Used Car Dealership Business Plan Template – Instant Download

Launch or expand your pre-owned lot with a plan lenders actually read. This used car dealership business plan is built for independent retail, family lots, and BHPH operators who need an SBA-aligned document that maps inventory turns, reconditioning workflow, and cash flow to realistic unit sales.

Delivered instantly in Microsoft Word and PDF, it includes a defendable 36-month forecast, floorplan and curtailment timing, recon standards, days-to-turn targets, and a practical marketing playbook for listings, Google Business Profile, and reviews—so lenders can trace assumptions from acquisition to DSCR.

Personalize the assumptions, export a clean PDF, and present a credible, investor-ready plan—so you can secure funding, stock smarter, and sell faster.

What’s Inside the Business Plan

• Executive Summary — concept, market, use of funds, milestones.
• Products & Services — retail sales, trade-ins, service contracts, add-ons.
• Market Analysis — demand drivers, buyer segments, competitor scan.
• Operations — sourcing (auctions/trade-ins), recon flow, pricing, floorplan policy.
• Marketing — marketplaces, Google Business Profile, reviews, referrals.
• Management — owner-operator, sales/F&I roles, key vendors.
• Financial Model — unit sales, front-end gross, F&I, break-even, cash flow, DSCR.

How This Plan Is Built (Methodology)

• Market sizing with localizable variables and realistic ATP bands.
• Unit economics tied to ATP × gross × turn rate with sensitivity.
• Operating model covering staffing, hours, recon, seasonality.
• Funding path aligning forecast, milestones, and working capital.

Compliance & Licensing (U.S.)

• Entity, EIN, state dealer license, surety/bonding, local permits.
• FTC Used Car Rule — Buyer’s Guide display and disclosures.
• Insurance (garage liability, lot coverage; workers’ comp as applicable).
• Sales tax, title/DMV processing, recordkeeping, and data security.

Note: requirements vary by state/county—confirm locally. Authority: FTC — Dealer’s Guide to the Used Car Rule.

Pricing & Costs — what should I budget and when do I break even?

Budget for lot setup, recon partners/tools, digital ads, floorplan interest, and DMV/title fees. Break-even hinges on monthly units multiplied by front-end gross plus F&I, minus SG&A and carrying costs. The model includes base, ramp-up, and stretch cases.

How do I show lenders my inventory strategy?

Use a clear sourcing mix (auctions versus trade-ins), recon standards, and days-to-turn targets. Pair ATP ranges with floorplan limits and curtailment timing so lenders can trace DSCR coverage.

What if prices move while I’m launching?

The forecast includes ATP sensitivity of approximately five to ten percent and variable recon. Update monthly with recent sales and adjust acquisition lanes or segment focus to protect gross.

Used Car Dealership Business Plan Template — lender-ready with 36-month financials (U.S.)

What You’ll Turn In

• Editable Word plan plus a polished PDF in lender style.
• Thirty-six-month financials with editable assumptions.
• Operations and compliance outline covering Buyer’s Guide basics and recon workflow.
• Pitch and submission checklist for lenders and licensing boards.

What You’ll Customize

• Brand, city or region, sourcing mix, ATP and gross targets.
• Staffing for sales, F&I, and recon partners, plus floorplan terms.
• Local licensing steps and insurance providers.
• Marketing calendar: marketplaces, reviews, referrals.

What’s Not Included

• Legal, tax, or accounting advice or filings.
• Grant writing or lender submissions on your behalf.
• Outcome guarantees; approvals and funding are case-dependent.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Helpful Reads

• Unlocking Success: The Critical Role of a Business Plan
• How to Create and Write Financial Projections (Step-by-Step)