Petro Stopping Centers Franchise Cost, Revenue & Review 2026
Data from FDD filing
Analysis by FranchiseVerdict Research · Methodology
Petro Stopping Centers, part of TA, is a travel-center and truck-stop franchise offering fuel, restaurants, convenience retail, and driver services like showers and parking. Franchisees own and operate a large travel plaza managing fuel, foodservice, and retail.
FranchiseVerdict summary · 2026
A Petro Stopping Centers franchise requires a total initial investment of $1.6M – $28.9M, including a $140K franchise fee. The 2026 FDD does not disclose unit-level revenue (no Item 19). FranchiseVerdict grade: A (Strongest tier), an editorial assessment, not investment advice. Run a live ROI scan →
Data last verified · figures per the 2026 FDD issuance
Overview
- Investment
- $1.6M – $28.9M
- 96th pct Pet Services
- Avg gross sales
- N/A
- Royalty
- N/A
- Units
- 77
- 76th pct Pet Services
- SBA charge-off
- N/A
Quick verdict · Pet Services · color = vs category peers
Green = favorable by >10% vs Pet Services avg · No shading = within ±10% · Red = unfavorable by >10% · Source: FDD filings + SBA 7(a)
Data from public FDD filings and SBA records. Not financial advice. Methodology
Bottom line
- COSTTotal investment $1.6M – $28.9M including a $140K franchise fee.
- RETURNSItem 21 financials are the audited consolidated statements of BP Corporation North America Inc. (BPCNA), the indirect parent that guarantees Petro Franchise's performance; figures originally reported in US$ millions and converted to absolute dollars. franchisor_net_worth reflects BPCNA shareholders' equity ($21,930M); total equity including non-controlling interests is $35,093M.
- RISKVerdict A (Strongest tier), verdict score 59/100 (higher is better).
- LEGAL10 litigation matters disclosed in Item 3, higher than typical. Review the summary for patterns (franchisor-initiated vs. franchisee-initiated).
Item 1 · who you're contracting with
The Franchisor
Corporate structure & franchisor financials
- Legal entity
- Petro Franchise Systems LLC
- Parent company
- TravelCenters of America Inc.
- Ultimate parent
- BP Products North America Inc.
- CEO title
- Chief Executive Officer and Director
- Jason Nordin
- Incorporated in
- DE
- HQ
- 24601 Center Ridge Road, Westlake, Ohio 44145-5634
- Auditor
- Deloitte & Touche LLP
- Audited financials
- Franchisor revenue
- $77.3B
- vs $79.4B prior year
Overview
About
- CEO
- Jason Nordin
- Headquarters
- OH
- Founded
- 2008
- FDD year
- 2026
- States available
- 14
Can you afford it, and what does the money buy?
Entry cost runs 2071% above the typical pet services franchise.
Source: FDD 2026 · Items 5–7
FDD Item 7 · 2026 filing
Initial investment breakdown
| Cost component | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial franchise fee | $140K | $140K |
| Working capital (3–6 mo) | $491K | $2.7M |
| Equipment, build-out, other | $928K | $26.1M |
| Total initial investment | $1.6M | $28.9M |
Source: Petro Stopping Centers 2026 FDD, Items 5 and 7[2]. “Equipment, build-out, other” is computed as total minus disclosed line items above.
Item 7 · what it costs to open + operate
The Vitals
- Total investment
- $1.6M – $28.9M
- Bottom third — review vs category
- Liquid capital req'd
- $491K – $2.7M
- Bottom third — review vs category
- Franchise fee
- $140K – $140K
- Bottom third — review vs category
- Royalty
- 4.5% of Non-QSR Gross Sales up to $600,000/month + 2% of …
- Ad fund
- $3,000 per month flat fee (Monthly Advertising Fee), incr…
- Total fee load
- 4.5%
- vs 9–13% typical
Ongoing fees · Item 6
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Technology fee | $100 |
| Training fee | $35K |
| Transfer fee | $45K |
| Renewal fee | $25K |
| Inventory (initial) | $0 – $1.6M |
| Total fee load | 4.5% of rev |
ROI & LBO modelsSingle-unit · 25-unit portfolio · editable
Petro Stopping Centers did not disclose financial performance in FDD Item 19. The ROIC and return models require Item 19 revenue. Without it all inputs are estimates. You can still run the calculator with your own assumptions by entering an expected revenue figure.
Returns model · single-unit ROIC
What would one Petro Stopping Centers unit return on the cash you put in?
Unlevered ROIC · per unit
Estimated return on your total franchise investment, before any debt financing.
