Owners who are thinking about selling a gas station often wait to start a conversation until they feel organised. That is understandable, but you do not need a finished file to ask a first question. It still helps to know what a buyer or lender will eventually want to see, because finding it takes time. This list is general. It is not legal, tax or environmental advice, and which items apply depends on your station.
How the property is held
Start with the basics of ownership. If you own the land and buildings, that means the deed and any mortgage or lien paperwork. If you lease the property, it means the lease itself, with any amendments, and the name of the landlord. If the business is owned through a company or partnership, gather the documents that show who the owners are and who may sign. Whether the real estate is part of a sale is one of the first questions on the inquiry form, so it helps to know the answer.
Business records
A buyer will want to understand how the business performs. Typical items are financial statements and tax returns for several recent years, and a breakdown of sales between fuel and the store. Pull the monthly figures if you have them. You do not need to put numbers in the first message to RJB Fuel, and this site does not ask for a price.
Fuel supply and brand paperwork
If the station sells fuel under a brand, or buys fuel under a supply agreement, find the contract. Terms about renewal, transfer to a new owner and any exclusivity can affect what a sale looks like. Ask your attorney to read these before you assume anything about them.
Tanks, equipment and compliance
In New Jersey underground fuel tanks are regulated by the state Department of Environmental Protection. Gather what you have on the tanks and piping: registration paperwork, test and inspection records, any repair or closure history, and any environmental reports. Also list the major equipment, such as pumps, dispensers, canopy lighting and store fixtures, with ages if you know them. Missing records are not unusual, but it is better to know what is missing early.
Permits and other income
List the permits and registrations the station holds and when they renew. Also note any other income on the site besides fuel and the store. Do not worry about the exact form of these records, only about knowing where they are.
A realistic way to start
Do not try to collect everything in one weekend. Make a simple list with three columns: what you have, what you think you have somewhere, and what you are not sure exists. Gather the first column into one folder, ask your accountant, attorney or the relevant agency for items in the second, and note the third honestly. A short, honest list is more useful in a first conversation than a large unsorted pile, and it shows you which gaps could take the longest to fill.
People
Think about who works at the station and what a sale would mean for them. You do not need to share personal details about staff at this stage. A simple description of roles and approximate hours is enough to start.
What not to send in a first message
Please do not send bank account numbers, passwords, social security numbers or tax identifiers through any website form, including ours. A few plain sentences about the station are enough to begin, and records can be shared later and through channels you choose.
Get your own advisers
An attorney who knows New Jersey fuel retail, an accountant and, where tanks are involved, an environmental consultant are worth having beside you. When you are ready, you can tell RJB Fuel about your station. For the steps that follow, read how the process works, and for how the structure of a sale can differ, see what a gas station sale can include.