAZMAT) Truck Drivers
• Collaboration with Fuel Providers, Drivers, and Industries

There are a lot of features that you have to integrate into the app to make it user-friendly. The app must cater to the needs of the customers and the truck drivers. 

A smart and user-friendly app will enhance the performance of the business. 

We hope that you like our blog on How to Start a Fuel Delivery Business. You can learn more about the fuel delivery app by reading our detailed blog on Gas Filling Apps .

To conclude setting up a fuel delivery business is a daunting task. One has to overcome a lot of challenges to start a fuel delivery business successfully . However, once you have overcome the challenges, your business will create an uproar in the market. Thus bringing in a lot of profits!

If you are looking to develop a fuel delivery app you can connect with us by clicking the Contact Us button below 

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Q. what is a fuel delivery business.

Ans: A fuel delivery business involves delivering fuel directly to customers’ locations, eliminating the need for customers to visit gas stations.

Q. What are the advantages of starting a fuel delivery business?

Ans: Starting a fuel delivery business offers convenience to customers who prefer fuel delivery to traditional gas station visits. It also provides opportunities for entrepreneurs to tap into a growing market segment.

Q. What steps are involved in starting a fuel delivery business?

Ans: Steps typically include market research, obtaining necessary licenses and permits, purchasing a delivery vehicle, securing fuel suppliers, creating a pricing strategy, developing a marketing plan, and establishing delivery logistics.

Q. What are the legal requirements for operating a fuel delivery business?

Ans: Legal requirements may include obtaining business licenses, and permits for fuel transportation, complying with safety regulations, and adhering to environmental standards for handling and transporting fuel.

Q. How do I find fuel suppliers for my business?

Ans: Researching and establishing relationships with reputable fuel wholesalers or distributors is essential. Networking within the industry and attending trade shows can help connect with potential suppliers.

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• How to start a drone courier delivery business?
• Fuel delivery app development: How To Get Started?
• How to Start a Food Delivery App Business in the UK
• Top 7 On-demand Delivery Start-ups and Companies
• Start your next business with bike taxi app development
• On-Demand Fuel Delivery App Live Demo

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Aasheen believes in in-depth research and strong analyzation of the subjects to ensure that the content delivered is equally captivating and useful to the readers.

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How to Write a Trucking Business Plan + Example Templates

Elon Glucklich

8 min. read

Updated October 31, 2023

Among the biggest threats to the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic was its impact on supply chains. Production stoppages created bottlenecks, leading to delayed orders and higher fulfillment costs. 

Truck drivers stepped up. The U.S. trucking industry generated a record $875 billion in revenue in 2021 , according to industry data. And truck drivers transported nearly three-quarters of the nation’s freight.

Today, there is more demand than ever for truck drivers to move imported and domestic goods from ports and production facilities to homes and businesses across the country. And with over 95% of registered trucking companies having 10 or fewer trucks in their fleet, there are opportunities today for entrepreneurs with experience in trucking to start a business. 

But there are also major hurdles to getting a trucking business up and running. You need the right licenses and permits. You’ll need to hire qualified drivers and maintain your fleet of trucks. You have to account for costs like insurance and fuel – all of this in addition to generating customer leads that will put cargo in your trucks and grow your business.

Because of the careful planning and attention to details involved, it’s crucial to have a solid business plan in place to map out your vision, structure, and operational processes in the transportation industry.

• Why You Need a Business Plan for Your Trucking Business

Trucking businesses need to navigate a patchwork of state and federal regulations. Then there are practical business decisions: Will you be operating private carriers who have the backing of a larger company, or will you employ for-hire carriers hauling the cargo of anyone willing to pay? How much startup funding will you need to purchase a fleet, hire and train drivers?  

Free Download: Sample Trucking Business Plan Template

A business plan will help you determine the startup costs you’ll need for staffing, licensing and insurance. An effective business plan will also help you determine the best strategic opportunities for your business through an analysis of market opportunities and challenges. In this guide, we’ll show you how to tailor your business plan to meet the needs of the trucking industry. You can even download a free trucking business plan template to help get you started.

• Understanding Industry Regulations

Operating within the legal and regulatory framework is both complex and crucial in the trucking industry. New rules and regulations are often under consideration by governing bodies like the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the National Highway Safety Administration – not to mention state regulations. A successful trucking business owner must understand and navigate the wide range of compliance issues that can arise.

A good place to start in your business plan is to compile a detailed list of these legal requirements. Doing so demonstrates your understanding of federal and state guidelines that your company needs to adhere to, as well as your preparedness to stay on top of ongoing compliance issues.

Start by detailing the major regulations that apply to your business. This may include driver compliance requirements (which we will get into in more detail about later), hours of service regulations that dictate how long drivers can operate without rest, safety regulations like regular vehicle inspections, maintenance, and repair, and any specific regulations related to the type of cargo you plan to transport.

Next, explain the steps you will take to keep your trucking business in compliance. These could include regular driver training programs, and the implementation of electronic logging device software to help you monitor and report driving time and hours of service records. You will also need to discuss your insurance strategy – whether and what types of insurance you plan to provide for driver liability or damage to cargo.

