· FLOOR PLAN · INVENTORY · F&I · MANUFACTURER COMPLIANCE
Accounting Built for How Dealerships Actually Operate
Floor plan financing, vehicle inventory accounting, F&I income, and manufacturer compliance requirements create complexity that requires industry-specific expertise. Archer Lewis works with auto dealerships who need advisors that understand the business.
Our Approach
Financial advisors who understand how a dealership operates.
Auto dealerships run on financial models that require specialized knowledge: floor plan interest, vehicle inventory costing by VIN, F&I backend income, manufacturer holdbacks, and warranty reimbursement accounting. Archer Lewis works with new car franchised dealerships, used car operations, and dealer groups to handle the financial reporting, tax planning, and compliance that keeps dealership operations financially efficient and manufacturer-compliant.
What We Handle
Accounting and tax services for auto dealerships
From floor plan accounting to buy-sell advisory, our team handles the financial complexity specific to auto dealerships.
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Dealership Financial Reporting
Financial statements that reflect dealership operations: new vehicle, used vehicle, F&I, parts, and service departments reported separately and consolidated.
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Floor Plan Accounting
Floor plan interest, curtailment schedules, and inventory financing tracked accurately.
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Vehicle Inventory Accounting
Cost tracking by VIN, aged inventory analysis, and inventory turn metrics, so you know what's on your lot and what it's costing you.
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F&I Income Accounting
Finance and insurance income, chargebacks, and reserve accounting handled correctly.
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Dealership Tax Planning
LIFO inventory elections, floor plan interest deductibility, and dealer-specific tax strategies applied proactively.
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Manufacturer Compliance
Financial reporting in the format your manufacturer requires, prepared accurately and on time.
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Multi-Rooftop Accounting
Consolidated and rooftop-level financial reporting for dealer groups.
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Buy-Sell Advisory
Financial due diligence and deal support for dealership acquisitions and sales.
Aged inventory quietly erodes margin in most dealerships.
New vehicles that sit beyond 60 days and used vehicles beyond 45 days erode margin and tie up floor plan credit. Archer Lewis builds the inventory reporting that surfaces aged units before they become a pricing problem, so your sales team is working with current, accurate inventory data.
Talk to a Dealership Advisor
Common Questions
What dealership owners ask us.
LIFO can significantly reduce taxable income for dealerships in inflationary environments. When new vehicle prices are rising, LIFO allows you to match current costs against current revenue. The election has specific requirements and once made, it's difficult to reverse. We analyze whether LIFO makes sense for your dealership before the election deadline.
Floor plan interest is generally deductible as a business expense, but the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act's business interest limitation affects some larger dealerships. We analyze your situation to ensure floor plan interest is deducted correctly and that you're taking advantage of the dealer exception where applicable.
F&I income from finance reserves, product sales, and insurance products has to be recognized correctly, which depends on whether you're dealer-retained or using an outside administrator, and how chargebacks are handled when contracts are paid off early. We handle F&I accounting in a way that produces accurate financial statements and correct tax reporting.
Dealership buy-sell transactions involve blue sky valuation, real estate, franchise agreement assignments, and significant tax planning for both buyer and seller. Deal structure (asset vs. stock purchase) has major tax implications. We work with both buyers and sellers to model the financial outcomes and structure the deal efficiently.
