How do I plan an RV dealership handover to my sales manager?

A sales manager knows customers and closing deals. An owner also carries the stock, the lot, the service department and the supplier relationships. Walk through each area and mark what they have done, what they have seen and what is new. The new parts are your training plan, and each one needs a time and a teacher.

Stock is usually the heaviest piece. Show how orders are placed, how seasons shape the lot, and how the inventory is financed. Introduce the manager to suppliers and lenders while you are still there. Cash flow in an RV business swings with the seasons, so work through a forecast together and talk about what a slow stretch looks like.

Then deal with the structure. Ask whether the manager will buy, partner, or manage for someone else, and let your lawyer and accountant set it out. Choose a date, name milestones, and decide what you will keep doing and for how long. Put it all in writing and review it each season, adjusting the dates when stock, financing or the sales manager’s readiness changes. Ask your lawyer whether any manufacturer dealer agreement needs the manufacturer’s approval before a new owner or dealer principal takes over.

Key takeaways

• Map what the manager has handled and what is new to them.
• Introduce them to suppliers and lenders while you are still present.
• Write down the structure, timeline and your own role after the handover.