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Ask any independent c-store owner what keeps them up at night and “staffing” is near the top of the list. NACS reports that store-level employee turnover across the industry typically exceeds 100% a year. Even the best-run companies, the top 10% by store operating profit, still saw 60.8% employee turnover in the first half of 2025.
Hiring season is about to get harder, too. The NRF expects retailers to hire 325,000 to 375,000 seasonal workers for the 2026 holidays, and every one of those big-box openings competes for the same people you’re trying to keep.
Petrosoft runs 22 gas stations of its own, so we deal with the same hiring and training churn you do. Here’s what the data says works, and how we use CStoreOffice®, SmartPOS, QwickServe, Retail360 and Eagle Eye to make every shift easier to staff.
The best operators pay more and earn more
NACS found that top-decile companies spend about $23.10 per labor hour on wages and benefits, roughly $5 more than bottom-decile companies at $18.22. But they also generate about $8 more in gross profit per labor hour. Better pay pays for itself when each hour on the clock produces more.
How Petrosoft helps: CStoreOffice® shows sales and gross profit by shift, so you can see which hours and which crews are most productive, and schedule your best people where they matter most.
Make the job easier to learn
The average c-store employs 19.9 people, according to NACS. With turnover this high, you’re always training someone. The faster a new hire can ring up sales and close a shift correctly, the less it costs you when someone leaves.
How Petrosoft helps: SmartPOS is built for c-store and fuel transactions, which keeps new-clerk training short. Shift close and cash counts flow straight into CStoreOffice®, so there’s no paper form to learn or lose.
Train managers, not just clerks
The NRF and Loss Prevention Research Council found 72% of retailers are investing in management training and 65% in employee training. NACS data agrees: top-decile companies kept store manager turnover to 17.1%. A steady manager keeps clerks around.
How Petrosoft helps: Retail360 gives you and your manager the same numbers on your phones, so you can coach from data instead of guesswork, even when you aren’t in the store.
Run leaner when you’re short-staffed
Some weeks, you just won’t have a full crew. The goal is to keep the store safe, accurate and profitable anyway.
How Petrosoft helps: QwickServe self-order kiosks take food orders without tying up a clerk at the counter. Eagle Eye links video to SmartPOS transactions, so you can review a short-staffed shift’s voids and refunds later in minutes.
Your staffing checklist
- Track gross profit per labor hour in CStoreOffice® and use it to justify better pay for your best people.
- Cut training time with a c-store-built register like SmartPOS.
- Automate shift close and cash counts so new hires can’t get them wrong.
- Coach managers from shared data in Retail360.
- Let QwickServe kiosks take food orders during busy or short-staffed hours.
- Review exceptions with Eagle Eye instead of standing over every shift.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average employee turnover rate at convenience stores?
NACS reports that store employee turnover across the industry typically exceeds 100% a year. The top 10% of companies by store operating profit had 60.8% turnover in the first half of 2025.
How can a small c-store reduce employee turnover?
Pay your best people more where you can, make the job easier to learn and give managers real coaching data. NACS found top-decile operators pay about $5 more per labor hour but earn about $8 more in gross profit per labor hour.
How does technology help with high turnover?
Simple, c-store-built tools cut training time and reduce mistakes from new hires. SmartPOS and CStoreOffice® automate sales recording, cash counts and shift close.
Can a self-order kiosk help a short-staffed store?
Yes. QwickServe kiosks let customers place food orders themselves, freeing clerks to handle the register and keep the store running.
How can I manage my store when I’m not there?
Retail360 puts store performance on your phone, and Eagle Eye lets you review the video behind any suspicious transaction remotely.
See how CStoreOffice®, SmartPOS and QwickServe make every shift easier to run. Book a live, no-pressure demo at petrosoftinc.com.
Sources
- NACS, “Key Metrics for a C-Store Employee Retention Strategy” (January 2026): https://www.convenience.org/stay-current/news/2026/january/30/3-key-metrics-for-c-store-employee-retention_nacs
- NACS, “U.S. Convenience In-Store Sales Top $340 Billion” (State of the Industry, April 2026): https://www.convenience.org/stay-current/news/2026/april/15/u-s-convenience-in-store-sales-top-$340-billion
- NRF & Loss Prevention Research Council, The Impact of Retail Theft & Violence 2026 (July 2026): https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/retailers-see-fraud-schemes-evolve-as-shoplifting-declines-nrf-study-finds
- NRF, “NRF Forecasts 2026 Holiday Sales Growth as Consumers Remain Resilient” (October 15, 2026): https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/nrf-forecasts-2026-holiday-sales-growth-as-consumers-remain-resilient