Including these details in your business plan shows potential investors, lenders, and other stakeholders that you’re serious about reducing potential legal risks and responding to compliance reviews or audits. It also demonstrates your commitment to running a professional and reliable trucking business.

• Hiring Qualified Drivers

It goes without saying that you can’t operate a trucking business without qualified drivers. And that can be a frustrating challenge. Due to an aging workforce, the trucking industry faced its second-largest number of job vacancies on record in 2022 . To overcome this challenge, you will need to detail a plan to attract, hire, and retain qualified truck drivers.

Begin by detailing the qualifications you’re looking for in drivers. It’s standard to require a certain level of experience and a clean driving record, but you should also consider whether you require specific Commercial Driver’s License endorsements based on the type of freight you plan to haul.

Next, outline your plans for driver training and professional development. Even experienced drivers need to be trained in company procedures and updated on industry regulations. Providing ongoing professional development opportunities can help keep your drivers engaged and committed to their jobs, and detailing those programs in your business plan shows that you are invested in your employees’ growth and success, which can be a significant selling point for job seekers.

You will also need to outline the incentives or benefits you’ll offer to attract and retain top talent. Given the staffing challenges, you should research trucking wages in your area and determine competitive pay, benefits and driver schedules based on that analysis. The trucking industry is known for its high turnover rate, so demonstrating your plans for driver retention is crucial.

• Fleet Management

Another key aspect to cover in your trucking business plan is your fleet management strategy. You will want to detail the type and number of vehicles you plan to start operating with. These details not only determine your initial capacity, but provide lenders or investors with a clearer upfront understanding of your startup costs.

You should be able to provide plenty of details about the specifications of your fleet – whether you’re operating with flatbeds, refrigerated trucks, or dry vans. Your needs will largely depend on the type of goods you plan to transport, so detailing these will help you focus your initial investments on your most pressing business needs.

Your plan should also explain how you will maintain your vehicles. And as your business grows, a fleet expansion may be necessary, as well as replacing older trucks. The fleet management section of your business plan should include the full range of details about whether you plan to lease or buy trucks, and how you will handle routine maintenance, such as hiring a dedicated in-house mechanic or contracting with a third-party service. Considering these factors in your business plan increases the likelihood you will be prepared to keep providing reliable service in the event of a disruption.

• Finding Clients

You’ve completed your compliance checklist, you’ve hired drivers and purchased your fleet. Now, who is going to give you their business?

You will need to dedicate a lot of space in your business plan to developing a comprehensive marketing and client acquisition strategy. Start by identifying your target market: Are you focusing on local deliveries, or long-haul services? Maybe there’s a specific type of cargo you plan to transport, like refrigerated goods or hazardous materials. Understanding your target market’s unique needs will help you tailor your services and differentiate your business from competitors. 

Next, discuss the tactics you’ll use to reach potential clients. These could include online advertising, cold calling, attending industry networking events or seeking out partnerships with other businesses. Focus on the strategies that best align with your target market and business model.

Referrals are a great source of business in the trucking industry. Take time in your business plan to discuss how you might be able to retain clients and encourage referrals, whether by offering fast delivery times, exceptional customer service, competitive pricing or other methods.

Finally, describe how you plan to retain clients and encourage referrals. This could involve superior customer service, competitive pricing, or value-added services. Client retention is often more cost-effective than client acquisition, and a high referral rate can significantly boost your reputation and bottom line. Outlining these long-term client development strategies in your business plan signals to lenders or potential investors that you’re focused on the long-term growth of your business.

• Fuel Costs and Efficiency

Fuel costs make up a significant portion of trucking company costs, and they can be among the  least predictable costs to forecast for a trucking business. So taking time in your business plan to show that you have a strategy for managing fuel costs and maximizing fuel efficiency in your business plan is critical.

You can use the business plan to explore your strategies for maintaining your fleet for optimal fuel efficiency. Regular maintenance checks can ensure your trucks are running at their best, maximizing miles per gallon and reducing the likelihood of costly breakdowns. Explain your planned maintenance schedule and how you’ll enforce it.

You can also consider technology investments like the use of route optimization software to plan the most efficient routes, as well as how you will train drivers to use fuel-efficient driving techniques like progressive shifting and minimizing idling time. Discuss how you plan to monitor fuel consumption and efficiency, such as through a telematics system to track fuel consumption data in real-time, allowing you to identify any issues quickly and adjust strategies as needed. By addressing fuel costs and efficiency in your business plan, you can show that you’re being proactive in addressing one of the biggest costs in your business.

• Download a free trucking business plan template and example

To help get your business started, check out our free trucking business plan template . You can download this document in Word form and use it as a foundation for your own business plan.

In addition to these resources, you may want to brush up on how to write specific sections of a traditional business plan. If so, take a look at our step-by-step guide on how to write a business plan .

See why 1.2 million entrepreneurs have written their business plans with LivePlan

Elon is a marketing specialist at Palo Alto Software, working with consultants, accountants, business instructors and others who use LivePlan at scale. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism and an MBA from the University of Oregon.

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2 dead in crash of cargo plane near Fairbanks

A fire burns after a Douglas DC-4 crashed along the Tanana River outside Fairbanks on Tuesday. (Michaela Matherne via AP)

Two people died Tuesday morning when a cargo plane crashed on the Tanana River near Fairbanks, Alaska State Troopers said.

