How Much Does It Cost to Start a Convenience Store?
Last updated: May 2026
National Average
Low
$50,000
Medium
$280,000
High
$750,000
A small retail store open extended hours selling everyday essentials, snacks, beverages, and tobacco products. Often paired with fuel sales or lottery tickets.
Time to Launch
3-9 months
Profit Margins
2-5%
Break-Even Timeline
18-36 months
Interactive Cost Calculator
Select a state below to see state-adjusted costs.
Startup Cost Calculator
Convenience Store in Nationally
Budget:
$80,000
$100,000
$50,000
$10,000
$5,000
$7,000
$8,000
$25,000
Options
Employees:
Startup Costs
$285,000
Monthly Costs
$30,000
First Year Total
$645,000
Startup Costs by State
| State | Low | Medium | High | LLC Fee | Sales Tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | $38,500 | $215,600 | $577,500 | $50 | 7.0% |
| West Virginia | $38,500 | $215,600 | $577,500 | $100 | 6.0% |
| Oklahoma | $40,000 | $224,000 | $600,000 | $100 | 4.5% |
| Alabama | $40,500 | $226,800 | $607,500 | $200 | 4.0% |
| Arkansas | $40,500 | $226,800 | $607,500 | $45 | 6.5% |
| North Dakota | $41,000 | $229,600 | $615,000 | $135 | 5.0% |
| Iowa | $41,500 | $232,400 | $622,500 | $50 | 6.0% |
| Kansas | $41,500 | $232,400 | $622,500 | $160 | 6.5% |
| Missouri | $41,500 | $232,400 | $622,500 | $50 | 4.2% |
| South Dakota | $41,500 | $232,400 | $622,500 | $150 | 4.2% |
| Kentucky | $42,000 | $235,200 | $630,000 | $40 | 6.0% |
| Louisiana | $42,000 | $235,200 | $630,000 | $100 | 5.0% |
| Wyoming | $42,000 | $235,200 | $630,000 | $100 | 4.0% |
| Nebraska | $42,500 | $238,000 | $637,500 | $105 | 5.5% |
| Indiana | $43,000 | $240,800 | $645,000 | $95 | 7.0% |
| Michigan | $44,000 | $246,400 | $660,000 | $50 | 6.0% |
| Ohio | $44,000 | $246,400 | $660,000 | $99 | 5.8% |
| New Mexico | $45,000 | $252,000 | $675,000 | $50 | 4.9% |
| South Carolina | $45,000 | $252,000 | $675,000 | $110 | 6.0% |
| Wisconsin | $45,500 | $254,800 | $682,500 | $130 | 5.0% |
| Tennessee | $46,000 | $257,600 | $690,000 | $300 | 7.0% |
| Texas | $46,000 | $257,600 | $690,000 | $300 | 6.3% |
| Georgia | $47,000 | $263,200 | $705,000 | $100 | 4.0% |
| Minnesota | $47,000 | $263,200 | $705,000 | $155 | 6.9% |
| Illinois | $47,500 | $266,000 | $712,500 | $150 | 6.3% |
| Idaho | $48,000 | $268,800 | $720,000 | $100 | 6.0% |
| North Carolina | $48,000 | $268,800 | $720,000 | $125 | 4.8% |
| Pennsylvania | $48,000 | $268,800 | $720,000 | $125 | 6.0% |
| Montana | $48,500 | $271,600 | $727,500 | $35 | 0.0% |
| Utah | $50,000 | $280,000 | $750,000 | $54 | 6.1% |
| Delaware | $52,000 | $291,200 | $780,000 | $110 | 0.0% |
| Nevada | $52,500 | $294,000 | $787,500 | $425 | 6.8% |
| Virginia | $53,500 | $299,600 | $802,500 | $100 | 5.3% |
| Vermont | $54,500 | $305,200 | $817,500 | $125 | 6.0% |
| Arizona | $55,000 | $308,000 | $825,000 | $50 | 5.6% |
| Colorado | $55,000 | $308,000 | $825,000 | $50 | 2.9% |
| Florida | $56,000 | $313,600 | $840,000 | $125 | 6.0% |
| Oregon | $56,000 | $313,600 | $840,000 | $100 | 0.0% |
| Rhode Island | $56,000 | $313,600 | $840,000 | $150 | 7.0% |
| Maine | $57,000 | $319,200 | $855,000 | $175 | 5.5% |
| New Hampshire | $58,500 | $327,600 | $877,500 | $102 | 0.0% |
| Washington | $59,000 | $330,400 | $885,000 | $200 | 6.5% |
| Connecticut | $59,500 | $333,200 | $892,500 | $120 | 6.3% |
| Maryland | $60,500 | $338,800 | $907,500 | $100 | 6.0% |
| New Jersey | $62,500 | $350,000 | $937,500 | $125 | 6.6% |
| Alaska | $63,500 | $355,600 | $952,500 | $250 | 0.0% |
| New York | $69,500 | $389,200 | $1,042,500 | $200 | 4.0% |
| California | $76,000 | $425,600 | $1,140,000 | $70 | 7.3% |
| Massachusetts | $77,000 | $431,200 | $1,155,000 | $500 | 6.3% |
| Hawaii | $96,500 | $540,400 | $1,447,500 | $50 | 4.0% |
Cheapest & Most Expensive States
5 Cheapest States
- Mississippi$215,600
- West Virginia$215,600
- Oklahoma$224,000
- Alabama$226,800
- Arkansas$226,800
5 Most Expensive States
- Hawaii$540,400
- Massachusetts$431,200
- California$425,600
- New York$389,200
- Alaska$355,600
Frequently Asked Questions
Opening a convenience store spans a wide range. A small store without gas pumps in existing retail space can open in the low six figures. Adding a full fuel system with underground storage tanks pushes total cost materially higher — often into the high six or low seven figures. Use the calculator on this page to model your specific scenario.
Convenience stores generate high revenue but operate on thin net margins as a percentage of revenue. A store grossing seven figures annually nets a relatively modest dollar profit relative to the investment. Stores with fuel, lottery, and prepared food dramatically improve margins. Location is everything — high-traffic areas near schools, offices, and transit are ideal.
Buying an existing convenience store is typically priced as a multiple of EBITDA or as a percentage of annual gross sales. Gas stations with stores command premium prices and are valued primarily on combined fuel-and-store cash flow.
Required licenses include a business license, tobacco retail permit, state lottery license, food service permit if selling prepared food, alcohol license if selling beer/wine, and fuel dealer license if selling gas. Alcohol licenses vary materially by state in both cost and processing time.
Gas stations with convenience stores are more profitable than stores alone due to higher traffic. Per-gallon fuel margins are typically thin, but volume produces a meaningful monthly fuel-margin contribution. The real profit comes from inside sales — customers who stop for gas buy snacks, beverages, and prepared food at materially higher gross margin.