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Answer Upon - Death of an Automobile Dealership
A natural person is one who is born in a land and enjoys the civil rights of the society where he or she is living. Before the industrial revolution, man depended on farms and crafts for a living. The advent of the industrial revolution and the discovery of new lands opened up opportunities for new ways of living. One struggled hard, ventured to form new businesses, employed people and succeeded in the business. Very often, these businesses failed, and the profits or debts were borne by the individual. Furthermore, society had to find to way to regulate these businesses.These businesses were registered as separate legal entities and enjoyed certain rights as bestowed by the society. They were registered as partnership, proprietorship and corporations. Proprietorship and partnership were limited by the number of people and unlimited liability. Corporations held a greater number of people and limited liability.The word ‘corporation’ is derived from the Latin root ‘corpus’ meaning group of bodies. The businesses founded became a legal entity separate from the founders. There are corporations, limited liability companies (LLC) and non-profit organizations like churches. Even though corporations are founded by a group, it is the corporation that does transactions with the government, other corporations and individuals. The founders have liabilities only to the extent of their investments.The main benefits to the corporation are limited liability and perpetual lifetime. The corporation lives or continues as a legal entity even after the founders are gone, giving it stability. Furthermore, the corporation enjoys benefits in the form of tax deductions and concessions. Corporations are entrepreneurial in nature. According to an estimate, there were 22.5 million corporations in the United States in 2002. Ninety-nine percent of these corporations are small in nature employing fewer than 500 people.
11. Storage of Records
Dealerships amass a great deal of paperwork, the safe, accessible, storage of which will present a necessary problem to the selling dealer. No dealership record will be as important as it is on the day it cannot be found. Former dealers have related stories of attempting to retrieve documents from mini-storage facilities, in both rain and snow.
The appropriate time period should be determined, only after the dealer's accountant and attorney have considered and advised the dealer with respect to statute of limitations problems and other document retention regulations, peculiar to the political area in which dealership is located.
12. In-House Service Contracts
If the dealer has sold any "in-house service contracts", the selling dealer will not want former customers calling at his or her home for repairs, or complaints; therefore, a system of service, along the following lines, should be negotiated with a dealer located in close proximity to the closing store.
13. The Hard Assets
Parts and Accessories
Each factory has its own definition of "returnable" parts and returnable accessories. Most also include a discount for packing and shipping.
Just prior to closing, a computer printout ought to be obtained listing all parts and accessories, their purchase date and cost in invoice.
Parts and Accessories need to be segregated into "returnable" and "non-returnable" categories. Returnable parts and accessories need to be inventoried and packaged according to the factory's specifications
Non-returnable items need to be marketed to other dealers or parts houses such as "Napa". Note: Some "non-returnable" parts may in fact be returnable to the supplier from who it was purchased, such as Delco, MotorCraft, Mopar, Napa, etc.
Do not mark on or damage original packages when inventorying or packing as some factories will not classify items in marked packages as "returnable".
Be sure to account for aftermarket items such as Gas, Oil & Grease, Nuts, Bolts, Supplies, Work in Process and Repair Order (Need to collect A/Rs), Signs, Tools, Miscellaneous Equipment & Supplies.
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment
The hard assets fall into two categories: (
“The only thing that makes life possible is permanent, intolerable uncertainty; not knowing what comes next.” – Ursula K. LeGuin “Uncertainty and mystery are energies of life. Don't let them scare you unduly, for they keep boredom at bay and spark creativity.”- R.I. FitzhenryAbout 8 years ago my life underwent a major transition both personally and professionally. Everything in my life seemed to be in flux. I felt at a crossroads filled with excitement and huge fear. Where was I going? What might happen next? At times, I felt overwhelmed with so many questions and so much uncertainty.One day, while at a low point, I flipped on the TV and caught one of the Public Broadcasting Station fundraising drives. Deepak Chopra was the featured presenter. He was introducing his view about uncertainty. To illustrate his point, he recalled a story that involved his son during the Christmas holidays. When asked what he wished for in the New Year, his son replied, “I wish for another year of uncertainty.” I felt my stomach churn when I heard that! Deepak Chopra continued to speak. The essence of his message was this:Open your mind to see uncertainty as a state of possibility. Limitless possibilities. So often we view uncertainty with dread and anticipation of something negative happening to us. Imagine seeing the potential of limitless possibilities that might result in wonderful things happening. In other words, expect the best instead of expect the worst. What if you held the thought, “I wonder what new (and exciting) experiences might be coming my way?” and pondered upon the possibilities instead of fearing the unknown. What if you approached life as learning experiences rather than problems or obstacles to overcome?If everything always stayed the same, day in and day out, what would your life be like personally and professionally?Would you be growing as a person?Imagine stepping into new experiences with an explorer’s sense of adventure and curiosity! When you open your mind and your heart to possibilities, amazing things can happen!Your call to action: 1. Adopt a new attitude about uncertainty. Create opportunities to approach uncertainty with an open mind and heart. Be the explorer every day! Unleash your adventurous nature!2. Watch what happens when you are open to possibilities. You might find people and opportunities coming to you that you might have missed when you approached uncertainty as a negative.3. Notice your reaction to this exercise. Learn more about yourself. Tip: Journaling is a great tool to capture your thoughts and feelings!
THIS CHECKLIST IS NOT "ALL INCLUSIVE". YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH YOUR ATTORNEY AND ACCOUNTANT AND THIS LIST SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS AN ADDITIONAL AID FOR YOU TO USE TO BUILD UPON WHEN YOU CONFER WITH THEM.
Basic Preparation
1. Officers, Directors and Shareholders
Be certain to hold both directors and shareholders meetings and to obtain resolutions from each entity, authorizing the dealer to liquidate the dealership, or a substantial portion of the dealership's assets.
