There are two schools of thought when creating cash flow for a buy here pay here auto dealership. One involves selling cars as quickly as possible and repossessing them just as quickly. The other more viable option is to focus on customer service. By keeping customers in a vehicle longer, the dealer can also secure steady cash flow and support repeat customers as well as referrals. Dealers, collections staff and service technicians are all involved in the customer experience. This article reviews the benefits of efficient financial management and the tools that help dealers achieve more profitable payment streams.
All dealerships need an effective way of tracking the number of customers they have and current level of collections. If customers are behind on payments, then dealers need to know the level of delinquency to prioritize which accounts need attention first. Again, the longer a delinquency is left unchecked, the more likely you are to lose that customer and default to repossession.
There are several software packages that support dealership efficiency, including but not limited to AutoStar, Finance Express/Dealer Socket, Frazer and Dealer-mate. The software must be used properly and regularly for a customer-centric approach to succeed. In a repossession approach, dealers simply wait for legally sanctioned delinquency. In a customer-centric approach, dealers must look at reports weekly. They will look for signs of changes in payment streams, then communicate with collections staff who must reach out to those flagged customers.
Once collections improve, the reports can tell dealers how to improve budgeting, track inventory and monitor related finance company (RFC) reimbursements (if applicable). The software can also be tailored to provide reports to the dealership that are most meaningful.
Some of the reports and elements of reports that dealers should pay attention to include:
- Inventory Listing
This keeps track of cars available for sale. It should include the purchase price at the cost to dealer plus an amount for make-ready costs (expenses incurred to bring vehicles up to selling condition). Many dealers affix a standard cost to apply to vehicles to make them ready for sale based on historical trends. Some do try to assign exact costs, but the recordkeeping for this can be cumbersome. A compromise would be to use the standard cost for most vehicles and add large, specific make-ready expenses if applicable.
The inventory list is also used to reconcile against the lender’s floorplan records. While the dealership’s profits are primarily earned through interest, maintaining appropriate inventory costs (by not overpaying for inventory) is still a critical piece for a healthy dealership.
- Accounts/Notes Receivable (dealership’s portfolio)
Dealers should keep track of all open accounts and note the accounts that are past due. This report can also separate the components of the loan between the principal balance, current balance, accrued interest, sales tax, and discounts – original and current.
- Charge offs
After reviewing the A/R reports, this report gives the dealer a list of every account that will no longer be collected. This is useful for year-end reporting, as the IRS requires Form 1099-C (cancellation of debt) to be issued to these customers. The penalties for noncompliance here are steep, so it’s worth it for the dealer to keep accurate records.
Some dealers only move a small portion of their loans to the full charge-off stage, as issuing these forms can drive away potentially good future customers. If you don’t expect (or want) the customer to return, consider a full charge-off.
- Cash Flow Report
This is different from the cash flow statements included in GAAP financial statements. This is a report out of the dealership’s sales software that shows the amount received from customers. It will separate the payments between down payments, interest, principal, sales tax and unearned discount. Some dealers keep track of their cash flow by the number of open, current accounts. For example, if they have 100 current accounts paying $400 per month, they know they should be receiving $40,000 per month. This can even be broken down bi-weekly or weekly depending on the dealer’s needs.
This report also helps track the payments to the actual bank statement and can be reconciled with the monthly expected cash flow receipts from the account/notes receivable report.
- Sales Tax Reports
These are compliance based, but are important. This report keeps track of sales tax due. For certain states, sales tax is due in full when the car is sold. However, for other states, (i.e. Texas), the sales tax is due as the payments are collected. The sales tax report works in conjunction with the A/R and cash flow report to make sure the dealer is paying sales tax only as the monthly payments are received.
In states where the law requires sales tax payments as money is collected, this approach improves the dealer’s monthly cash flow.
While all of these reports are very helpful in running a buy here pay here dealership, it is also important to maintain the company’s Balance Sheet, Income Statement, and Statement of Cash Flows as part of financial statement audits and potential IRS examinations.
Software investment and tracking can pay dividends. One dealer we know is one of the most profitable in the region with several locations and many loyal customers. He credits it to the customer-centric approach of keeping the customers he has, getting referrals and reducing his inventory costs, major repair costs and sales quotas. And who doesn’t like profits?
If you think this approach could work better for your dealership in the long run, talk to the auto dealership team at Cornwell Jackson. You can also Download the Article here: Customer Service: A Better Approach to BHPH Cash Flow
Mike Rizkal, CPA is the audit and assurance partner in Cornwell Jackson’s assurance practice and auto dealership segment. Mike utilizes his real world practical experience to provide consulting and accounting services to buy here pay here owners and managers across North Texas.