The aircraft, described by troopers as a Douglas DC-4, crashed shortly after leaving Fairbanks International Airport, troopers said in an update . The plane crashed into the river about 7 miles south of the airport, then “slid into a steep hill on the bank of the river where it caught fire,” troopers said.

Three National Transportation Safety Board investigators planned to go to the crash site Tuesday afternoon to begin an investigation, said Clint Johnson, the agency’s Alaska chief.

Few additional details were immediately available about the crash, including the names of people on the flight and where it was headed.

Johnson described the four-engine aircraft as a “large transport” plane, meaning it is primarily used for hauling materials, not passengers. The planes, which are increasingly rare, were originally used by the military. The military version of the DC-4 is known as the C-54 Skymaster.

An undated photo of a U.S. Air Force Douglas C-54 Skymaster, a military version of the DC-4. (U.S. Air Force via Wikimedia Commons)

A flight radar tracking site showed the aircraft taking off from Fairbanks International Airport at 9:56 a.m. and terminating at the crash site about four minutes later.

Authorities on Tuesday provided no official confirmation of the operator of the plane at the time of the crash. The aircraft is registered to Alaska Air Fuel, a Wasilla-based fuel hauling company, according to a Federal Aviation Administration database. A person who answered the phone at the company early Tuesday afternoon had no comment.

Mike Emers, owner of Rosie Creek Farm southwest of Fairbanks, was in his office just before 10 a.m. Tuesday when he heard an explosion.

“I looked out the window and coming right over our farm was a four-engine plane, and one of the engines was on fire,” Emers said in a phone interview.

He tried to call 911 but said he couldn’t get through. Then, Emers said, he heard an explosion followed by a crash. He called trooper emergency dispatch and ran toward the column of dark smoke rising from the crash site, he said, hearing more “very loud” explosions as he ran.

”You could feel them on the ground,” Emers said.

His teenage son followed him, along with a neighbor, he said.

A smoke column rises from a Douglas DC-4 that crashed Tuesday about 7 miles south of the Fairbanks International Airport on the Tanana River. Alaska State Troopers say two people were in the plane when it crashed and no survivors have been found. (Photo provided by Gary Contento)

The plane crashed at the base of a forested bluff along the river, and fire was spreading into stands of black and white spruce, Emers said. The pair tried to beat it back with their sweatshirts.

Emers said he saw a large debris field over the charred bluff, including what looked like parts of an aircraft. Some of the debris was on the still partly frozen river.

Trooper helicopters were on scene quickly, he said.

Emers and his son were both shaken up. The plane looked like one that regularly flies over the farm on its path to and from the Fairbanks airport, he said.

Smoke rises from the crash site of a Douglas DC-4 on Tuesday about 7 miles south of the Fairbanks International Airport on the Tanana River. (Photo provided by Alaska State Troopers)

Troopers said they responded to the scene along with University of Alaska Police, Fairbanks Airport Police and Fire, the Fairbanks Police Department, the Esther and Chena Goldstream volunteer fire departments and the Rescue Coordination Center.

A spokesman for Fairbanks International Airport urged the public to avoid the area.

Tess Williams

Tess Williams is a reporter focusing on breaking news and public safety. Before joining the ADN in 2019, she was a reporter for the Grand Forks Herald in North Dakota. Contact her at [email protected].

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Michelle Theriault Boots is a longtime reporter for the Anchorage Daily News. She focuses on in-depth stories about the intersection of public policy and Alaskans' lives. Before joining the ADN in 2012, she worked at daily newspapers up and down the West Coast and earned a master's degree from the University of Oregon.

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Feds give financial boost to biofuel sector amid growing U.S. competition

New funding could slow canada's increasing imports of u.s. biofuels.

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Canada's biofuel industry is welcoming a proposed multi-billion dollar package of financial support from the federal government, although concerns remain about whether it will be enough to compete with lucrative subsidies south of the border and reverse the growing dependence on U.S. imports to meet clean fuel regulations.

The federal government is committing $1.27 billion toward building new biofuel facilities through funding from the Canada Infrastructure Bank and a change to the Clean Fuels Fund.

This month's federal budget also included the creation of a biofuel production fund, worth up to $500 million annually, which would be similar to a production tax credit and subsidize the ongoing operations of a facility.  

"We were pleased to see something in the budget," said David Schick, a vice-president with the Canadian Fuels Association.

Biofuels can be produced from a variety of materials like corn, animals fats and vegetable oils to produce ethanol, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. Biofuels vary in greenhouse gas emissions, but generally produce lower emissions than traditional gasoline and diesel because they burn cleaner . 

As government regulations in Canada are increasing the need for biofuels, imports from the U.S. have also climbed. In 2023, Canadian imports of U.S. fuel ethanol jumped 40 per cent compared to 2022, to 1.76 billion litres.

There are about $10-billion worth of proposed facilities to make biofuels from Canadian raw materials in the country, said Schick, and the new federal support will help support those projects, while helping the economy and environment.

"It's really as simple as make versus buy," said Schick.

