Gulf C-Store franchise
2026 filing · April 27, 2026
Gulf C-Store at a glance
A Gulf-branded convenience store at a Gulf fuel station, converted from the owner's existing store.
The business
- Industry
- Retail
- Franchisor
- Gulf Franchising, Inc
- The company that sells the franchises
What you pay
- Cost to open
- $148K–$652K
- Converting an existing convenience store
- Franchise fee
- $25,000
- Paid once, when you sign
- Royalty
- 3%–5.5%
- 3% to 5.5% of gross sales, paid monthly; a marketing fee of up to $1,000 a month may be added
- Brand fund
- None now
- Not charged at present; up to $1,000 a month
- Territory
- None
- No exclusive territory
Where it is
- US locations, 2025
- 0
- Franchised and company-owned
- Franchised
- 0
- Company-owned
- 0
- Change in 3 years
- 0
- Franchised locations, 2023–2025
From Gulf Franchising, Inc’s 2026 filing; SBA status from the SBA Franchise Directory, October 28, 2026.
Where it ranks
Gulf C-Store among all franchises with the same figure.
| Figure | Gulf C-Store | Among all franchises |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, midpointHalfway between the low and high estimate | $399,600 | Costs more than 54% of franchises |
| Franchise feePaid once, when you sign | $25,000 | Lower than 82% of franchises |
| US locationsFranchised and company-owned | 0 | Fewer than 97% of franchises |
How much a Gulf C-Store franchise costs
Opening converting an existing convenience store costs an estimated $147,650 to $651,550. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
The biggest costs are leasehold improvements ($0 to $300,000) and furniture, fixtures, and equipment ($30,000 to $150,000). Here is every line of the estimate as filed:
| What it pays for | Range | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $25,000 | ||
| Site Development Fee | $750 | ||
| Mandatory Pre-Opening initial Training Fees | $400 | $800 | |
| Pre-Opening Training Travel and Living Expenses | $1,500 | $5,000 | |
| Real Estate | $0 | ||
| Leasehold Improvements | $0 | $300,000 | |
| Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment | $30,000 | $150,000 | |
| Signage | $2,500 | $5,000 | |
| Opening Inventory and Supplies | $50,000 | $100,000 | |
| Grand Opening Advertising | $2,500 | $5,000 | |
| Miscellaneous Opening Costs | $15,000 | $20,000 | |
| Additional Funds—3 Months | $20,000 | $40,000 | |
| Total | $147,650 | $651,550 | |
Source: Gulf Franchising, Inc, 2026 filing, page 24
Gulf C-Store franchise fee
The franchise fee is $25,000. You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Gulf Franchising, Inc, 2026 filing, page 14
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 3% to 5.5% of gross sales, paid monthly; a marketing fee of up to $1,000 a month may be added. |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | Not charged at present; up to $1,000 a month. |
| Transfer Fee | 50% of the then- |
The typical franchise royalty is 6% of sales, plus 2% for marketing. See franchise fees and royalties to compare.
Source: Gulf Franchising, Inc, 2026 filing, pages 14 and 15
Other fees as filed, from page 15. The filing lists every fee, including late fees and audit costs.
Sales and earnings
No figures Gulf C-Store does not share sales or profit figures for its locations. Talking to current and former franchise owners is the usual way to learn what a location earns.
Source: Gulf Franchising, Inc, 2026 filing, page 49
How Gulf C-Store compares
Of the 302 retail franchises on this site, Gulf C-Store is the 97th cheapest to open and the 283rd largest by number of locations.
| Figure | Gulf C-Store | Typical retail brand | Typical franchise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $148K | $198K | $222K |
| Cost to open, high end | $652K | $425K | $477K |
| Franchise fee | $25K | $35K | $40K |
| US locations | 0 | 38 | 21 |
| Shares earnings figures | No | 187 of 302 | 2,147 of 3,352 |
Typical is the median across the 302 brands in retail franchises; typical franchise, across every brand here.
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 0 (0) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 (0) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 (0) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
See which brands grew most in the fastest-growing franchises rankings.
More in the guides: gas station franchises and franchise failure rates.
Source: Gulf Franchising, Inc, 2026 filing, page 50
Who owns Gulf C-Store?
Gulf C-Store franchises are sold by Gulf Franchising, Inc. It is a subsidiary of Gulf, Inc.
From Gulf Franchising, Inc’s 2026 filing, page 9.
Lawsuits and bankruptcy
| Lawsuits and regulatory actions | None. The filing says no litigation has to be disclosed. |
|---|---|
| Bankruptcy | None. The filing says no bankruptcy has to be disclosed. |
Franchisors must disclose lawsuits and bankruptcies involving the company, its parents and affiliates, and its executives. Many cases are routine disputes with franchisees over fees or contracts; read the descriptions in the filing and ask current owners about anything that worries you.
Source: Gulf Franchising, Inc, 2026 filing, litigation on page 14, bankruptcy on page 14
Gulf C-Store filings
The figures on this page come from Gulf Franchising, Inc’s 2026 filing, issued April 27, 2026, on record with the NASAA Electronic Filing Depository.
| Filing | Issued | Registry | On this page |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 filing | April 27, 2026 | NASAA depository | Costs, fees and locations, 2023–2025 |
Each link opens the filing as a PDF. See the newest filings across all brands.