Determine whether or not the board and shareholders may authorize you a termination bonus and prepay your for your services in "winding down the business". Consult with your accountant and attorney to determine what would be a reasonable amount of compensation in the event a company creditor challenges the transaction.
Determine if it is reasonable for officers to buy themselves and their spouse vehicles. Pay "Net" "Net", as that would be the sales price if the vehicle were returned to the factory or sold to a purchaser of the business.
The officers should open a new bank account, at a different bank, and: (a) use a PO Box, or Private Mail Service as a mailing address; and (b) use a different check color in order to easily determine pre and post closing checks written.
Authorize payment to and pre-pay the company's attorney and accountant with a retainer. Their services will be needed to properly close the business and the company might not be able to pay them later.
Authorize pre-payment of whatever services or supplies the company will need to be serviced during the wind-down period. For example, property and personal insurance, real property taxes (if the property is not owned by a third party), rent, utilities and such.
2. The Facility and Insurance
A one-sheet summary of the lease should be attached to the original, in order to facilitate matters. The summary should include such items as: the dates of the base term; the base rent; the current rent; the dates of any option periods, together with notations regarding rent increases; the facility ownership; the lessee and lessor; a notation as to whether or not the factory has point, or site protection; the rent as an equivalent to the dollar value per new unit sold; and, a notation as to WHETHER OR NOT THE LEASE IS ASSIGNABLE and under what conditions.
Other considerations regarding the facility lease include violations of the ADA, hazardous materials (underground gas tanks, or underground oil disposal tanks) being located on the property.
Owned Facilities
With respect to receiving "factory termination assistance", some Sales and Service Agreements, General Motors for example, make a distinction between "owner occupied" and "leased" dealership facilities. Be sure to read your Sales and Service Agreement in order to understand and be able to capitalize on the distinctions.
Leased Facilities
If the selling dealer's rent factor prior to the sale of the dealership is within factory guidelines the factory should make the dealer's lease payments for the period specified in the Service and Sales Agreement. (See, however, the EPA section.)
Check with your insurance agent to determine the requirements for insuring an empty building.
Other Insurance
In addition to facility insurance the dealer will need a "tail" or rider on his or her garage keepers insurance. Most insurance today is "claims made" versus "occurrence".
In actual practice, most cases that are settled are settled within the insurance policy limits and the insurance company will have paid for both the defense and the settlement.
With respect to Medical Insurance, arrange for COBRA all employees of the company. Again, officers and directors may be able to include medical insurance payments as part of their wind-down compensation.
3. UCC, Mechanic’s Lien and Title Searches
Most dealers are not cognizant of all existing liens on dealership's assets.
In order to accurately estimate the selling dealer's anticipated net proceeds, all of these liens will have to be discovered, preferably, prior to negotiations.
Possession of title reports and UCC-1 reports will give the dealer adequate time to address the issues and to have readily available answers, if and when a prospective purchaser raises the issue.
4. Taxes Due and Anticipated
The dealership's comptroller or accountant, should prepare a sheet of all taxes currently owed by the dealership and all anticipated taxes. The list should identify the amount, to who owed and the reason. In certain states unpaid taxes have a "superlien" status and if unpaid the selling dealer's assets can and will be attached to recover unpaid taxes due by the selling dealership. This attachment can occur months after the dealership has closed.
As a general rule, anyone authorized to sign on the checking account can be held personally liable for at least ? of the payroll withholding tax, as well as 100% of all of the sales taxes due. In addition, in some instances dealers have been held personally liable for monies collected from customers that should have been treated as "trust" monies, such as: customer trade payoffs, customer credit and life insurance premiums, and customer warranty and service contract premiums.
5. Notes and Accounts Receivable From Others
The "Notes and Accounts Receivable - Other" account is usually a "catch-all" account on the dealership statement. For purposes of a dealership sale, this account should be purified (1) in order to apprise the dealer of any extra funds, which may be available for final sales and property taxes and (2) to make both the dealer and accountant aware of any "in-house" loans to officers, directors and employees, which may have to be repaid.
6. Prepaid Expenses
The prepaid expense account is another "catch-all" account that must be purified. When scheduling the prepaid expense account the comptroller should make a thorough search for all lease and contract deposits. In many instances, service equipment on lease, vehicles on lease, computers on lease, and other leases made to the dealership carry security deposits, or the last month's payment, or both.
7. Dealership Employees
Along with the normal employer-employee relations, there are two very important legal areas that may affect automobile dealers: (a) pension fund liability; and (b) state and federal laws regarding closings.
In some states the selling dealer could be personally liable for funding employee pension funds; while in others the dealer must give employees advance notice of any closing. Also, the United States Congress passed legislation regarding "closings". In the instances of "closings", both state and federal laws put a minimum on the number of persons employed, usually 50 or 100, before the law applies to the dealer's company. Check the Hart Scott Rodino Act (HSR) and the WARN Act.
With respect to wages, some jurisdictions have enacted statutes making certain shareholders personally liable for corporate debts owing to laborers and other employees. Welfare and pension funds also qualify as wages under New York's statute.
The comptroller, or accountant should prepare a list of these liabilities, to include any amounts due the employees, with respect to accrued vacations, withholding taxes, pension and profit sharing plans and wages, as of the date of close.
Insofar as the actual terminations are concerned, if the dealership is "union", the dealer should talk to the union's representative in order to be sure that all of the conditions of the union contract are met.
8. Long Term Debt
All long-term debt should be itemized and a method of repayment determined. Interest should be computed. When past due interest and past due payments are added to the loan balance, the loan pay-offs are generally higher than anticipated.
