How much it costs to buy a petrol station in South Africa – and what you can earn

Depending on location and revenue estimates, becoming a petrol station franchisee can cost up to R40 million, with estimated earnings of around R390,000 per month or R4.68 million a year.
Local commercial property agent Cyrus Brokers has 16 petrol stations listed for sale nationwide. Each station has a wide range of asking prices.
At the lower end of the spectrum, a service stop located in Randburg, Gauteng, is currently on the market for R3 million.
Another one in the North West is selling for R4.85 million, and one in Mpumalanga is going for R9 million.
There is a petrol franchise available for R15 million in Pretoria CBD, Gauteng, which is one of the busiest areas in the country.
However, if you have more to spend, you can consider one in Limpopo, listed at R16.1 million.
The most expensive filling stations on the listings page are one on the outskirts of Pretoria with a barrier-to-entry of R38 million and another in Midlands, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) for R38.5 million.
A service station’s value largely depends on its location, which determines its number of competitors and potential income.
The final selling price is affected by factors such as whether the buyer will take full or partial ownership, the amount of stock on hand, existing supplier contracts, and whether the property is included in the deal.
For example, the most affordable listing on Cyrus Brokers is in Randburg, Gauteng, a densely populated area offering plenty of commuter alternatives.
The buyer of this station is required to purchase a minimum 51% stake as stipulated by the supplying oil company, and the deal does not include property rights.
Taking into account its location, the deal structure, and its income, the facility fetches an asking price of R3 million, excluding R1 million for stock, with the total coming to R4 million.
The most expensive listing on Cyrus Brokers is for a station located in the Midlands, KZN, where there are few other places to go when you need fuel.
The purchase agreement includes the property, franchised shop, restaurant/takeaway businesses, and a 10-year supply agreement with an oil company with an option to extend it for another 12 years.
The listing states that a buyer would need R38.5 million to purchase this particular station, excluding the stock.
Including stock, this jumps to R40 million, of which they will need to have at least R20 million in cash readily available.

What you can expect to get out
Owning a petrol station in South Africa can be highly profitable due to several key factors.
Firstly, the country’s robust demand for fuel, driven by a large population reliant on motor vehicles, ensures a steady stream of customers.
The strategic location of petrol stations, often along busy highways and urban centres, further maximises sales volume.
Additionally, many petrol stations diversify their revenue by offering convenience stores, car washes, and repair services, increasing overall profitability.
Government-regulated fuel prices also play a significant role. While these regulations cap the maximum selling price, they often allow for a consistent profit margin, providing a degree of financial stability.
However, profitability is influenced by factors such as global oil prices, which affect fuel costs, and economic conditions that impact consumer spending.
This is why some stations are more expensive than others and why some make more than others.
For example, the income of the Randburg station, according to Cyrus Brokers, is broken down in the following table:
Revenue source | Monthly sales |
---|---|
Fuel | 97,066 litres |
Convenience store | R543,061 |
Electricity | R38,470 |
Airtime | R18,629 |
Oil/lube | R7,065 |
Gas | R5,048 |
Across these revenue streams, the Gauteng-based facility achieves a net profit of approximately R84,697 per month.
In contrast, the income of the R40 million Midlands-based station is broken down in the following table:
Revenue source | Monthly sales |
---|---|
Fuel | 300,000 litres |
Franchised convenience store | R1.1 million |
Franchised restaurant/takeaways | R480,000 |
Across these revenue streams, the KZN-based service stop pulls in a net profit of an estimated R390,000 per month, meaning a whopping R305,000 difference between the two stations, hence the price differences.
These differences remain true across the station on sale, with profit estimates of a particular station varying considerably.
According to the properties listed, Cyrus Brokers, a well-known filling station in Gauteng’s East Rand, is currently for sale and earns a net monthly profit of R62,513.
Another filling station in the same area brings in R156,538.
In the Eastern Cape, a station for sale in this province earns R205,711 in profits. In KwaZulu-Natal, two stations are up for grabs, with net earnings of R240,000 and R390,000, respectively.