Motor dealer services

Grant Thornton is the leading firm of accountants and advisors to motor dealers in Victoria and Tasmania. Our clients range from brand-new dealerships to highly successful household names.

Grant Thornton's Motor Dealer services team has worked with hundreds of dealerships over 20 years. This experience ensures our best practice services remain at the forefront of this competitive and fast-changing industry. Our team is committed to helping owners improve business profitability and to consistently deliver critical dealership services such as:

• assistance with franchise, dealership or site acquisition or disposal
• dealership valuation for equity participants, finance raising, changes in ownership, and compulsory acquisition preparation assistance with funding and finance applications
• dealership functionality through progressive dealership operational reviews
• best practice performance evaluations using our Dealership Analyser
• minimising Fringe Benefits Tax using our electronic FBT Ready Reckoner
• better compliance sales management systems using our GST flowchart
• fraud prevention programs.

We also provide new dealer advocacy services to avoid the following traps:

• target selection and notification
• due diligence reviews
• LMCT and finance proposals
• manufacturer and distributor proposals
• contacts anywhere in the motor dealer industry and all related areas.

Private owner dealer focus
As the leading advisor to the privately-owned business segment, Grant Thornton always advises clients through the eyes of the business owner.

This owner-focused service model means that the business is viewed as the means to building wealth for the owner and not an end in itself.

The fundamental aspects of this model are:

1. Asset protection
2. Tax management
3. Retirement planning
4. Wealth management

Strategic analysis (owner and business)
Grant Thornton's directors regard strategy development as a crucial part of the relationship with our clients.

This unique planning focus is undertaken for all clients, one-on-one and away from their dealership. It takes a few hours and involves a degree of frankness and self-awareness. It helps the owner set the future path for the business, the owner and the wealth of the family.

The planning focuses on:

• profit improvement
• business managment and strategy
• succession planning
• inter-generational wealth transition.

Core services
We also provide traditional accounting services. Through old-fashioned accuracy and attention to detail we ensure regulatory compliance is strictly adhered to, that clients understand their obligations and timing, and that fundamental opportunities are not missed. Accordingly, our clients save tax and have peace of mind.

Our core business services include:

• business structuring for asset protection and income tax purposes
• financial reporting
• income tax returns   
• tax planning and consulting
• corporate secretarial work
• assurance services (both audit and agreed upon procedures).

For more information about Grant Thornton’s motor dealer services, contact:

Tony Markwell
National Service Line Leader Privately Held Business