The comptroller should prepare a list of these debts, to include the amount owed including interest, to who owed, purpose of debt, maturity, terms and security given. In addition, after the list is completed, the comptroller should keep a running total, daily, through close of escrow.
9. Other Notes Payable
As with long-term debt, other notes payable should be listed by amount including interest to date of close, to whom owed, purpose of note, maturity, terms and security given; and arrangements should be made to retire the debt.
10. The Financial Statements
The retail automobile business is one of the few businesses requiring a complete closing of all books and records, promptly, at the end of each and every month. Factories and finance companies require reporting on factory originated, or approved forms.
In preparing the store for closing, a reconciliation statement may be used, explaining categories such as "other income & expense", warranty, finance and insurance income not shown on the statement, along with extraordinary items.
You will need a final financial statement for tax purposes.
11. Storage of Records
Dealerships amass a great deal of paperwork, the safe, accessible, storage of which will present a necessary problem to the selling dealer. No dealership record will be as important as it is on the day it cannot be found. Former dealers have related stories of attempting to retrieve documents from mini-storage facilities, in both rain and snow.
The appropriate time period should be determined, only after the dealer's accountant and attorney have considered and advised the dealer with respect to statute of limitations problems and other document retention regulations, peculiar to the political area in which dealership is located.
12. In-House Service Contracts
If the dealer has sold any "in-house service contracts", the selling dealer will not want former customers calling at his or her home for repairs, or complaints; therefore, a system of service, along the following lines, should be negotiated with a dealer located in close proximity to the closing store.
13. The Hard Assets
Parts and Accessories
Each factory has its own definition of "returnable" parts and returnable accessories. Most also include a discount for packing and shipping.
Just prior to closing, a computer printout ought to be obtained listing all parts and accessories, their purchase date and cost in invoice.
Parts and Accessories need to be segregated into "returnable" and "non-returnable" categories. Returnable parts and accessories need to be inventoried and packaged according to the factory's specifications
Non-returnable items need to be marketed to other dealers or parts houses such as "Napa". Note: Some "non-returnable" parts may in fact be returnable to the supplier from who it was purchased, such as Delco, MotorCraft, Mopar, Napa, etc.
Do not mark on or damage original packages when inventorying or packing as some factories will not classify items in marked packages as "returnable".
Be sure to account for aftermarket items such as Gas, Oil & Grease, Nuts, Bolts, Supplies, Work in Process and Repair Order (Need to collect A/Rs), Signs, Tools, Miscellaneous Equipment & Supplies.
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment
The hard assets fall into two categories: (a
The notion of fashion in world exists from the Roman era. The difference is that the priority of the type of jewelry has been changing. Some years ago gold was popular while right now variety is the name of the game. Every person is capable of creating his or her own fashion statement. Nothing but attitude matters in the world of fashion. If you can carry yourself with ease whatever you are wearing, that way you are a fashionable person. It doesn’t matter if you are wearing a sparkling diamond or as simple as beaded jewelry, attitude is all that matters.Change is the essence of the fashion world. Unlike the traditional ones like diamonds and pearls, beads are gaining popularity. It gives a different look and style to the person who endures them. Beads are colorful, elegant and mesmerizing. They are small and dainty ones which are entwined with threads giving rise to a colorful extravaganza.In Beaded Jewellery, beads varies in different sizes from millimeter to over a centimeter or several centimeters in diameter. The materials used for making these beads typically can be of glass, plastic and stone while beads made up of bone, horn, ivory, metal, shell, pearl, coral, gemstones, polymer clay, metal clay, resin, synthetic minerals, wood, ceramic, fiber, paper, and seeds are also popular and are in demand. If we go in the historical facts about the origination of the beads then first known facts are of pair of beads reported 100,000 years ago which were made of Nassarius shells. Therefore the beads are the most historical jewelleries ever reported.Only beads reckons one of the most varied kind of jewelry. They are available in different styles such as Chevron beads ,Cloisonn? beads , Dichroic beads , Ethnic beads, Faux natural beads ,Fire-polished beads, Furnace glass beads, Fused glass beads, Lamp work beads, Lead crystal beads, Millefiori beads, Pressed glass beads, Seed beads, Shell beads, Trade beads or Slave beads. The most popular beads are uniformly shaped, spheroidal beads ranging in size from a millimeter to several millimeter. The seed beads are one of the most popular beads in today’s fashionable era. Seed bead is a generic term used for any kind of small and diminutive bead. Usually rounded in shape Seed beads are more commonly used for bead weaving. They may be used simply as stringing or as spacers between other beads in jewelry. They are more common in Japan and Czech Republic. Beads can be worn simply if you are wearing simple plain clothing or it goes well with the multi colored apparel. Beads are the in thing nowadays and everyone is wearing it.
Other considerations regarding the facility lease include violations of the ADA, hazardous materials (underground gas tanks, or underground oil disposal tanks) being located on the property.
Owned Facilities
With respect to receiving "factory termination assistance", some Sales and Service Agreements, General Motors for example, make a distinction between "owner occupied" and "leased" dealership facilities. Be sure to read your Sales and Service Agreement in order to understand and be able to capitalize on the distinctions.
Leased Facilities
If the selling dealer's rent factor prior to the sale of the dealership is within factory guidelines the factory should make the dealer's lease payments for the period specified in the Service and Sales Agreement. (See, however, the EPA section.)
Check with your insurance agent to determine the requirements for insuring an empty building.
Other Insurance
In addition to facility insurance the dealer will need a "tail" or rider on his or her garage keepers insurance. Most insurance today is "claims made" versus "occurrence".
In actual practice, most cases that are settled are settled within the insurance policy limits and the insurance company will have paid for both the defense and the settlement.
