Top 10 Convenience Store Franchises in Canada 2026 – Costs, Profits and Investment Compared

DIRECT ANSWER

Convenience store franchise investment in Canada in 2026 ranges from roughly $25,000 for a mall-based kiosk concept to nearly $5,000,000 for a newly built large-format store. Royalty structures vary widely too, from flat monthly fees to percentage-of-sales models reaching 6 percent or higher. This guide ranks the 10 most relevant categories of convenience store franchise opportunity currently available to Canadian investors, using real published cost ranges for each.

Introduction

Rather than treating every brand as interchangeable, this ranking groups opportunities by business model, since the right fit depends far more on format and capital than on brand recognition alone. Convenience retail remains one of the most resilient business categories in Canada. According to Statistics Canada’s retail trade data, convenience store and gas station retail sales have shown consistent year-over-year growth, supported by steady demand for daily essentials regardless of broader economic conditions.

This guide compares the 10 categories of convenience store franchise opportunity currently available to Canadian investors, ranked using real published cost ranges, franchise fees, and royalty structures.

How These Rankings Were Built

Each category below is ranked using four factors: typical investment range, franchise fee, royalty structure, and how widely that model type is currently available across Canadian provinces. Figures are pulled from publicly published franchise disclosure data current as of 2026, generalized here by category rather than naming individual competing systems.

Methodology note: Land-dependent fuel and forecourt franchise models do not publish fixed investment figures since cost depends entirely on real estate. These are included with a note rather than a specific dollar range.

Top 10 Convenience Store Franchise Categories in Canada for 2026

1. Large National Convenience Chain (Conversion or New Build)

The largest globally branded convenience chains operating in Canada sit at the top of the investment scale. A conversion of an existing site typically starts around $268,500, while a newly constructed store can reach nearly $4.8 million depending on land and build scope. A separate advertising fee, often 1.5 percent, applies on top of the core royalty. Minimum net worth requirements at this tier commonly start at $500,000, with $100,000 in liquid capital expected.

2. Regional Canadian-Owned Chain

Several Canadian-owned regional chains, most concentrated in Ontario, operate in the $300,000 to $700,000 range. These brands typically include a training fee and a separate store opening fee on top of the franchise fee itself, with royalty split between general goods and lottery and tobacco categories at different rates.

3. Infinity Mart

Infinity Mart is a Canadian franchise system actively franchising across eight provinces: Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. The published investment range of $185,000 to $485,500 sits below most established large-format competitors, with a flat royalty structure of $500 per month plus 5 percent of retail sales, excluding lottery, tobacco, beer, and wine.

4. Value Retail / Dollar-Format Convenience Concept

Extreme-value retail concepts compete in a similar investment bracket to mid-size convenience chains but with a different product mix focused on discount and dollar-format merchandise. These systems typically carry a higher royalty rate, often around 6 percent, reflecting the lower-margin retail category.

5. Enclosed Mall / Shopping Centre Kiosk Format

Convenience formats built specifically for enclosed shopping malls and shopping centres represent the largest unit count category in this list by total store count. The format trades location flexibility for built-in foot traffic from mall tenants and shoppers. Entry cost starts as low as $25,000, the lowest published figure among nationally operating models, though this reflects the smaller mall-kiosk footprint rather than a full standalone store.

6. Infinity Vape

Infinity Vape is a standalone vaping retail franchise under the Infinity Mart brand, offering a curated range of vapour products. At a starting investment of $39,000 plus inventory, it is one of the more accessible specialty retail franchise entry points in Canada, suited to investors who want a smaller footprint than a full convenience store.

7. Fuel-Dealer Affiliated Convenience Format

Several convenience store systems operate as part of a fuel-dealer agreement, where the store is paired with a branded fuel retail site under a single ownership group. Roughly 80 stores operate under this kind of arrangement nationally. Investment figures are not publicly standardized since most locations involve a fuel-dealer agreement alongside the convenience store component, making cost highly dependent on the specific site and fuel brand involved.

8. Major Fuel Brand Convenience Retail

Several major fuel brands offer convenience store retail as part of a broader independent-owner business model rather than a standalone convenience store franchise. Investment varies based on land value, lot size, and the specific format chosen. This makes it a less predictable entry point for investors focused purely on convenience retail rather than fuel operations, since cost is tied directly to real estate rather than a published franchise fee structure.

9. Secondary Banner Within a Larger Franchise Family

Some regional convenience franchise systems operate a smaller-format secondary banner alongside their flagship store concept, generally positioned as a lower-footprint option within the same franchise family. Separate cost figures for these secondary banners are typically not published outside the parent system’s primary Franchise Disclosure Document.

10. Independent Dealer-Style Regional Chain

A handful of long-standing regional convenience chains, some family-run for 50 years or more, operate through a dealer-style structure rather than an open public franchise program. These networks remain recognizable regional names but are generally less accessible to outside investors than systems with a formal, published franchise offering.

What This List Reveals About Convenience Store Investment in Canada

The spread across these 10 categories is enormous. The largest national chain model’s upper range of roughly $4.8 million is nearly 190 times the mall-kiosk format’s $25,000 entry point. That gap is not a coincidence. It reflects two fundamentally different business models: large-format new-build stores versus compact mall or specialty kiosks.

