Small Town Business

• 1). Be legitimate. Make sure to register your business locally, get insurance, a license to sell cars and a surety bond. This way, the people in town know that you are a legitimate business and that they can trust you. Even though, they may know you personally, you'll want them to know that business is business and that yours is above board.
  
  
• 2). Offer military, corporate and referral discounts on your cars. It's a great way to network and will help you build relationships with those in town who are movers and shakers. One reason you want to do this is because if you are new to the town, you'll want to network with people who know most of the town's residents. Also, if you are new to the town, it's a great way to meet people quickly and develop a good reputation as a smart business person..
  
  
• 3). Pick a good location for your car dealership. Often, establishing a business in a small town comes with one or two issues for the entrepreneur to deal with. Either there are many of other businesses exactly like yours or there are too few businesses of any kind. In the case of your car dealership both scenarios can be challenging. Pick a great location for your business that lends itself to optimal traffic. The center of town is a great idea, or consider a location in a new development on the edge of town where people generally are better off financially and looking to buy.
  
  
• 4). Advertise your business in the local newspaper and on the local television station. Most small towns have a local network affiliate station and or a cable station. Invest wisely and buy some commercial time to advertise your car dealership. It may also be impressive to do the commercial yourself instead of hiring actors. By doing this, town residents can feel as though you are reaching out to them personally. They may even feel as though you are a celebrity because you are on television. They will want to come to your dealership to meet you and do business with you.