Franchise Information, advice and news.

Anybody watching the recent London Marathon will have noticed the plethora of water refuelling stations and people scoffing energy bars as they sprinted, jogged or plodded their way around 26 miles of the fair capital.

And while human bodies certainly need a lot of refuelling, our four-wheeled friends are no different, meaning a strategically placed gas station could prove just as popular with motorists keen to be on their way as a sweating, thirsty marathon runner coming across a water pit-stop.

Location is everything when it comes to gas stations, but the industry learned long ago that a simple gas pump in the middle of the Arizona desert would be a lifeline to some, but hardly a money-spinning idea. This is why gas stations, whether located on a picturesque strip of Route 66 or around the corner from a housing estate, offer much more than simple petroleum in order to make the most of the customers that stumble through the door.

To most Americans, their car is like another member of the family. It helps them get from home to work and back, to go on vacation and to escape from the outside world when travelling around the city - and many treat their vehicles with respect. This means that gas stations are used as second homes, giving the car a drink and heading into the convenience store at the gas station to stock up on groceries themselves, grabbing a paper, having a chat to their neighbours and driving home in comfort.

And this method can be a highly efficient business model. Entrepreneurs looking for an easy to run, in demand and lucrative business would do well to find one as ready-packaged as a gas station. Franchising is the preferred method of running a station, although it is possible to organise it independently.

But potential franchisees need to be aware of the rigours of running a station, with long hours, repetitive regimes and huge start up fees all major considerations. Major gas station fees can hit around $1.5 million, although it is possible to obtain a small station with a c-store for as little as $50,000.

Nevertheless, while owning a franchise comes with the benefits of training, marketing and the corporate image of the franchiser, potential franchisees should weigh up their options before committing to a long term deal over a gas station business. Financial research as well as a high level of investigation into the industry and a day in the life of a gas station owner is highly recommended.

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