A gas station sale is simultaneously a business sale, a real estate transfer, an environmental transaction, and a regulated fuel licensing event. General practice attorneys routinely miss two or three of those layers.
Here is how to find and vet counsel who handles business sales and commercial property together, and what they should be doing on your deal.
What the Right Attorney Actually Covers
Purchase and sale agreement drafting and negotiation, asset versus entity structuring, allocation of purchase price, representations and warranties, indemnity and escrow terms, environmental risk allocation, assignment and consent of the fuel supply agreement, equipment and ATM contracts, lease assignments or ground lease consents, liquor and lottery license transfer, employee matters, and closing and title work.
On leased sites, the attorney also negotiates landlord estoppels and consents — often the item that determines whether the deal closes on schedule.
How to Vet Counsel Before You Hire
Ask how many fuel retail closings they handled in the last twenty-four months, whether they have negotiated with your specific supplier or brand, how they handle a discovered discharge mid-contract, and who does the day-to-day work. Confirm they are Florida-licensed and, ideally, Florida Bar board certified in real estate or business litigation.
Request a fee structure in writing. Flat fees of roughly $6,000 to $15,000 are common for a single-site transaction; hourly engagements typically run $350 to $650 per hour in Florida markets. Complex environmental or multi-site deals cost more.
Where to Find Qualified Attorneys
Start with referrals from a broker who closes fuel sites regularly, then cross-check with the Florida Bar's board certification directory, your title company's approved counsel list, and your lender's closing attorney panel. Trade groups such as the Florida Petroleum Marketers Association are another source.
Related reading: legal counsel for gas station transactions and the legal documents you will need.
The Gas Station Group works alongside your counsel throughout the transaction. Call (305) 518-1545 or use our contact page. All transactions are brokered through Fausto Commercial.
Frequently Asked Questions
Speak With a Florida Gas Station Specialist
Request a confidential consultation or off-market opportunities and pricing through our contact page, or call +1-305-518-1545. The Gas Station Group is headquartered at 8603 S Dixie Hwy, Miami, FL 33143. Principal: Bobby Berrido.