With respect to Medical Insurance, arrange for COBRA all employees of the company. Again, officers and directors may be able to include medical insurance payments as part of their wind-down compensation.
3. UCC, Mechanic’s Lien and Title Searches
Most dealers are not cognizant of all existing liens on dealership's assets.
In order to accurately estimate the selling dealer's anticipated net proceeds, all of these liens will have to be discovered, preferably, prior to negotiations.
Possession of title reports and UCC-1 reports will give the dealer adequate time to address the issues and to have readily available answers, if and when a prospective purchaser raises the issue.
4. Taxes Due and Anticipated
The dealership's comptroller or accountant, should prepare a sheet of all taxes currently owed by the dealership and all anticipated taxes. The list should identify the amount, to who owed and the reason. In certain states unpaid taxes have a "superlien" status and if unpaid the selling dealer's assets can and will be attached to recover unpaid taxes due by the selling dealership. This attachment can occur months after the dealership has closed.
As a general rule, anyone authorized to sign on the checking account can be held personally liable for at least ? of the payroll withholding tax, as well as 100% of all of the sales taxes due. In addition, in some instances dealers have been held personally liable for monies collected from customers that should have been treated as "trust" monies, such as: customer trade payoffs, customer credit and life insurance premiums, and customer warranty and service contract premiums.
5. Notes and Accounts Receivable From Others
The "Notes and Accounts Receivable - Other" account is usually a "catch-all" account on the dealership statement. For purposes of a dealership sale, this account should be purified (1) in order to apprise the dealer of any extra funds, which may be available for final sales and property taxes and (2) to make both the dealer and accountant aware of any "in-house" loans to officers, directors and employees, which may have to be repaid.
6. Prepaid Expenses
The prepaid expense account is another "catch-all" account that must be purified. When scheduling the prepaid expense account the comptroller should make a thorough search for all lease and contract deposits. In many instances, service equipment on lease, vehicles on lease, computers on lease, and other leases made to the dealership carry security deposits, or the last month's payment, or both.
7. Dealership Employees
Along with the normal employer-employee relations, there are two very important legal areas that may affect automobile dealers: (a) pension fund liability; and (b) state and federal laws regarding closings.
In some states the selling dealer could be personally liable for funding employee pension funds; while in others the dealer must give employees advance notice of any closing. Also, the United States Congress passed legislation regarding "closings". In the instances of "closings", both state and federal laws put a minimum on the number of persons employed, usually 50 or 100, before the law applies to the dealer's company. Check the Hart Scott Rodino Act (HSR) and the WARN Act.
With respect to wages, some jurisdictions have enacted statutes making certain shareholders personally liable for corporate debts owing to laborers and other employees. Welfare and pension funds also qualify as wages under New York's statute.
The comptroller, or accountant should prepare a list of these liabilities, to include any amounts due the employees, with respect to accrued vacations, withholding taxes, pension and profit sharing plans and wages, as of the date of close.
Insofar as the actual terminations are concerned, if the dealership is "union", the dealer should talk to the union's representative in order to be sure that all of the conditions of the union contract are met.
8. Long Term Debt
All long-term debt should be itemized and a method of repayment determined. Interest should be computed. When past due interest and past due payments are added to the loan balance, the loan pay-offs are generally higher than anticipated.
The comptroller should prepare a list of these debts, to include the amount owed including interest, to who owed, purpose of debt, maturity, terms and security given. In addition, after the list is completed, the comptroller should keep a running total, daily, through close of escrow.
9. Other Notes Payable
As with long-term debt, other notes payable should be listed by amount including interest to date of close, to whom owed, purpose of note, maturity, terms and security given; and arrangements should be made to retire the debt.
10. The Financial Statements
The retail automobile business is one of the few businesses requiring a complete closing of all books and records, promptly, at the end of each and every month. Factories and finance companies require reporting on factory originated, or approved forms.
In preparing the store for closing, a reconciliation statement may be used, explaining categories such as "other income & expense", warranty, finance and insurance income not shown on the statement, along with extraordinary items.
You will need a final financial statement for tax purposes.
11. Storage of Records
Dealerships amass a great deal of paperwork, the safe, accessible, storage of which will present a necessary problem to the selling dealer. No dealership record will be as important as it is on the day it cannot be found. Former dealers have related stories of attempting to retrieve documents from mini-storage facilities, in both rain and snow.
The appropriate time period should be determined, only after the dealer's accountant and attorney have considered and advised the dealer with respect to statute of limitations problems and other document retention regulations, peculiar to the political area in which dealership is located.
12. In-House Service Contracts
If the dealer has sold any "in-house service contracts", the selling dealer will not want former customers calling at his or her home for repairs, or complaints; therefore, a system of service, along the following lines, should be negotiated with a dealer located in close proximity to the closing store.
13. The Hard Assets
Parts and Accessories
Each factory has its own definition of "returnable" parts and returnable accessories. Most also include a discount for packing and shipping.
Just prior to closing, a computer printout ought to be obtained listing all parts and accessories, their purchase date and cost in invoice.
Parts and Accessories need to be segregated into "returnable" and "non-returnable" categories. Returnable parts and accessories need to be inventoried and packaged according to the factory's specifications
Non-returnable items need to be marketed to other dealers or parts houses such as "Napa". Note: Some "non-returnable" parts may in fact be returnable to the supplier from who it was purchased, such as Delco, MotorCraft, Mopar, Napa, etc.
Do not mark on or damage original packages when inventorying or packing as some factories will not classify items in marked packages as "returnable".
Be sure to account for aftermarket items such as Gas, Oil & Grease, Nuts, Bolts, Supplies, Work in Process and Repair Order (Need to collect A/Rs), Signs, Tools, Miscellaneous Equipment & Supplies.