Royalty structures also diverge sharply. Flat-fee models like Infinity Mart’s $500 per month plus 5 percent on retail sales, excluding lottery and tobacco, can outperform straight percentage-of-gross-sales models for stores with heavy lottery or tobacco volume, since those categories often carry thinner margins than general merchandise.

For first-time investors: Categories with clear, itemized published cost breakdowns make due diligence considerably easier than models where investment is described only as variable or land-dependent.

Legal Due Diligence: What Canadian Franchise Law Requires Before You Sign

Comparing investment figures is only one part of due diligence. Ontario’s Arthur Wishart Act (Franchise Disclosure), 2000 requires every franchisor operating in the province to provide a complete Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) at least 14 days before any agreement is signed or payment is made. This applies regardless of which category from the list above an investor is considering. The FDD must include audited financial statements, a list of existing franchisees, and the full franchise agreement. Buyers in Ontario also have the right to form or join a franchisee association, a protection that cannot be waived by contract.

Provinces Without Franchise Disclosure Laws

Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island do not have a dedicated franchise disclosure statute. In these provinces, buyers should still request a full Franchise Disclosure Document voluntarily and have it reviewed independently, since the absence of a legal requirement does not reduce the practical need for due diligence.

Financing a Convenience Store Franchise in Canada

The Canada Small Business Financing Program (CSBFP), administered by the federal government, provides loan guarantees of up to $1,000,000 for small businesses purchasing equipment, leasehold improvements, or intangible assets, and is commonly used across all 10 franchise categories listed above. The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) also offers dedicated franchise financing products. Major chartered banks including RBC, TD, Scotiabank, and BMO maintain franchise lending desks familiar with convenience and fuel retail categories specifically.

Infinity Mart: A Growing Mid-Tier Franchise Option in Canada

Among the 10 categories compared in this guide, Infinity Mart occupies a distinct position: a published, itemized cost structure starting at $185,000, well below the large national chain tier, with a flat royalty model that can be more predictable for stores with significant lottery or tobacco sales volume.

Infinity Mart is actively franchising across eight Canadian provinces, with a turnkey model that includes site selection support, training, and ongoing operational guidance. For investors evaluating where Infinity Mart fits among the categories above, the franchise development team can walk through current available territories and provide the full Franchise Disclosure Document for review. Learn more at infinitymart.co/franchise-opportunities/.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest convenience store franchise category in Canada in 2026?

Mall and shopping centre kiosk formats have the lowest published entry point, starting around $25,000, though this reflects a smaller mall-based footprint rather than a standalone store. Among specialty standalone formats, Infinity Vape starts from $39,000 plus inventory. For a full convenience store format, Infinity Mart’s lower range of $185,000 is among the most accessible nationally franchising systems.

Which convenience store franchise category is the most expensive to open in Canada?

Large national convenience chain models have the highest published investment ceiling, reaching close to $4.8 million for a newly constructed store in Canada. Even the lower conversion-site range for this category sits above most other models on this list.

Does the largest convenience store brand in Canada offer franchising?

Not currently for its primary banner. The largest single convenience brand operating in Canada by store count remains corporately owned rather than franchised, though the parent company has publicly discussed evolving its business model. As of 2026, it does not offer the kind of open franchise opportunity that several other Canadian and international convenience systems do.

What is the average royalty fee for a convenience store franchise in Canada?

Royalty structures vary widely by category. Large national chains often charge 3.7 to 4.5 percent of gross sales plus a separate advertising fee. Regional Canadian-owned chains often split royalty between general goods and lottery or tobacco categories at different rates. Infinity Mart uses a flat $500 monthly fee plus 5 percent on retail sales, excluding lottery, tobacco, beer, and wine. Value-retail formats can run as high as 6 percent. There is no single industry-standard rate.

Which convenience store franchise systems are actively expanding in Canada right now?

Infinity Mart is actively franchising across eight provinces and positions itself as a growing network. Several regional Canadian-owned chains continue opening new locations under modernized store concepts. Large national chains continue adding Canadian locations through both conversions and new builds as part of ongoing parent-company expansion.

Is a convenience store franchise a profitable investment in Canada?

Convenience stores are generally considered a resilient business category, with demand holding steady through economic downturns since they sell daily essentials. Profitability depends heavily on location, product mix, and franchise fee structure rather than the category alone. Reviewing a brand’s Franchise Disclosure Document, which includes financial performance representations where available, is the only reliable way to assess realistic profit potential before investing.

What should I look for when comparing convenience store franchise categories in Canada?

Compare total investment range, franchise fee, royalty structure, and how clearly each system publishes its cost breakdown. Categories with itemized, transparent disclosure make due diligence considerably easier than models describing costs only as variable. Always request the full Franchise Disclosure Document for any specific brand under consideration and have it reviewed by a franchise lawyer before signing.

Final Thoughts

Canada’s convenience store franchise landscape in 2026 spans a wider range than most prospective investors expect, from a roughly $25,000 mall kiosk to a near-$5 million large-format new build. No single category is the obvious best choice. The right fit depends on available capital, target province, and whether an investor wants the structure of an established large chain or a newer, growing Canadian system like Infinity Mart.

Every opportunity, regardless of size or category, should be evaluated the same way: full Franchise Disclosure Document review, independent legal counsel, and direct conversations with existing franchisees before any capital commitment is made.

Also read: Top Pakistani Restaurants in Mississauga 2026 Guide