"The U.S. programs are going to create a lot of product to come onto the market. We don't want to be in a situation in Canada where we lose all of that tremendous construction and operational capacity on feedstocks and operating these facilities to make these low-carbon products, where the alternative is just bringing them in from the States."

Details, implementation uncertain

For several years the sector has lobbied Ottawa to take action in response to the U.S. government's Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a massive clean energy program. With its lavish subsidies toward many types of low carbon energy, the IRA has attracted investment from around the world to the U.S.

A clean fuel production tax credit included in the IRA that aims to boost the biofuel industry begins January 1, 2025.

In this month's budget, the federal government states, "Not only do [biofuels] generate fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels, they also represent a unique opportunity for the Canadian economy. The industry supports agriculture and forestry jobs and can help decarbonize key sectors like marine, aviation, rail, and heavy industry."

The new federal government subsidies will help level the playing field compared to the IRA, said Schick, although a gap still remains.

"It's somewhere in between a wide margin and comparable. We're trying to understand how the details are going to play out," he said.

Growing the biofuels sector with canola is a "game-changer for our industry," said Chris Vervaet, executive director of the Winnipeg-based Canadian Oilseed Processors Association.

Instead of continuing to export large amounts of canola to be processed overseas, Vervaet would like more refining in Canada to have a more diversified market for canola.

"This was a good announcement and we support it wholeheartedly in terms of a clear signal that the government is willing to support biofuel production in this country," said Vervaet, although he will watch closely how the federal government policies will be implemented.

Several biofuel facilities are already operational or under construction, including the Come by Chance refinery in Newfoundland and Labrador, which celebrated its conversion from a traditional oil refinery to a biofuel facility this week. The complex converts animals fats and vegetable oils into renewable diesel fuel.

‘Green diesel’ business booms at revitalized N.L. refinery

Replacing traditional diesel with either biodiesel or renewable diesel can reduce the carbon intensity of the fuel by about 90 per cent, according to Navius Research . However, the environmental benefit of biofuels can vary greatly based on what source material is used, such as whether it's from waste or crops grown specifically for fuel.

A reduction in the emission from using biofuels can come at the expense of other environmental impacts in different parts of the world, some research has shown , such as as acidification, water footprint and biodiversity loss. 

The new federal incentives, in addition to existing subsidies from some provincial governments, could level the playing field with what's offered in the U.S., said Doug Hooper, the director of policy and regulation with Advanced Biofuels Canada.

"It's pretty hard to do an apples-to-apples comparison, but I think it moves the ball well down the field for Canadian projects to move forward and expand the the current production capacity," he said.

The federal budget will help get more projects built, said Hooper, although some companies are hesitant to invest in a new facility because of the uncertainty surrounding a possible change in government. Fuel regulations, carbon taxes, and subsidy programs could all be impacted, he said.

The federal government's clean fuel regulations aim to reduce the carbon intensity of gasoline and diesel by about 15 per cent by 2030 compared to 2016 levels.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Business reporter

Kyle Bakx is a Calgary-based journalist with the network business unit at CBC News. He files stories from across the country and internationally for web, radio, TV and social media platforms. You can email story ideas to [email protected].

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Politics latest: Search for Scotland's next first minister begins after Yousaf resigns

The Scottish National Party is beginning the search for the country's next first minister after a dramatic day in Scottish politics saw Humza Yousaf quit. Former leader John Swinney is an early favourite for the job.

Tuesday 30 April 2024 07:48, UK

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• Law enforcement agencies pursuing asylum seekers who cannot be found - health secretary
• Next SNP leader tipped to be 'crowned with no contest'
• The contenders who could replace him in Scotland's top job
• Analysis: The biggest political miscalculation of Yousaf's career
• Explained: How did we get here - and what happens next?
• Daily podcast: Does this spell end for Scottish independence?
• Live reporting by Samuel Osborne

By James Robinson , news reporter

The UK will not take back asylum seekers who cross the border into Ireland "until the EU accepts that we can send them back to France", according to a government source.

The comment comes amid an escalating row between Dublin and Westminster over the Irish government's plans for new legislation to enable asylum seekers who cross the border from Northern Ireland to be sent back to the UK.

Irish justice minister Helen McEntee told a parliamentary committee last week that more than 80% of recent arrivals in Ireland came via the land border with Northern Ireland.

Ireland's deputy prime minister and foreign secretary Micheal Martin said the threat of deportation to Rwanda was causing "fearful" migrants to head for Ireland instead of the UK.

As the row deepened on Sunday night, Irish prime minister Simon Harris vowed the country would "not provide a loophole for anybody else's migration challenges".

He also said that "close" collaboration and cooperation between the British and Irish governments was "not just desirable, but absolutely essential".

However, a UK government source said any bid to return asylum seekers from Ireland would be rejected unless France agreed to do the same with boats crossing the Channel.

"We won't accept any asylum returns from the EU via Ireland until the EU accepts that we can send them back to France," the source said.

Law enforcement agencies are pursuing asylum seekers who have failed to keep in contact with the Home Office, Health Secretary  Victoria Atkins  tells Sky News.

