Running a dealership today isn’t for the faint of heart. Between managing growth, staying compliant, keeping up with new technology, and trying to build a strong team, there’s a lot coming at you every day. It’s no wonder even the best-run dealerships can develop a few blind spots along the way.
Sometimes it’s something small like an inefficiency in your financial reporting process, a breakdown in internal controls, or simply an old process that hasn’t evolved as your business has grown. But over time, those small issues can start to chip away at profitability, slow decision-making, or create risk you might not even realize is there.
The Problem with Being “Too Close”
Most leaders in this industry are deeply involved in their business, and that’s a good thing. But it also makes it hard to take a step back and look at the full picture. When you’re running at full speed, it’s easy to miss the early warning signs that something might be off.
That’s why it can be so valuable to get an objective look at how your dealership is really operating, especially when it comes to financial reporting, internal controls, and overall management structure.
That’s where The Bonadio Group’s ALIGN Assessment comes in.
Bringing Clarity to Complexity
The ALIGN Assessment was built with dealerships in mind. It’s a focused, high-level checkup that helps you understand what’s working well and where there might be room for improvement without the time or expense of a full audit.
Each step of the process is guided by our ALIGN approach:
- A – Assess systems and critical process areas
- L – Locate strengths and gaps in internal controls
- I – Interact with management to explore challenges
- G – Guide with industry knowledge and recommendations
- N – Navigate ongoing risk with empowered leadership
It’s a straightforward process that gives you clarity and direction so you can make decisions with confidence.
When It Might Be Time to Take a Closer Look
You don’t have to wait for something to go wrong to benefit from an assessment. In fact, doing this proactively can be one of the best ways to stay ahead, especially if your dealership has experienced:
- Rapid growth or expansion into new markets
- A new CFO or controller joining the team
- A change in your DMS or accounting system
- Instances of fraud or unexplained variances
- Frequent turnover in management or key staff
Each of these situations creates change, and with change comes potential risk.
What You’ll Walk Away With
The ALIGN Assessment gives you a clear, big-picture view of your dealership’s financial and operational health. You’ll gain:
- A snapshot of where things stand today
- Insight into strengths and potential vulnerabilities
- Actionable recommendations for tightening processes and improving efficiency
- More confidence in your people, systems, and structure
And because we present our findings using a simple color-coded system (green, yellow, red), you’ll immediately see which area deserve the most attention and which are running smoothly.
A Practical, Proactive Way Forward
Think of the ALIGN Assessment as a health check for your dealership; not a full diagnostic, but a powerful way to spot issues before they become costly problems. It gives leadership the insights needed to strengthen internal operations, protect profitability, and reduce risk, all while keeping the business moving forward.
At the end of the day, dealerships thrive when they have a clear view of their operations and the confidence to make informed decisions— the ALIGN Assessment helps you do exactly that.
If you have any questions or are interested in learning more about our ALIGN Assessment, we are here to help. Please do not hesitate to reach out to discuss your specific situation.
This material has been prepared for general, informational purposes only and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for tax, legal or accounting advice. Should you require any such advice, please contact us directly. The information contained herein does not create, and your review or use of the information does not constitute, an accountant-client relationship.