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment
The hard assets fall into two categories: (
The truth is that it is possible and some of the richest people you will ever meet make the majority of their money passively and without working as hard as you may be. You see society teaches us that you must work hard to make money and this is what keeps 99% of people working their whole lifetime without much to show for it.Well I'm here to tell you that making money on autopilot is possible. The e-currency exchange business is the way I do it and it's the way I recommend to anyone, even my friends and family. It's an amazing opportunity and I am so thankful and fortunate for finding it.You can start with as little as $50 or you can start with much more, and don't worry about starting with a small amount because it will just take a little bit for it grow much larger. Here's is how you make money with e-currency exchange.-You fund your e-currency exchange account.-Your account generates between .5%-5% returns on your money every 24 hours-You spend about 30 minutes per day to make the absolute maximum you can-During those 30 minutes you turn over your profits from the previous 24 hours and get daily compounded returns.-You watch as your account grows every day. Since you want an income from this business you take what you need every week or month and you let the rest keep growing. In August 2006 the e-currency exchange system was updated so now it takes 24-48 hours to withdraw profits.Once you start making a good passive income with e-currency exchange you will not only have money but more time as well. It'll also expand your mind and help you understand just how many possibilities are out there and how people have been taking advantage of them for years and making huge amounts of money with so little work.If you want to get started with e-currency exchange as quickly as possible I suggest you get a training program that will teach you everything you need to know very quickly. I have reviewed quite a number of courses for this business and the one I can recommend to you is Gary Jezorski's e-Currency Exchange Training Course.If you're interested in making money and having more free time then the e-currency exchange business is something that I suggest you do, as it's something I have personally recommended to my friends and family.
As a general rule, anyone authorized to sign on the checking account can be held personally liable for at least ? of the payroll withholding tax, as well as 100% of all of the sales taxes due. In addition, in some instances dealers have been held personally liable for monies collected from customers that should have been treated as "trust" monies, such as: customer trade payoffs, customer credit and life insurance premiums, and customer warranty and service contract premiums.
5. Notes and Accounts Receivable From Others
The "Notes and Accounts Receivable - Other" account is usually a "catch-all" account on the dealership statement. For purposes of a dealership sale, this account should be purified (1) in order to apprise the dealer of any extra funds, which may be available for final sales and property taxes and (2) to make both the dealer and accountant aware of any "in-house" loans to officers, directors and employees, which may have to be repaid.
6. Prepaid Expenses
The prepaid expense account is another "catch-all" account that must be purified. When scheduling the prepaid expense account the comptroller should make a thorough search for all lease and contract deposits. In many instances, service equipment on lease, vehicles on lease, computers on lease, and other leases made to the dealership carry security deposits, or the last month's payment, or both.
7. Dealership Employees
Along with the normal employer-employee relations, there are two very important legal areas that may affect automobile dealers: (a) pension fund liability; and (b) state and federal laws regarding closings.
In some states the selling dealer could be personally liable for funding employee pension funds; while in others the dealer must give employees advance notice of any closing. Also, the United States Congress passed legislation regarding "closings". In the instances of "closings", both state and federal laws put a minimum on the number of persons employed, usually 50 or 100, before the law applies to the dealer's company. Check the Hart Scott Rodino Act (HSR) and the WARN Act.
With respect to wages, some jurisdictions have enacted statutes making certain shareholders personally liable for corporate debts owing to laborers and other employees. Welfare and pension funds also qualify as wages under New York's statute.
The comptroller, or accountant should prepare a list of these liabilities, to include any amounts due the employees, with respect to accrued vacations, withholding taxes, pension and profit sharing plans and wages, as of the date of close.
Insofar as the actual terminations are concerned, if the dealership is "union", the dealer should talk to the union's representative in order to be sure that all of the conditions of the union contract are met.
8. Long Term Debt
All long-term debt should be itemized and a method of repayment determined. Interest should be computed. When past due interest and past due payments are added to the loan balance, the loan pay-offs are generally higher than anticipated.
The comptroller should prepare a list of these debts, to include the amount owed including interest, to who owed, purpose of debt, maturity, terms and security given. In addition, after the list is completed, the comptroller should keep a running total, daily, through close of escrow.
9. Other Notes Payable
As with long-term debt, other notes payable should be listed by amount including interest to date of close, to whom owed, purpose of note, maturity, terms and security given; and arrangements should be made to retire the debt.
10. The Financial Statements
The retail automobile business is one of the few businesses requiring a complete closing of all books and records, promptly, at the end of each and every month. Factories and finance companies require reporting on factory originated, or approved forms.
In preparing the store for closing, a reconciliation statement may be used, explaining categories such as "other income & expense", warranty, finance and insurance income not shown on the statement, along with extraordinary items.
You will need a final financial statement for tax purposes.
11. Storage of Records
Dealerships amass a great deal of paperwork, the safe, accessible, storage of which will present a necessary problem to the selling dealer. No dealership record will be as important as it is on the day it cannot be found. Former dealers have related stories of attempting to retrieve documents from mini-storage facilities, in both rain and snow.
The appropriate time period should be determined, only after the dealer's accountant and attorney have considered and advised the dealer with respect to statute of limitations problems and other document retention regulations, peculiar to the political area in which dealership is located.
12. In-House Service Contracts
If the dealer has sold any "in-house service contracts", the selling dealer will not want former customers calling at his or her home for repairs, or complaints; therefore, a system of service, along the following lines, should be negotiated with a dealer located in close proximity to the closing store.
13. The Hard Assets
Parts and Accessories
Each factory has its own definition of "returnable" parts and returnable accessories. Most also include a discount for packing and shipping.