Responding to reports that of 5,700 people identified for removal to Rwanda only 2,145 have reported to the Home Office, Ms Atkins says "the expectation is that we remove that group of people, as well as others, by the end of the year".

She adds that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said "he wants the first flights to take off within 10 to 12 weeks, so the urgency is paramount."

Pushed on the asylum seekers who are not reporting to the Home Office, she says: "We want the message to go out loud and clear that if somebody doesn't report as they should do, they shouldn't think that they'll get away with it.

"They will be found, law enforcement have a variety of measures to find people. They will be found, and they will be removed."

She says some in the cohort have already been "detained in facilities" while "others are perhaps staying with friends or family".

By Jenness Mitchell , Scotland reporter

John Swinney is a name that has kept coming up since Humza Yousaf announced his resignation as SNP leader and Scottish first minister today.

He's received the backing of party heavyweights like Stephen Flynn and Ian Blackford, and was the first to announce he's giving "very careful consideration" to running for the leadership.

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Swinney said: "I'm giving very careful consideration to standing to be the leader of the SNP.

"I've been somewhat overwhelmed by the requests that have been made of me to do that, with many, many messages from many colleagues across the party."

There and back again?

Mr Swinney stood down as deputy first minister following Ms Sturgeon's shock resignation in 2023.

The former SNP leader, who resigned from that post in 2004 following poor European Parliament election results, is clearly tempted to once again step into the spotlight following his year on the backbenches.

The MSP for Perthshire North, who was finance secretary under Alex Salmond's government, has the experience to hold the fort following Mr Yousaf's departure.

He ruled himself out of the 2023 leadership race, citing that he had to put his young family first.

Mr Swinney said he's got "lots of things to think about".

He added: "There's the whole question of my family. And I have to make sure that I do the right thing by my family, they are precious to me.

"I have to do the right thing by my party and by my country. So, there's lots to be thought about, and I'll give all of that consideration in the days to come."

Humza Yousaf has quit as Scotland's first minister and leader of the SNP.

We take a look back at how the 39-year-old rose through the ranks to become Scotland's top politician.

Mr Yousaf - the MSP for Glasgow Pollok - was born in the city on 7 April 1985 to a Pakistani father and Kenyan mother.

He was privately educated at Hutchesons' Grammar School in Glasgow and became interested in politics during his youth.

He went on to study the topic at the University of Glasgow, graduating in 2007 with an MA.

During his time at university, he joined the SNP. He was also president of the Muslim Students Association and was involved in the Students' Representative Council.

It was straight to Holyrood for Mr Yousaf, taking a job as a parliamentary assistant to the SNP's Bashir Ahmad - Scotland's first Muslim MSP.

After Mr Ahmad's death two years later, he carried on the role and worked as an assistant for a number of MSPs, including Nicola Sturgeon and the then-first minister Alex Salmond, solidifying his place in the party.

Read more about Mr Yousaf's life in politics from our Scotland reporter Jenness Mitchell here:

By Nick Stylianou, communities producer

More than half of the asylum seekers allocated for removal to Rwanda cannot be found by the Home Office, according to the government's own impact assessment.

Almost 6,000 people were due to be issued a "Notice of Intent" that their asylum claim was inadmissible, but only just over 2,000 are able to be tracked down.

The Home Office claims in a new document that the government of Rwanda has agreed "in principle" to accept 5,700 asylum seekers from the UK, but admits only 2,143 attend regular check-ins and "can be located for detention".

It is unclear whether the 3,557 missing asylum seekers have gone underground to avoid deportation or are victims of administrative errors caused by moving between different taxpayer-funded accommodations.

What a week in politics - and it's only Tuesday.

It's the morning after Humza Yousaf sensationally announced he was stepping down as Scotland's first minister and SNP leader after little more than a year in the hot seat.

It came as Mr Yousaf faced two votes of no confidence in the Scottish parliament following his decision to terminate the Bute House Agreement with the Scottish Greens.

Mr Yousaf intends to remain in the roles until his successor is announced. 

The SNP is now accepting nominations, which will close at noon on Monday 6 May.

Last year's leadership contest to replace former first minister Nicola Sturgeon was bruising for the SNP with then candidates Mr Yousaf, Kate Forbes and Ash Regan trading blows during lively televised debates.

It looks like Ms Forbes is getting ready for round two with a source close to the former finance secretary telling Sky News she is "actively considering" entering the race again.

Meanwhile, John Swinney said he is giving "very careful consideration" to the prospect of throwing his hat into the ring.

Read more on what happens next:

By Jennifer Scott , political reporter

The next leader of the SNP could be "crowned... with no contest", the Scottish Conservatives have claimed, after Humza Yousaf stepped down from the role yesterday.

Mr Yousaf - who has been leader and first minister of Scotland for just over a year - announced his resignation after his decision last week to cut power-sharing ties with the Scottish Green Party saw his leadership collapse.

Now the focus is moving on to who will replace him with nominations now open until midday on Monday 6 June.

Former deputy of the party John Swinney appears to be leading the pack.

Mr Swinney - was Nicola Sturgeon's number two between 2014 and 2023 - has yet to confirm he is running for the leadership, telling Sky News he was "giving very careful consideration" to the decision.

