Understanding current, relevant and upcoming industry trends is a critical component to providing superior client service in the dealership industry. Internally, dealerships need to manage and grow talent, plan for future acquisitions and develop innovative technology.

DHG Dealerships works together with you to help drive profitability, avoid risk, increase efficiencies and enhance productivity. Our experienced professionals are proactive in providing ideas ahead of your needs to develop solutions-oriented insights for your business.

KNOWLEDGE SHARE

Podcast
GrowthCast Episode 8: Digital Marketing Strategy
GrowthCast Episode 8: Digital Marketing Strategy

Our guest today is Nick Brunotte, Director of DHG Dealerships Digital Solutions Group. Nick discusses how companies can optimize both their exposure and profitability by way of digital audits, continuous monitoring and management, and reporting of digital performance.

Publication
Dealerships and the Micro Captive Soft Letter
Dealerships and the Micro Captive Soft Letter

Recently, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) mailed Letter 6336 to everyone that it could determine had filed (or in some cases not filed) Form 8886 relating to their participation in a micro captive transaction (the Micro Captive Soft Letter).

Publication
CARES Act Contains SBA Loan Provisions Favorable to Most Dealerships
CARES Act Contains SBA Loan Provisions Favorable to Most Dealerships

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES Act) has been passed by both the Senate and House, and has been signed into law by President Trump. It contains provisions for $349 billion in Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, called Paycheck Protection Loan program (PPP).

HOW WE CAN HELP

Dealership Industry Hot Buttons

DHG helps our clients with a number of timely and relevant issues, including:

Tax & Estate Planning

As dealerships have one of the highest turnover rates of any industry, the need to strategically recruit and retain top talent is paramount. Seeking out and hiring the most fitting and suitable candidates for your dealership directly impacts how successfully your dealership runs, as you need successful and talented professionals to help you run it. By way of a fine-tuned, strategic recruiting process, DHG Dealerships teams up with DHG Search to help clients identify and place top tier executive talent in their organizations.

  • Centralized Accounting Analysis
  • Executive Search

Performance & Growth

We view performance as a multi-faceted component of successfully operating dealerships. From profitability to productivity to benchmarking and beyond, dealers constantly seek enhanced performance. DHG Dealerships helps clients identify areas of improvement, implement action items to better develop those areas and ultimately reach optimal performance.

  • Benchmarking & Budgeting
  • Centralized Accounting Analysis
  • Cost Segregation
  • Digital Solutions
  • Expense Analysis & Control
  • HealthCheck™ Initiative
  • Reinsurance Analysis
  • Warranty Reimbursement

Risk & Regulatory

Dealers face a wealth of risks — both internally and externally. On the internal front, threats such as occupational fraud become very real if the dealership’s internal controls are not sound. On the other hand, external threats such as cyber attacks are becoming more prevalent as weaknesses in operating systems and networks are penetrated by hackers. DHG Dealerships can help you identify and assess internal and external risks so that you may implement stronger controls.

Furthermore, dealers operate in a heavily regulated industry. Compliance with the various national, state and local regulatory bodies becomes critical to avoid the potentially costly penalties and unforeseen consequences that may arise. DHG Dealerships is an advisor you can trust to help you achieve and maintain compliance so you can focus on running your business smoothly and successfully.

  • Airplane Consulting
  • Cybersecurity / Privacy / CCPA
  • Enterprise Risk Assessments
  • Entity Structuring
  • Internal Controls & Audit
  • Litigation Support
  • Reinsurance Consulting

Mergers & Acquisitions

As transaction activity continues to have strong momentum, the dealership industry remains ripe for consolidation. In the event that you plan to acquire or sell, DHG Dealerships is by your side throughout the entire transaction lifecycle. Additionally, we work closely with dealers and PEFO investors to navigate the persistent interest in automotive retail acquisition.

  • Business Valuations
  • Closing Assistance
  • Private Equity / Family Office
  • Transaction Advisory
  • Transaction Due Diligence

Succession

As a dealer, retirement is an inevitable part of your future. Whether your timeline is nearby or many years from the present, it is imperative to assess what you have done to prepare for your future and the future of your dealership. With more exit strategy options than ever, DHG Dealerships is here to assist you down the succession path that’s right for you and can help ensure ongoing business success past your ownership.

  • Business Valuations
  • Entity Structuring
  • Estate Planning
  • Reinsurance Planning

Innovation, Technology & Data

  • Data Analytics
  • Digital Solutions
  • HealthCheck™ Initiative

Dealership Clients in 50 States

SERVICES

 

Centralized Accounting

DHG Dealerships’ experienced professionals can help you assess your current accounting model, determine whether moving to centralized accounting makes sense for your business and then assist as you make changes and improvements.

Cybersecurity

DHG’s integrated Dealerships and IT Advisory team is knowledgeable in evolving security, privacy and regulatory compliance requirements in the dealership industry. Trust our advisors to facilitate your competitive success by providing comprehensive information security services tailored to your dealership’s specific needs.

Dealership Valuations

Dealership valuation needs may range from complex consulting for a multi-store mega dealer to simple advisory services for a single-point family-owned store. Dealerships are unique businesses with unique business models that bring valuation complexities not often found when valuing businesses in other industries.

Digital Solutions

Our goal is to provide our dealer clients with services that will deliver additional profitability and help them find efficient digital solutions, including elevating their exposure and profitability of digital audits, continuous monitoring and management, and reporting of digital performance.

Due Diligence

The varying tax provisions, types of assets and complex value determination factors are some of the aspects that make these transactions challenging to navigate. It is advantageous to enlist the assistance of professionals with experience on both sides of such transactions when performing due diligence so they can ask the tough questions that will help uncover potential concerns and risks.

Executive Search & Recruiting for Jobs in Dealerships

We back our strategic recruiting process with specific strategies combining analytics and intuition to find the best talent for a given position, plus salary and market expertise to support offer negotiations. Our nationwide coverage lets us cast a wide net with professional screening and regular client updates. Most importantly, we commit to getting to know our dealership clients and candidates.

Forensics

DHG Forensics provides a wide range of advisory, investigative and litigation consulting services. Our 40+ credentialed professionals are experienced in providing forensic accounting and valuation services.

Internal Audit Services

As a PCAOB-registered firm with a deep understanding of the requirements and compliance needs of highly regulated clients, DHG’s dedicated professionals employ best practices throughout our internal audits.

Retail Warranty Reimbursement

Our goal is to provide our dealer clients with services that will help them receive accurate manufacturer reimbursement for warranty parts and labor.

Risk Assessment

The first step to reducing dealership reporting, operational and compliance risks is to identify those risks specific to the dealership.

A DHG Dealerships Risk Assessment can help dealerships identify how and where to deploy their available resources most effectively in addition to implementing new processes and procedures. Our goal is to protect our clients’ dealerships, employees and customers.

Succession Planning

We believe that succession planning is not just a matter of individual financial planning or estate planning but also a matter of corporate governance important to the board of directors.

Tax

Growth can rapidly outstrip your tax, accounting and reporting functions, so we provide the bandwidth for integrated tax planning and risk management. Folding these services into one relationship supports compliance while giving you a unified approach to your inbound and outbound tax management.