If you’ve ever fallen in love with an automobile, you probably know what true love is about. You can give a detailed description of a dream car and understand what goes into its performance. You would have little trouble persuading yourself to buy this vehicle. In truth, you can also sell it to other people with the exactly pitch. Is it really that easy to sell cars? Just how can you make a profit selling used cars?
Getting Started
After you successfully sell your personal vehicle, it’s time to think big. The trouble is that you can’t sell volume without the proper legal documents. Moving up to the next level is going to take effort. The steps include:
1. Develop a business plan
2. Apply for a business license and any other car sales license required by your State, Province or Country.
3. Discover sources of inventory, and declare that your business is either wholesale or retail.
4. Set up a place to do business, usually a used car lot.
5. Most important in today’s market, develop an effective Internet site.
The last point is the key. Since the arrival of lemon laws, the image of the used car salesperson has improved. The laws governing car dealers make the used car sales a good, approachable option. In fact, online sales sites are the first option for many buyers. Today’s consumers can do auto checks on each vehicle online. A physical place to do business is almost indispensable, but the most important piece in today’s market might be your website. When you want to sell used cars, the place to do it is on the Internet. So how do entrepreneurs sell cars in the fast growing Internet marketplace?
The Web’s Two Factors
The Internet gives entrepreneurs two factors of optimal importance: a source of used cars to buy from and a vast customer base to sell to. Wholesaler sites and retailers’ sites are easy to find on the web. Check out Autotrader and Whole Sale Cars Online in the USA, Carzoos in the Australia and Auto Scout 24 in the EU.
Sure, it’s important to get the licensing, insurance and surety issues straight. It’s impossible to go into business without developing a source of inventory.
It’s no small feat to set up a business. Along with lemon laws comes a glut of laws and regulations that small used car dealers must consider. Another reason is the high level of competition in the business. Many people love cars, and they are out there selling them. To ignore the need for a website is perilous.
Nuts and Bolts
Lastly, get a mechanic to check the vehicles you sell. Have you ever heard the phrase “mechanic’s special”? It could be applied to most used cars. A mechanic in your business is essential. This could be mechanical work you do yourself, have a relative do, or outsource to a reliable mechanic you know. If you’ve used a regular mechanic with your personal automobile, consider making a business proposition. You don’t have to make a deal, just talk to the mechanic for ideas and perhaps referrals to somebody reliable that can help your business. A mechanic involved in your dealership can also approach inventory sources and look over used cars to find out how much money must be invested in an automobile to make it road worthy. This is important stuff because you want a healthy return on your investment. If someone in your family is a car mechanic, approach that cousin or nephew with your idea.
The best thing about hiring a mechanic may be the service’s ability to bring repeat customers back for servicing. If you develop a service department, it’s desirable repeat business. This is another incentive to deliver knock-out service. You’re developing long-term relationships with the people you serve.
