LAUNCH YOUR
USED CAR DEALERSHIP
Follow one of our 36 guides to help you form, build, and launch your Used Car Dealership with confidence.
VALIDATE
4 guides
Should You Open a Used Car Dealership? The Capital Reality
Should you open a used car dealership? Real startup capital, per-car margins, break-even timing, and…
The Essentials: Validate — Used Car Dealership
How to validate a used car dealership: confirm licensing and zoning, test floor plan and auction acc…
buy-here-pay-here model vs third-party financing model vs...
Comparing buy-here-pay-here model, third-party financing model, and cash-only model for Used Car Dea…
economy segment under $15K vs mainstream $15K-$30K vs nea...
Comparing economy segment under $15K, mainstream $15K-$30K, and near-luxury $30K+ for Used Car Deale…
FORM
4 guides
The Essentials: Form — Used Car Dealership
Phase 4 Form essentials for Used Car Dealership. Key decisions and actions for the Form phase of you…
state dealer license process vs dealer bond requirements ...
Comparing state dealer license process, dealer bond requirements, and DMV paperwork authority for Us…
LLC vs S-Corp vs sole proprietor for Used Car Dealer
Comparing LLC, S-Corp, and sole proprietor for Used Car Dealership: which is best for used car deale…
independent dealer vs franchise dealer vs auction-only de...
Comparing independent dealer, franchise dealer, and auction-only dealer for Used Car Dealership: whi…
FINANCE
4 guides
The Essentials: Finance — Used Car Dealership
Phase 5 Finance essentials for Used Car Dealership. Key decisions and actions for the Finance phase …
floorplan financing cost vs cash purchase of inventory vs...
Comparing floorplan financing cost, cash purchase of inventory, and consignment inventory for Used C…
reconditioning cost per unit vs cost of goods per vehicle...
Comparing reconditioning cost per unit, cost of goods per vehicle, and F&I gross tracking for Used C…
RouteOne vs Dealertrack vs local credit union relationshi...
Comparing RouteOne, Dealertrack, and local credit union relationships for Used Car Dealership: which…
BUILD
4 guides
The Essentials: Build — Used Car Dealership
Phase 2 Build essentials for Used Car Dealership. Key decisions and actions for the Build phase of y…
vAuto vs DealerSocket inventory vs manual inventory track...
Comparing vAuto, DealerSocket inventory, and manual inventory tracking for Used Car Dealership: whic…
DealerCenter DMS vs CDK Drive vs Reynolds & Reynolds: Bui...
Comparing DealerCenter DMS, CDK Drive, and Reynolds & Reynolds for Used Car Dealership: which is bes…
Carfax dealer subscription vs AutoCheck vs free VIN histo...
Comparing Carfax dealer subscription, AutoCheck, and free VIN history for Used Car Dealership: which…
BRAND
3 guides
The Essentials: Brand — Used Car Dealership
Phase 7 Brand essentials for Used Car Dealership. Key decisions and actions for the Brand phase of y…
CarGurus listing optimization vs Autotrader vs Cars.com v...
Comparing CarGurus listing optimization, Autotrader vs Cars.com, and Facebook Marketplace for Used C…
Google Business Profile for dealers vs reputation managem...
Comparing Google Business Profile for dealers, reputation management for car dealers, and review res…
PROTECT
3 guides
The Essentials: Protect — Used Car Dealership
Phase 8 Protect essentials for Used Car Dealership. Key decisions and actions for the Protect phase …
FTC Buyers Guide sticker compliance vs lemon law disclosu...
Comparing FTC Buyers Guide sticker compliance, lemon law disclosure requirements, and CFPB dealer fi…
dealer liability insurance vs garage keepers insurance vs...
Comparing dealer liability insurance, garage keepers insurance, and errors and omissions for financi…
LOCATE
3 guides
The Essentials: Location — Used Car Dealership
Phase 6 Location essentials for Used Car Dealership. Key decisions and actions for the Location phas…
high-visibility road frontage vs off-street lot with sign...
Comparing high-visibility road frontage, off-street lot with signage, and online-only used car model…
dealer lot zoning requirements vs auto dealership overlay...
Comparing dealer lot zoning requirements, auto dealership overlay zone, and mixed-use commercial for…
PRICE
4 guides
The Essentials: Price — Used Car Dealership
Phase 3 Price essentials for Used Car Dealership. Key decisions and actions for the Price phase of y…
market-based pricing (vAuto) vs fixed no-haggle pricing v...
Comparing market-based pricing (vAuto), fixed no-haggle pricing, and traditional haggle pricing for …
F&I product menu pricing vs à la carte warranty vs no F&I...
Comparing F&I product menu pricing, à la carte warranty, and no F&I products for Used Car Dealership…
retail pricing over book vs book value pricing vs aggress...
Comparing retail pricing over book, book value pricing, and aggressive market discount for Used Car …
SELL
3 guides
The Essentials: Sell — Used Car Dealership
Phase 9 Sell essentials for Used Car Dealership. Key decisions and actions for the Sell phase of you…
online listing traffic to leads vs referral sales from bu...
Comparing online listing traffic to leads, referral sales from buyers, and corporate fleet account f…
trade-in appraisal as acquisition vs auction sourcing vs ...
Comparing trade-in appraisal as acquisition, auction sourcing, and private party purchasing for Used…
OPERATE
4 guides
The Essentials: Operate — Used Car Dealership
How to operate a used car dealership: manage days-to-sale, add buyers beyond yourself, choose lender…
adding F&I department vs adding service and reconditionin...
Comparing adding F&I department, adding service and reconditioning, and adding second location for U…
inventory turn rate vs gross profit per unit vs closing r...
Comparing inventory turn rate, gross profit per unit, and closing rate from leads for Used Car Deale…
floorplan interest as variable cost vs days to sell avera...
Comparing floorplan interest as variable cost, days to sell average, and reconditioning to retail ma…
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