Just prior to closing, a computer printout ought to be obtained listing all parts and accessories, their purchase date and cost in invoice.
Parts and Accessories need to be segregated into "returnable" and "non-returnable" categories. Returnable parts and accessories need to be inventoried and packaged according to the factory's specifications
Non-returnable items need to be marketed to other dealers or parts houses such as "Napa". Note: Some "non-returnable" parts may in fact be returnable to the supplier from who it was purchased, such as Delco, MotorCraft, Mopar, Napa, etc.
Do not mark on or damage original packages when inventorying or packing as some factories will not classify items in marked packages as "returnable".
Be sure to account for aftermarket items such as Gas, Oil & Grease, Nuts, Bolts, Supplies, Work in Process and Repair Order (Need to collect A/Rs), Signs, Tools, Miscellaneous Equipment & Supplies.
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment
The hard assets fall into two categories: (
Unnoticed in the spate of dramatic labor union events of the past week is a sudden acceleration in the "de-unionization" of America.The 111-day-old coal strike ended in a Pyrrhic victory for the miners - another such win will price them out of the energy market once again.The Firestone Rubber Company of Akron announced the closing of its passenger car tire operations there, throwing a thousand workers into the ranks of the unemployed.The White Motor Company closed down its truck plant in Cleveland because of "high labor costs, obsolete plant, and a declining market."These are not isolated incidents.Coal mining dwindled to token production under the impact of higher costs relative to gas and oil. It became competitive only when the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) rescued the industry with even higher, monopoly prices.Youngstown Sheet and Tube has begun moving its operations to an automated steel plant in Indiana employing 5,000 less workers. Goodyear cut back its Akron work force late last year by a thousand workers. Chrysler prepares to close its original factory in Detroit.It should be noted that these companies are not going out of business. They are cutting their dependence on unskilled and semi-skilled labor. They are moving to areas that give them tax breaks. They are hiring non-union workers and resisting efforts to organize employees into monopoly unions.There is a major restructuring of American industry under way and, so far, the traditional labor union is not a part of it.U.S. labor unions hit their high-water mark of influence shortly after World War II when slightly more than half the private sector employees were organized. Public service unions represented only about 10 percent of workers in that sector of the labor force.Since then, "blue collar" unions have been losing members. Membership in the AFL-CIO, the largest labor union in America, has plummeted a half million in the last two years.Today, only one of every five workers in private companies belongs to a union, and those are in declining industries.There has been great growth, however, in unions representing government, school and hospital employees.AFL-CIO officials predict gloomily, in private, that within another decade union membership will be back where it started in 1930-a mere one-eighth of the work force unionized, and those in stagnant industries.While blue-collar labor unions have declined in membership, labor leaders likewise have suffered in their ability to command respect and obedience. The coal contract negotiated by Mineworker President Arnold Miller was twice rejected by his rank and file, and now there is a movement to recall him.A recent opinion poll conducted by the Roper Organization disclosed that union officials have fallen to the bottom of the leadership totem pole. Only 48 percent of Americans have "confidence" in the integrity of union officials, a figure that has been slip
With respect to wages, some jurisdictions have enacted statutes making certain shareholders personally liable for corporate debts owing to laborers and other employees. Welfare and pension funds also qualify as wages under New York's statute.
The comptroller, or accountant should prepare a list of these liabilities, to include any amounts due the employees, with respect to accrued vacations, withholding taxes, pension and profit sharing plans and wages, as of the date of close.
Insofar as the actual terminations are concerned, if the dealership is "union", the dealer should talk to the union's representative in order to be sure that all of the conditions of the union contract are met.
8. Long Term Debt
All long-term debt should be itemized and a method of repayment determined. Interest should be computed. When past due interest and past due payments are added to the loan balance, the loan pay-offs are generally higher than anticipated.
The comptroller should prepare a list of these debts, to include the amount owed including interest, to who owed, purpose of debt, maturity, terms and security given. In addition, after the list is completed, the comptroller should keep a running total, daily, through close of escrow.
9. Other Notes Payable
As with long-term debt, other notes payable should be listed by amount including interest to date of close, to whom owed, purpose of note, maturity, terms and security given; and arrangements should be made to retire the debt.
10. The Financial Statements
The retail automobile business is one of the few businesses requiring a complete closing of all books and records, promptly, at the end of each and every month. Factories and finance companies require reporting on factory originated, or approved forms.
In preparing the store for closing, a reconciliation statement may be used, explaining categories such as "other income & expense", warranty, finance and insurance income not shown on the statement, along with extraordinary items.
You will need a final financial statement for tax purposes.
11. Storage of Records
Dealerships amass a great deal of paperwork, the safe, accessible, storage of which will present a necessary problem to the selling dealer. No dealership record will be as important as it is on the day it cannot be found. Former dealers have related stories of attempting to retrieve documents from mini-storage facilities, in both rain and snow.
The appropriate time period should be determined, only after the dealer's accountant and attorney have considered and advised the dealer with respect to statute of limitations problems and other document retention regulations, peculiar to the political area in which dealership is located.
12. In-House Service Contracts
If the dealer has sold any "in-house service contracts", the selling dealer will not want former customers calling at his or her home for repairs, or complaints; therefore, a system of service, along the following lines, should be negotiated with a dealer located in close proximity to the closing store.
13. The Hard Assets
Parts and Accessories
Each factory has its own definition of "returnable" parts and returnable accessories. Most also include a discount for packing and shipping.
Just prior to closing, a computer printout ought to be obtained listing all parts and accessories, their purchase date and cost in invoice.