1%
Below the 30–60% attractive-franchise band
These models are for research and scenario planning only. Not investment advice. Actual results depend on your specific location, management, and market conditions. Consult a franchise attorney and accountant before signing any franchise agreement.
Item 19 · Source: 2026 FDD
Financial Performance
Item 21 financials are the audited consolidated statements of BP Corporation North America Inc. (BPCNA), the indirect parent that guarantees Petro Franchise's performance; figures originally reported in US$ millions and converted to absolute dollars. franchisor_net_worth reflects BPCNA shareholders' equity ($21,930M); total equity including non-controlling interests is $35,093M.
Operator outlook
What the numbers say
Data-driven interpretation of this brand's financial disclosures, fee structure, and system trajectory.
Fee burden
Total ongoing fee load of 4.5% — below the Pet Services average of 9.3%.
Disclosure
Franchisor chose not to disclose financial performance representations. You will need to gather unit economics directly from existing franchisees.
Operator retention
System expanding at 63.6% CAGR over 3 years across 77 units — operators are staying and new ones are joining.
Source: FDD Item 19 financial performance representations and publicly filed FDD data. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Verify all figures with the franchisor and current franchisees before making any investment decision.
vs Pet Services averages
How Petro Stopping Centers Compares
Is the system healthy?
Source: FDD 2026 · Item 20
Unit growth
Item 20 · unit dynamics
The Growth Chart
- Total units
- 77
- Opened
- 8
- Last reporting year
- Closed
- 0
- Terminated
- 0
- Franchisor ended the franchise (per Item 20)
- Non-renewed
- 0
- Term expired, not renewed (per Item 20)
- Turnover rate
- 0.0%
- Company-owned
- 59
- Corporate units in the system
- % franchised
- 23%
- vs corporate-owned
- Net growth (3-yr)
- +63.6%
- Net unit change over 3 years
- 3-yr CAGR
- +63.6%
- Compounded over last 3 years
3-year detail · Item 20
- Opened (3yr)
- 9
- Closed (3yr)
- 0
- Terminated (3yr)
- 0
- Non-renewed (3yr)
- 0
- Transfers (3yr)
- 2
- Reacquired (3yr)
- 2
- Franchisor bought back
Year-over-year franchised unit counts and net change. Source: FDD Item 20.
Item 12 · 14 states reported
The Territory Map
FDD Item 12 reports the state count, but the specific list isn't in our current data. The map will appear once we re-extract from the FDD or enough franchisee contacts are available.
14
states with franchisees (per FDD Item 12)
Fast growth in a small system. Newer franchisors expanding quickly may not yet have the support infrastructure of larger systems.
SBA loan performance
Government records
SBA Loan Data
Aggregated from SBA 7(a) and 504 loan disclosures, public data unique to FranchiseVerdict.
No SBA loan data available for this brand.
What could kill this investment?
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA · FDD Items 3, 21
Risk analysis
FranchiseVerdict rating + FDD Items 3, 4, 8, 16, 21
Risk & Legal
Petro Stopping Centers presents extreme risk due to going concern status, extensive litigation exposure (Deepwater Horizon, environmental, antitrust), missing financial disclosure, and unclear whether unit growth reflects genuine demand or distressed expansion.
Litigation (Item 3)
Petro Franchise Systems LLC has no pending or concluded litigation. Parent/affiliate entities have 5 currently effective injunctions (California UST compliance, CFTC propane manipulation, ARCO antitrust, Atlantic Refining FTC, Richfield Oil antitrust) and several pending matters including Deepwater Horizon oil spill proceedings, Pennsylvania and Maryland MTBE lawsuits, and Mexican class actions.
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
None disclosed
Audited financials (Item 21)
Yes · Deloitte & Touche LLP
Franchisor revenue (Item 21)
Franchisor entity revenue (not unit-level)
ⓘ These are the parent company's consolidated financials (the parent guarantees the franchisor), not this brand's standalone results — the figure reflects the whole corporate group, not this brand alone.
Supplier relationship · Items 8 & 16
- Franchisor sells you products: Yes
- Must buy proprietary products: Yes
- Restricted to system-approved products: Yes
Score breakdown · what drove the 59 / 100 verdict
- 01HIGHGoing Concern status indicates potential insolvency despite 63.6% unit growth (suggests acquisition/restructuring, not organic health)
- 02HIGHMassive litigation exposure: Deepwater Horizon (hundreds of lawsuits), UST environmental liability, MTBE contamination, antitrust/price manipulation, and False Claims Act settlement create ongoing financial and reputational risk
- 03MINORComplex tiered royalty structure (4.5%/2% on QSR + per-gallon fuel fees) creates revenue leakage; fuel margins are notoriously thin in this sector
- 04HIGHHigh unit growth (63.6% YoY) during going concern status suggests distressed franchisee recruitment rather than system strength
- 05MINOREnvironmental liability exposure (USTs, MTBE) creates potential franchisee indemnification risk if parent company defaults
Severity inferred from the FDD text · not a regulatory classification
What are you signing up for?
