On a direct purchase there is no seller-side team assembling a data room, so diligence is both broader and more urgent. A handful of items decide whether the deal is safe.
These are the diligence areas that most often change or kill a Florida owner-direct station transaction.
Environmental — the Deal Killer
Phase I assessment, state tank registry and compliance history, discharge reports, monitoring well records, and remediation status. Where the Phase I flags conditions, Phase II sampling follows and takes real time.
Confirm eligibility and status under any state cleanup program, and understand exactly which liabilities transfer with the property.
Fuel Supply and Brand Obligations
Term remaining, minimum volume commitments, pricing mechanism, image and upgrade requirements, unamortized incentive repayment on early termination, and whether the agreement is assignable to you at all.
Speak to the supplier directly. Assignment refusal after contract signing is a common and avoidable failure.
Financial Verification
Reconcile fuel volume to supplier statements, inside sales to POS and sales tax filings, and reported profit to tax returns. Separate lottery, ATM, and money-order flows, which distort gross revenue if left in.
Adjust for owner labor, related-party rent, and personal expenses run through the business.
Physical, Legal, and Operational
Tank and line testing, dispenser calibration, containment, canopy and roof, refrigeration and HVAC; title, liens, UCC, and equipment ownership; employee status, permits, and any pending code matters.
See due diligence on gas station purchases and UST environmental diligence.
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.