Parts and Accessories need to be segregated into "returnable" and "non-returnable" categories. Returnable parts and accessories need to be inventoried and packaged according to the factory's specifications
Non-returnable items need to be marketed to other dealers or parts houses such as "Napa". Note: Some "non-returnable" parts may in fact be returnable to the supplier from who it was purchased, such as Delco, MotorCraft, Mopar, Napa, etc.
Do not mark on or damage original packages when inventorying or packing as some factories will not classify items in marked packages as "returnable".
Be sure to account for aftermarket items such as Gas, Oil & Grease, Nuts, Bolts, Supplies, Work in Process and Repair Order (Need to collect A/Rs), Signs, Tools, Miscellaneous Equipment & Supplies.
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment
The hard assets fall into two categories: (
Before setting up anything, it is important that you understand the high relevance of lead generation to your business' success. It is highly important for you to be able to find ways for lead generation because without lead generation, your business will really suffer. Leads potentially lead to shoppers, and shoppers potentially lead to sales and profits. Thus, with no leads, you can have no shoppers, and so forth.1. Business Breeds BusinessA poor quality of lead generation will end up costing you a lot of wasted time and money. The initial impression people have about your business is very important. And if people hear that many of their friends are shopping somewhere, they are likely to try shopping there also. Take command of your company's lead generation - never leave the sales of your business as well as its growth, efficiency, and image, to fate.2. Growth Is More Important Than ProfitsYou always need to supervise your company's lead generation so that you won't be left in the dark when it comes to your company's growth (or lack of it). If you are now interested in taking command of your company's lead generation, here are some simple tricks of the trade.3. Use The InternetSince hundreds of millions of people are logged on to the internet every single day, whether they are looking for something specific or just browsing around, it is highly important that you are able to bypass all the lead brokers as well as the other competition on the internet and just directly connect to your desired customers straight to a company's web site. You MUST have a website. In this day and age, your customers not only expect it, they demand it.4. Lead GenerationChoose a lead generation that you can efficiently control and which is highly dependable. Make sure that your lead generation system is cost effective and specifically targeted to internet lead generation. Start getting off the lead generation habit of merely doing internet sales leads. It is advisable for your company to be able to develop a type of lead generation program where you will be able to cut out the middleman. You will not only be able to increase your company's lead generation but it can also improve the quality of your company's internet lead generation wherein you will be able to cut your costs per lead.It is important to note that being able to create an effective internet sales lead generation system or program comprises of being highly sensitive of what you prospective clients want such as the right keywords or phrases that prospective clients usually use in the internet search engines. It is to the client's advantage that he or she will be able to choose the right keyword or key phrase (the ones that are most likely to be used by their prospective clients) because the whole point of lead generation is to basically be able to gain as much exposure over the net as possible as well as being able to provide all relevant information to their prospective clients.
11. Storage of Records
Dealerships amass a great deal of paperwork, the safe, accessible, storage of which will present a necessary problem to the selling dealer. No dealership record will be as important as it is on the day it cannot be found. Former dealers have related stories of attempting to retrieve documents from mini-storage facilities, in both rain and snow.
The appropriate time period should be determined, only after the dealer's accountant and attorney have considered and advised the dealer with respect to statute of limitations problems and other document retention regulations, peculiar to the political area in which dealership is located.
12. In-House Service Contracts
If the dealer has sold any "in-house service contracts", the selling dealer will not want former customers calling at his or her home for repairs, or complaints; therefore, a system of service, along the following lines, should be negotiated with a dealer located in close proximity to the closing store.
13. The Hard Assets
Parts and Accessories
Each factory has its own definition of "returnable" parts and returnable accessories. Most also include a discount for packing and shipping.
Just prior to closing, a computer printout ought to be obtained listing all parts and accessories, their purchase date and cost in invoice.
Parts and Accessories need to be segregated into "returnable" and "non-returnable" categories. Returnable parts and accessories need to be inventoried and packaged according to the factory's specifications
Non-returnable items need to be marketed to other dealers or parts houses such as "Napa". Note: Some "non-returnable" parts may in fact be returnable to the supplier from who it was purchased, such as Delco, MotorCraft, Mopar, Napa, etc.
Do not mark on or damage original packages when inventorying or packing as some factories will not classify items in marked packages as "returnable".
Be sure to account for aftermarket items such as Gas, Oil & Grease, Nuts, Bolts, Supplies, Work in Process and Repair Order (Need to collect A/Rs), Signs, Tools, Miscellaneous Equipment & Supplies.
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment
The hard assets fall into two categories: (a) Those repurchased by the factory, such as special tools, parts equipment, signs, some computer systems, etc.; and those not repurchased by the factory, such as desks, chairs, etc.
Repurchased and non-repurchased items should be segregated and an inventory / auction service contacted to bid the auction on the non-repurchased items. When considering the auction, terms such as advertising time, location, minimum bids, guaranteed minimums from the auctioneer, and so forth, must be considered.
Leasehold Improvements
The value of Leasehold Improvements is generally lost in the termination process.
Vehicles
While accomplishing a new vehicle inventory valuation is a relatively, routine matter, it is also time consuming; consequently, in order for a dealer to realize full value, or each vehicle, at time of transfer, a checklist must be compiled and maintained. There are certain additions to, and subtractions from, the invoice price that must be made.
The difference in cash to be paid by purchaser's flooring entity to the dealer's flooring institution can be considerable, especially with respect to domestic lines, where holdback monies routinely average between $400 and $600 per unit, or more.
A dealer needs to be aware of this figure, early on in order to provide for the contingency during negotiations.
Various states have laws more liberal than the factory's Sales and Service Agreements and the specific laws of the terminating dealer's jurisdiction should be review. For example, Maine requires that the factory repurchase terminating dealers' entire new vehicle inventory, regardless of model year. Some states require the factory repurchase only current model year vehicles and others current plus one year carry-over.
