Raising Dealership Financial IQ is Key to Higher Profits - Kruse Control Inc
Financial IQ in a dealership is like knowing how to swim before jumping into the deep end of the pool. Yes, you can still jump without it, and yes, the| Kruse Control Inc
Financial IQ in a dealership is like knowing how to swim before jumping into the deep end of the pool. Yes, you can still jump without it, and yes, the| Kruse Control Inc
If you’re in the car business, you better like math. I was watching the latest Marcus Lemonis show called The Fixer. The owner of one of the businesses he| Kruse Control Inc
When I walk into a dealership for the first time, I never know what I’m going to find. Sometimes there’s a friendly receptionist and a fresh pot of coffee. Other times, it’s a makeshift accounting office in what used to be the broom closet, where the “controller” is a former parts runner with a R+R […] The post The Joys of Internal Controls for Franchise Dealerships appeared first on Kruse Control Inc.| Kruse Control Inc
One of the unexpected perks of writing this newsletter is that inspiration can strike in the most absurd places—like the grocery store this past weekend. If you’re anything like me, you probably shuffle through those fluorescent-lit aisles weekly, wondering when you unknowingly signed up for a live-action obstacle course. Lately, though, I’ve noticed a troubling […] The post EBITDA Won’t Hug You Back: Why Dealership CFOs Care About Customer Experience appeared first on Kruse Control...| Kruse Control Inc
Treating employees with respect and offering competitive compensation has a significantly positive impact on dealership profitability. When employees feel valued, they are more engaged, more productive, and genuinely committed to delivering exceptional service. This is especially true in the car business, where customer experience and long-term relationships drive revenue. Fair pay and a supportive work […] The post Respect and Competitive Pay for Dealership Workforce Improves Profitability...| Kruse Control Inc
Financial literacy in a dealership is like knowing how to swim before jumping into the deep end—technically, you can still jump in without it, but the results will be unpleasant for everyone involved. For a General Manager and a Controller, understanding financials isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s what allows them to make decisions that don’t […] The post How Poor Financial Literacy is Undermining Dealership Profitability appeared first on Kruse Control Inc.| Kruse Control Inc
It’s clear that many dealerships are actively searching for experienced controllers. In Driving Blind: The Shortage of Seasoned Dealership Controllers, I discussed how this shortage has been developing for years, worsening over time. Now, we are witnessing its impact firsthand. Running a dealership without a firm grasp of its financials is like driving without being […] The post 12 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Dealership Controller appeared first on Kruse Control Inc.| Kruse Control Inc
In 2025, dealership leaders everywhere are buckling down, returning to their roots, and desperately Googling “How to Manage Millennials and Gen Z Without Crying.” After years of chasing the innovation rabbit down countless holes, it turns out the real secret to success might be… doing the basics well. Who knew? Successful operators have rediscovered the […] The post Back to Basics: Dealership Fundamentals for 2025 appeared first on Kruse Control Inc.| Kruse Control Inc
Car dealership controllers have officially been classified as an endangered species, right up there with snow leopards and decent Wi-Fi at the DMV. Experts point to a perfect storm of rapid industry changes, complex financial requirements, and a universal human aversion to reconciling factory incentives as the root causes. Dealership owners, meanwhile, are left scrambling […] The post Solving the Car Dealership Accounting Skills Shortage appeared first on Kruse Control Inc.| Kruse Control Inc
Accounting errors happen. But when they go undetected, uncorrected, or—worse yet—intentionally concealed, the fallout can be severe. Car dealerships are no exception to this rule, and the recent story of a Macy’s employee’s accounting misstep should serve as a cautionary tale for dealer principals and general managers alike. The Macy’s Misstep: A Warning for All […] The post The High Cost of Lax Accounting Controls: Lessons for Car Dealerships from Macy’s Costly Mistake appeared...| Kruse Control Inc
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of losing money—not in the thrilling, stock-market-plummet way, but in the “Wait, didn’t we have cash here yesterday?” kind of way. I’ve met so many dealers who are sales superstars, yet at the end of the month, their profit margins seem to evaporate once everything is in for end-of-month. […] The post Stealing Success: How Messy Books Put Dealerships at Risk appeared first on Kruse Control Inc.| Kruse Control Inc
Included in a dealership CFO’s responsibilities is identifying operational weaknesses that affect financial performance, such as inefficiencies in asset management, excessive overhead costs, or missed revenue opportunities in sales and service. By pinpointing these areas, the CFO can develop strategies to reduce costs, optimize processes, and improve profitability, ensuring the dealership’s financial stability and growth […] The post Quick Tips to Identify Dealership Operational Weaknes...| Kruse Control Inc
Many people don’t know this but Kruse Control got into digital by way of online reputation management. In 2009, I could see online reviews becoming more important than CSI ratings, given the fact that customers could talk to one another in real time rather than waiting for JD Power to announce their findings every year. […] The post Dealership Playbook for Monitoring and Responding to Online Reviews appeared first on Kruse Control Inc.| Kruse Control Inc
Those of us who have worked in auto retail for any length of time know when the industry is thriving. It’s easy to forget the difficult periods when profits are high and the workload is more manageable. However, we’ve also weathered some hard times, even times when dealerships were shutting down. I tend to adopt […] The post Spend Management Tactics to Boost Dealership Profitability and Operational Efficiency appeared first on Kruse Control Inc.| Kruse Control Inc
I've been working with a dealer client who's number one goal is to control expenses. They reached out for help with a common challenge: despite strong| Kruse Control Inc