Ongoing fees run about 4.5% of sales (royalty + ad fund), before rent and labor.
Source: FDD 2026 · Items 11, 12, 17
FDD Items 12, 15, 17 · continued from Risk & Legal
Contract & Territory Detail
| Initial term | 10 years |
|---|---|
| Renewal term | 5 years |
| Allowed renewalsℹ | 2 |
| Territory type | protected |
| Protected territory | Yes |
| Exclusive territoryℹ | No |
| Online sales rightsℹ | Restricted |
| Franchisor can compete | Yes |
| Hire a manager? | Allowed |
| Owner-operator | Optional |
| Non-compete (years)ℹ | 2 years |
| Non-compete (miles)ℹ | 75 mi |
| Right of first refusalℹ | No |
| Transfer requires consent | Yes |
| Termination notice | 30 days |
| Termination groundsℹ | 1 |
| Curable defaultsℹ | 9 |
| Mandatory arbitration | No |
| Jury trial waiver | No |
| Governing law | OH |
| Litigation count | 10 |
View Item 3 litigation summary
Petro Franchise Systems LLC has no pending or concluded litigation. Parent/affiliate entities have 5 currently effective injunctions (California UST compliance, CFTC propane manipulation, ARCO antitrust, Atlantic Refining FTC, Richfield Oil antitrust) and several pending matters including Deepwater Horizon oil spill proceedings, Pennsylvania and Maryland MTBE lawsuits, and Mexican class actions.
Items 10, 11
Training & Operations
- Classroom training
- 120 hrs
- On-the-job training
- 406 hrs
- Training location
- Company Location (Petro/TA Operating sites), Petro Training Center Lodi OH, Your Site
- Ongoing training
- Required
- Time to open
- 30 mo
- From signing to launch
- Site selection
- Franchisee selects, franchisor must approve (generally within 30 days of signing)
- POS system
- Proprietary Systems
- Operating tech stack
Items 5 & 11
Franchisor Support
Technology: Proprietary Systems
Item 20 · call current owners
Franchisee Contacts
13 owners to call
Name · phone · city · state. Extracted from FDD Item 20
FDD download
Petro Stopping Centers · FDD (2026) PDF
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to open a Petro Stopping Centers franchise?
The total investment to open a Petro Stopping Centers franchise ranges from $1.6M – $28.9M, with an initial franchise fee of $140K. This includes real estate, equipment, inventory, and working capital as disclosed in their Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
What do Petro Stopping Centers franchise owners earn?
Petro Stopping Centers does not disclose average franchise owner earnings in their FDD Item 19. Not all franchisors are required to make financial performance representations. We recommend asking existing franchisees directly about their financial experience.
What is Item 19 in the Petro Stopping Centers FDD?
The FDD section where a franchisor may disclose financial performance of its outlets. Disclosure is optional and formats vary; figures are typically gross sales, which is revenue before expenses, not profit. FranchiseVerdict extracts these figures directly from the Petro Stopping Centers FDD and qualifies whose outlets they describe.
What is Petro Stopping Centers's franchise failure rate?
SBA 7(a) loan charge-off data is not available for Petro Stopping Centers (fewer than 10 loans on file). Charge-off rates are one way to gauge franchise risk, but not all franchise loans go through the SBA program. We recommend reviewing turnover and closure data in the FDD and speaking with current franchisees.
How many Petro Stopping Centers franchise locations are there?
As of their most recent FDD filing, Petro Stopping Centers has 77 total units in the United States, including 18 franchised units and 59 company-owned units. 8 new units were opened in the latest reporting year.
Is Petro Stopping Centers a good franchise to buy?
FranchiseVerdict rates Petro Stopping Centers as a A-grade franchise with a verdict score of 59 out of 100 (higher is better), based on our analysis of investment costs, revenue data, SBA loan performance, and growth trends. Our rating is based solely on publicly available FDD and government data; we recommend speaking with current franchisees before making any investment decision. This is not investment advice.
Data sourced from public FDD filings and SBA 7(a) FOIA records. Not financial advice.
For franchisors
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Data extracted from public FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan disclosures (FOIA). This information is provided for research purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Verify all figures with the franchisor's current Franchise Disclosure Document before making any investment decision.