But senior figures have already given him their backing, with the SNP's Westminster leader Stephen Flynn telling Sky News: "Serious times demand serious politics and serious people, and the best person to take that forward now for the Scottish Nationalist Party is John Swinney."

Welcome back to the Politics Hub on Tuesday 30 April.

Here's what's happening today:

• The Scottish National Party is beginning the search for a new leader after a dramatic day in Scottish politics that saw Humza Yousaf announce his resignation as first minister;
• John Swinney, a former SNP leader and deputy first minister, has said he is giving "very careful consideration" to running;
• Hundreds of wrongfully convicted subpostmasters are a step closer to "hard-won exoneration" after MPs backed a change in the law;
• Thousands of asylum seekers identified by the Home Office for deportation for Rwanda are not reporting to the department, a government document suggests.

We'll be discussing all of this and more with:

• Health Secretary Victoria Atkins , at 7.20am;
• Daisy Cooper , Liberal Democrat deputy leader, at 7.45am;
• Jonathan Ashworth , Labour's shadow paymaster general, at 8.15am;
• Stephen Flynn , SNP Westminster leader, at 8.30am.

Follow along for the latest political news.

Thanks for joining us for what has been a very significant day in Scottish politics - as we run up to local elections taking place across the UK on Thursday.

Here's what you need to know:

We'll be back from 6am with all the latest.

By Daniel Dunford , senior data journalist

There might not be a general election just yet, but there are important votes that will define how the areas around us are run for the next four years. 

See what's happening where you are here:

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Internet data centers are fueling drive to old power source: Coal

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — A helicopter hovers over the Gee family farm, the noisy rattle echoing inside their home in this rural part of West Virginia. It’s holding surveyors who are eyeing space for yet another power line next to the property — a line that will take electricity generated from coal plants in the state to address a drain on power driven by the world’s internet hub in Northern Virginia 35 miles away.

There, massive data centers with computers processing nearly 70 percent of global digital traffic are gobbling up electricity at a rate officials overseeing the power grid say is unsustainable unless two things happen: Several hundred miles of new transmission lines must be built, slicing through neighborhoods and farms in Virginia and three neighboring states. And antiquated coal-powered electricity plants that had been scheduled to go offline will need to keep running to fuel the increasing need for more power, undermining clean energy goals.

“It’s not right,” said Mary Gee, whose property already abuts two power lines that serve as conduits for electricity flowing toward the biggest concentration of data centers — in Loudoun County, home to what’s known as Data Center Alley. “These power lines? They’re not for me and my family. I didn’t vote on this. And the data centers? That’s not in West Virginia. That’s a whole different state.”

The $5.2 billion effort has fueled a backlash against data centers through the region, prompting officials in Virginia to begin studying the deeper impacts of an industry they’ve long cultivated for the hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue it brings to their communities.

Critics say it will force residents near the coal plants to continue living with toxic pollution, ironically to help a state — Virginia — that has fully embraced clean energy. And utility ratepayers in the affected areas will be forced to pay for the plan in the form of higher bills, those critics say.

But PJM Interconnection, the regional grid operator, says the plan is necessary to maintain grid reliability amid a wave of fossil fuel plant closures in recent years, prompted by the nation’s transition to cleaner power.

Transmission

line proposal

Expand lines along existing right of way

Rebuild lines along existing right of way

Expand lines along

existing right of way

Rebuild lines along

Transmission line proposal

New transmission line

First Energy

502 Junction Substation

PENNSYLVANIA

Fort Martin power station

power plant

Brandon Shores

Harrisonburg

Fredericksburg

Charlottesville

Longview power plant

Fort Martin

Expand along existing right of way

Rebuild along existing right of way

Build new line

Detail below

Harrison power plant

502 Junction

Power lines will be built across four states in a $5.2 billion effort that, relying on coal plants that were meant to be shuttered, is designed to keep the electric grid from failing amid spiking energy demands.

Harpers Ferry

transmission

Poolesville

Purcellville

High density of

data center

Int’l

Centreville

Gainesville

Cutting through farms and neighborhoods, the plan converges on Northern Virginia, where a growing data center industry will need enough extra energy to power 6 million homes by 2030.

With not enough of those green energy facilities connected to the grid yet, enough coal and natural gas energy to power 32 million homes is expected to be lost by 2030 at a time when the demand from the growing data center industry, electric vehicles and other new technology is on the rise, PJM says.

“The system is in a major transition right now, and it’s going to continue to evolve,” Ken Seiler, PJM’s senior vice president in charge of planning, said in a December stakeholders’ meeting about the effort to buy time for green energy to catch up. “And we’ll look for opportunities to do everything we can to keep the lights on as it goes through this transition.”

A need for power

Data centers that house thousands of computer servers and the cooling equipment needed for them to run have been multiplying in Northern Virginia since the late 1990s, spreading from the industry’s historic base in Loudoun County to neighboring Prince William County and, recently, across the Potomac River into Maryland. There are nearly 300 data centers now in Virginia.

With Amazon Web Services pursuing a $35 billion data center expansion in Virginia, rural portions of the state are the industry’s newest target for development.

