$3.0M
$545K
2.4x
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Outstanding opportunity to own a high-performing, absentee-run Mobil gas station in Lake Havasu City, AZ, featuring a profitable convenience store, one of the area’s busiest laundromats with 30+ commercial machines, and a dual car wash with (2) automatic soft-touch bays and (3) self-serve bays. Located off a major freeway near downtown and the London Bridge, the site benefits from heavy traffic from locals, RV travelers, and tourists. The Mobil station includes brand-new tanks, lines, and pumps, while the clean, well-stocked c-store offers high-margin items with potential for food or tobacco sales. The laundromat delivers consistent income with opportunities to add wash & fold or delivery services, and the car wash sees high usage from the area’s tourism and off-road community. With multiple income streams, recent upgrades, clean financials, and strong location appeal, this is a turnkey investment ideal for owner-operators or investors.
Why we like it
- Recession-resistant revenue mix spanning essential services (fuel, laundry) and discretionary spending (car wash), creating defensive cash flows across economic cycles. The $545K cash flow on $2.99M revenue delivers an 18.2% margin while being managed absentee, indicating operational efficiency and systems-driven performance.
- Prime real estate position capturing both local and transient demand near a major tourist destination. The location benefits from consistent RV and tourist traffic to Lake Havasu's Colorado River recreation area, while the freeway access ensures steady local fuel and convenience traffic regardless of seasonal fluctuations.
- Recent capital investments eliminate near-term capex concerns with new gas tanks, lines, and pumps already installed. The infrastructure is turnkey and compliant, removing the typical deferred maintenance overhang that plagues older gas stations and providing immediate operational stability.
- Multiple expansion vectors within existing footprint including food service addition to c-store, wash & fold services for laundromat, and delivery services. Each revenue stream has clear optimization opportunities without requiring additional real estate or major capital deployment.
How to improve it
- Install food service capabilities in the convenience store to capture higher-margin prepared food sales from the heavy tourist and RV traffic. Lake Havasu's transient population creates natural demand for grab-and-go meals, potentially adding $200K+ in annual revenue at 30%+ margins.
- Add wash & fold and pickup/delivery services to the laundromat to capture time-sensitive customers and premium pricing. The tourist and RV population creates natural demand for full-service laundry, potentially generating an additional $100K annually at higher margins than self-serve.
- Implement dynamic pricing and loyalty programs across all three business units to maximize revenue during peak tourist seasons. Lake Havasu sees dramatic seasonal swings that aren't being fully monetized through current flat pricing structures.
- Optimize convenience store product mix by analyzing POS data to identify highest-velocity, highest-margin items and eliminate slow-moving inventory. Focus on RV supplies, outdoor recreation products, and tourist necessities that command premium pricing.
- Explore tobacco licensing and sales if not currently permitted, as this represents one of the highest-margin convenience store categories. The isolated location and tourist traffic create ideal conditions for tobacco sales expansion.
- Add basic automotive services like oil changes or detailing to create additional revenue streams that complement the existing car wash operations. The captive customer base and automotive focus make this a natural extension.
- Install security cameras and automated payment systems to reduce labor costs and theft while improving operational efficiency. The absentee management model would benefit from enhanced monitoring and reduced cash handling.
- Negotiate better fuel supply contracts and explore additional branded partnerships to improve margins on fuel sales while maintaining the Mobil affiliation benefits.
Diligence notes
- Verify all environmental compliance and tank certifications given the recent infrastructure upgrades, and confirm insurance coverage for petroleum operations. Environmental liabilities can be catastrophic for gas stations, so thorough Phase I/II assessments and regulatory compliance verification are critical.
- Analyze seasonal revenue patterns to understand the true cash flow volatility driven by Lake Havasu's tourism cycles. The location's dependence on recreational traffic could create significant seasonal swings that aren't apparent in annual numbers.
- Confirm all licensing and permits across the three business types, particularly for fuel sales, laundromat operations, and car wash environmental discharge permits. Multi-business operations often have complex regulatory requirements that can be costly to remedy if non-compliant.
- Review supplier contracts and exclusivity arrangements, particularly the Mobil franchise agreement terms, fuel supply contracts, and any equipment leases for laundromat or car wash equipment. Understanding contract terms and renewal options is critical for long-term value.