In MSO states, the dealer should control all vehicle keys and MSOs - if the lender does not already have them.
Prepare to liquidate used vehicles and any dealership vehicles such as parts trucks, courtesy vans, demonstrators and snow plows. It is generally easier to obtain a good price for them by not letting anyone "cherry pick". Several wholesales should bid them as a "group".
Make list of carryovers and if the factory will not repurchase them have the wholesalers bid them separately and also shop them with other dealers.
Dealer plates must be surrendered and accounted for when the dealer license is terminated.
13. Appraisals and Auctions
There are a number of competent, recognized appraisers, our firm could recommend. In order to maximize the dollar value of an appraisal or auction, the dealer should contact several firms, determine how they operate, what records will be required, the method for valuing. After obtaining such information, the dealer should know the precise form and schedules necessary in order to maximize the appraisal or sale of the fixed assets. In addition, by assigning an employee to thoroughly prepare the assets and schedules, the dealer will better understand the value of the assets at the premises.
Perhaps the greatest problems, with respect to appraisals and auctions, are: (1) neither party takes the time to understand the methods and reasoning used by the appraisal/auction company; and (2) the dealer almost never adequately prepares the assets and schedules. We invariably find that all of the dealership's assets do not appear on schedules, either because they have been fully depreciated, or because of an error.
14. Contracts for Services
Service maintenance contracts and personal service contracts should be reviewed for personal guarantees, term and assignability. An oversight could mean that personal liability, for performance, would remain with the selling dealer. Service maintenance contracts should be scheduled, with the detail indicating the amount of each payment, duration of agreement, service to be rendered, and any personal liability. Any contracts that can be cancelled should be calendared for cancellation.
15. Contingent Liability and Reserves
The dealer should know the amount of all outstanding retail paper, which has been unconditionally guaranteed by the dealership, or the dealer. The dealer should know which the dealership's reserve account will be subject to charge backs, for early payoffs and the amount, if any, of recourse against the dealer and the dealership.
A spreadsheet of the outstanding contracts should be compiled, detailing, in addition to collateral description, remaining term and delinquency status, and credit grade, such as A, B, or C, or whatever system the finance company uses. The type of recourse, average monthly reserve charge-backs and the current reserve balance should also be included.
Shortly after informing the financing institutions of the dealer's intent to close the dealership, the lenders should again be approached, regarding the availability of any "walk-away" programs. Furthermore, in the event the dealership has been operating with reduced reserve retention, the amount required to bring the reserve(s) to standard, upon cessation of retail operations, should be determined. On occasion, this amount has proved to be significant.
Eventually, when confidentiality is no longer an issue, the dealer should discuss with the lender, the handling of future repossessions, extensions, renewals and other maintenance functions. If the prior dealer-lender relationship was good, the dealer will discover that an incredible amount of help available from a cooperative finance company.
Lastly, if the dealer discovers a large contingency, a certain degree of assistance may be negotiated with the buyer.
16. Accounts Receivable and Cash
Cash
While apparently obvious, dealership cash must be considered. Generally a new checking account should be opened at a financial institution that is not affiliated with the dealer's current business. Also, if possible, a locally owned bank should be used, versus a national bank. The dealer should consider reducing the number of signatories on the checking account(s) to two, one of which is the dealer and, effective the day of the close, the number of signatories should be reduced to the dealer principal only.
Factory Receivables
From the moment a decision to close the store is reached, factory receivables should receive concentrated attention. The very instant an awareness of the pending closing reaches the factory, the payments cease.
Try to resolve all problem receivables, such as warranty disputes, well before the closing. In any event, assistance from the factory, following the close of escrow will be essential to process warranty re-submissions and other problems. Employee Receivables
Employee receivables should also be thoroughly analyzed during this preliminary stage. An immediate policy, of no advances, should be established.
Without causing alarm, employee receivables should be scheduled and a course of repayment established. One of the better methods is to prepare a schedule of what each employee owes and, as the final pay periods approach, make certain the receivables are deducted from the employee's final checks. Unfortunately, some states do not allow the dealer to set-off debts against wages. Your state's policy/law should be reviewed with your attorney before proceeding to set-off any employee debt.
Customer and Vehicle Receivables
The selling dealer should make certain that vehicle receivables and customer accounts, other than service and parts, are pure. Necessary adjustments and write-offs should be made, with the purpose of arriving at a receivable figure which realistically depicts the amount of cash which can be expected.
If the dealership's service and parts policy has been well monitored, these accounts should pay in an orderly manner. In addition, the dealer should decide whether collections should be performed by dealer, and one or more employees, or whether the dealer can sell the accounts to a factoring house.
17. Leased Equipment
Not all leases can be cancelled. The dealer should determine which, if any, of the leases have personal guarantees, and with respect to such leases, make a concerted effort to negotiate a settlement with the lessor. That assumes that the corporation is insolvent. If the corporation is solvent, than settlements need to be negotiated with respect to corporate leases.
18. EPA Inspection
If the real property is owned by the closing dealer, it is important for the dealer to determine where and what the problems are likely to be. If underground gas or oil storage tanks have ever been located on the dealership real property, the dealer should, if not already available, contact a private inspection agency and obtain a certificate of clearance, or compliance, with respect to it.
Be aware, no agreements between the parties can modify, or redistribute their respective liabilities, with respect to state and federal laws.
19. Expenses of Transaction
There are certain extraordinary expenses, such as real estate appraisal fees, consultant fees, attorney and accounting fees, which are incidental to the preparing a dealership for closing. These expenses will be paid both from the dealersh
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