The growth means big revenue for the localities that host the football-field-size buildings. Loudoun collects $600 million in annual taxes on the computer equipment inside the buildings, making it easier to fund schools and other services. Prince William, the second-largest market, collects $100 million per year.

But data centers also consume massive amounts of energy.

One data center can require 50 times the electricity of a typical office building, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Multiple-building data center complexes, which have become the norm, require as much as 14 to 20 times that amount.

The demand has strained utility companies, to the point where Dominion Energy in Virginia briefly warned in 2022 that it may not be able to keep up with the pace of the industry’s growth.

The utility — which has since accelerated plans for new power lines and substations to boost its electrical output — predicts that by 2035 the industry in Virginia will require 11,000 megawatts, nearly quadruple what it needed in 2022, or enough to power 8.8 million homes.

The smaller Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative recently told PJM that the more than 50 data centers it serves account for 59 percent of its energy demand. It expects to need to serve about 110 more data centers by July 2028.

Meanwhile, the amount of energy available is not growing quickly enough to meet that future demand. Coal plants have scaled down production or shut down altogether as the market transitions to green energy, hastened by laws in Maryland and Virginia mandating net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 and, for several other states in the region, by 2050.

Dominion is developing a 2,600-megawatt wind farm off Virginia Beach — the largest such project in U.S. waters — and the company recently gained state approval to build four solar projects.

But those projects won’t be ready in time to absorb the projected gap in available energy. Opponents of PJM’s plan say it wouldn’t be necessary if more green energy had been connected to the grid faster, pointing to projects that were caught up in bureaucratic delays for five years or longer before they were connected.

A PJM spokesperson said the organization has recently sped up its approval process and is encouraging utility companies and federal and state officials to better incorporate renewable energy.

About 40,000 megawatts of green energy projects have been cleared for construction but are not being built because of issues related to financing or siting, the PJM spokesperson said.

Once more renewable energy is available, some of the power lines being built to address the energy gap may no longer be needed as the coal plants ultimately shut down, clean energy advocates say — though utility companies contend the extra capacity brought by the lines will always be useful.

“Their planning is just about maintaining the status quo,” Tom Rutigliano, a senior advocate for clean energy at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said about PJM. “They do nothing proactive about really trying to get a handle on the future and get ready for it.”

‘Holding on tight’ to coal

The smoke from two coal plants near West Virginia’s border with Pennsylvania billows over the city of Morgantown, adding a brownish tint to the air.

Nearby sits the 502 Junction substation, connected to those plants and a third one about 43 miles away via existing power lines, which will serve as a terminus for a western prong of the PJM plan for new lines that will extend to another substation in Frederick, Md., then south into Northern Virginia.

The owner of one of the Morgantown-area plants, Longview LLC, recently emerged from bankruptcy. After a restructuring, the facility is fully functioning, utilizing a solar farm to supplement its coal energy output.

The other two plants belong to the Ohio-based FirstEnergy Corp. utility, which had plans to significantly scale down operations there to meet a company goal of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by nearly a third over the next six years.

The FirstEnergy plants are among the state’s worst polluters, said Jim Kotcon, a West Virginia University plant pathology professor who oversees conservation efforts at the Sierra Club’s West Virginia chapter.

The Harrison plant pumped out a combined 12 million tons of coal pollutants like sulfur and nitrous oxides in 2023, more than any other fossil fuel plant in the state, according to Environmental Protection Agency data. The Fort Martin plant, which has been operating since the late 1960s, emitted the state’s highest levels of nitrous oxides in 2023, at 5,240 tons.

After PJM tapped the company to build a 36-mile-long portion of the planned power lines for $392 million, FirstEnergy announced in February that the company is abandoning a 2030 goal to significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions because the two plants are crucial to maintaining grid reliability.

The news has sent FirstEnergy’s stock price up by 4 percent, to about $37 a share this week, and was greeted with jubilation by West Virginia’s coal industry.

“We welcome this, without question, because it will increase the life of these plants and hundreds of thousands of mining jobs,” said Chris Hamilton, president of the West Virginia Coal Association. “We’re holding on tight to our coal plants.”

Since 2008, annual coal production in West Virginia has dipped by nearly half, to about 82 million tons, though the industry — which contributes about $5.5 billion to the state’s economy — has rebounded some due to an export market to Europe and Asia, Hamilton said.

Hamilton said his association will lobby hard for FirstEnergy’s portion of the PJM plan to gain state approval. The company said it will submit its application for its power line routes in mid-2025.

More than 200 miles to the east in Maryland, environmental groups and ratepayer advocates are fighting an effort by PJM to extend the life of two more coal plants — Brandon Shores and Herbert A. Wagner — just outside of Baltimore, which were slated to close by June 2025.

PJM asked the plants’ owner, Texas-based Talen Energy Corp., to keep them running through 2028 — with the yet-to-be determined cost of doing so passed on to ratepayers.

That would mean amending a 2018 federal court consent decree, in which Talen agreed to stop burning coal to settle a lawsuit brought by the Sierra Club over Clean Water Act violations. The Sierra Club has rejected PJM’s calls to do so.

“We need a proactive plan that is consistent with the state’s clean energy goals,” said Josh Tulkin, director of the Sierra Club’s Maryland chapter, which has proposed an alternative plan to build a battery storage facility at the Brandon Shores site that would cut the time needed for the plants to operate.

A PJM spokesperson said the organization believes that such a facility wouldn’t provide enough reliable power and is not ruling out seeking a federal emergency order to keep the coal plants running.

With the matter still unresolved, nearby residents say they are anxious to see them closed.

“It’s been really challenging,” said John Garofolo, who lives in the Stoney Beach neighborhood community of townhouses and condominiums, where coal dust drifts into the neighborhood pool when the facilities are running. “We’re concerned about the air we’re breathing here.”

Sounding alarms

Keryn Newman, a Charles Town activist, has been sounding alarms in the small neighborhoods and farm communities along the path of the proposed power lines in West Virginia.

Newman, who in the late 2000s waged a successful campaign to stop a plan for a 765-kilovolt line extending through the area into Maryland before the data center boom, sees the battle in terms of the more affordable, quieter lifestyle she and her neighbors cherish.

Because FirstEnergy prohibits any structure from interfering with a power line, building a new line along the right of way — which would be expanded to make room for the third line — would mean altering the character of residents’ properties, Newman said.

“It gobbles up space for play equipment for your kid, a pool or a barn,” she said. “And a well or septic system can’t be in the right of way.”

A FirstEnergy spokesperson said the company would compensate property owners for any land needed, with eminent domain proceedings a last resort if those property owners are unwilling to sell.

Some have accepted that more power lines will come through and seem open to selling to FirstEnergy and moving away.

Pam and Gary Gearhart fought alongside Newman against the defeated 765-kilovolt line, which would have forced them to move a septic system near FirstEnergy’s easement. But when Newman showed up recently to their Harpers Ferry-area neighborhood to discuss the new PJM plan, the couple appeared unwilling to fight again.

Next door, another family had already decided to leave, the couple said, and was in the midst of loading furniture into a truck when Newman showed up.

“They’re just going to keep okaying data centers; there’s money in those things,” Pam Gearhart said about local governments in Virginia benefiting from the tax revenue. “Until they run out of land down there.”

In Loudoun County, where the data center industry’s encroachment into neighborhoods has fostered resentment, community groups are fighting a portion of the PJM plan that would build power lines through the mostly rural communities of western Loudoun.

The lines would damage the views offered by surrounding wineries and farms that contribute to Loudoun’s $4 billion tourism industry, those groups say.

Bill Hatch owns a winery that sits near the path of where PJM suggested one high-voltage line could go, though that route is still under review.

“This is going to be a scar for a long time,” Hatch said.

Reconsidering the benefits

Amid the backlash, local and state officials are reconsidering the data center industry’s benefits.

The Virginia General Assembly has launched a study that, among other things, will look at how the industry’s growth may affect energy resources and utility rates for state residents.

But that study has held up efforts to regulate the industry sooner, frustrating activists.

“We should not be subsidizing this industry for another minute, let alone another year,” Julie Bolthouse, director of land use at the Piedmont Environmental Council, chided a Senate committee that voted in February to table a bill that would force data center companies to pay more for new transmission lines.

Loudoun is moving to restrict where in the county data centers can be built. Up until recently, data centers have been allowed to be built without special approvals wherever office buildings are allowed.

“They’re great neighbors, great taxes, all that sort of thing,” Phyllis Randall (D), chair of the county board, said about the industry before a February vote to set that plan in motion. “But somehow, someway, it started to get away from us.”

But such action will do little to stem the worries of people like Mary and Richard Gee.

As it is, the two lines near their property produce an electromagnetic field strong enough to charge a garden fence with a light current of electricity, the couple said. When helicopters show up to survey the land for a third line, the family’s dog, Peaches, who is prone to seizures, goes into a barking frenzy.

An artist who focuses on natural landscapes, Mary Gee planned to convert the barn that sits in the shadow of a power line tower to a studio. That now seems unlikely, she said.

Lately, her paintings have reflected her frustration. One picture shows birds with beaks wrapped shut by transmission line. Another has a colorful scene of the rural Charles Town area severed by a smoky black and gray landscape of steel towers and a coal plant.

“It feels like harassment,” Gee said. “But there’s no one we can call for help.”

A previous version of this article incorrectly reported that Prince William County receives $400 million annually in taxes on the computer equipment inside data centers. It receives $100 million annually. In addition, the article incorrectly stated that two FirstEnergy plants in West Virginia have been equipped with carbon-capturing technology. They do not have such technology in place, The article has been corrected.

About this story

Map sources: Proposed transmission line data provided by Piedmont Environmental Council based on information made available by PJM . The transmission line plan depicts general paths selected by PJM; the final routes will be determined by the utility companies. Existing transmission lines via the EIA U.S. Energy Atlas . Data center locations in Virginia provided by the Data Center Map . Other cartographic data via U.S. Geological Survey and OpenStreetMap.

Story editing by Jennifer Barrios . Copy editing by Thomas Heleba and Shay Quillen. Design and development by Carson TerBush . Design editing by Christian Font and Betty Chavarria . Photo editing by Mark Miller . Visual editing by Tara McCarty . Maps by Laris Karklis . Graphics editing by Kate Rabinowitz .