Owning a MINI Dealership
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,746
Likes: 10
From: Terre Haute, IN
Owning a MINI Dealership
My husband asked me a great question today...
"How do you get to own a MINI dealership, anyway?"
Does it have to stem off a BMW dealership? Is it a franchise like Ford/Chevy/others have become?
I didn't know the answer, and it made me wonder...
"How do you get to own a MINI dealership, anyway?"
Does it have to stem off a BMW dealership? Is it a franchise like Ford/Chevy/others have become?
I didn't know the answer, and it made me wonder...
Has to owna BMW dealer ship; initally 70 top ranked and stategically geographically placed dealers were selected (based on those service ratings) over the years this has been expanded to 80 nationwide.
I'd assume so they added 10 in the past few years (maybe a few more than that with one in Kansas just opening) MINI is looking to increase the presence of their brand and they'd have to make these dealers more common to make the car practical for a vast majorirty of the masses.
Coordinator :: Pitt Stop MINI
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,919
Likes: 1
From: Steelers Country
I don't know all the details, but here are a few things:
It is a franchise. It is separate from BMW. (But having an existing relationship and familiarity can be helpful.) You would need to be willing to have a franchise in a target market. There are, naturally, significant capital requirements. But, oddly, I've actually heard (second-hand) of a situation where a potential franchisee was considered "too wealthy" and there was a concern that he would not have a deep enough concern for the success of the franchise. I'm fairly certain that you also need to show experience in the "car business."
Not all franchises are as particular as BMW/MINI when selecting franchisees. I understand that it was fairly easy (comparatively) for people to get Ford, Chevy, and Chrysler franchises although this may have begun to change recently.
Most of this I gleened from my time (3 years) working in the car business. A lot of it was banter among the staff, so I cannot guarantee the validity of my statements. But I don't think they are far off. Hope it is somewhat helpful.
It is a franchise. It is separate from BMW. (But having an existing relationship and familiarity can be helpful.) You would need to be willing to have a franchise in a target market. There are, naturally, significant capital requirements. But, oddly, I've actually heard (second-hand) of a situation where a potential franchisee was considered "too wealthy" and there was a concern that he would not have a deep enough concern for the success of the franchise. I'm fairly certain that you also need to show experience in the "car business."
Not all franchises are as particular as BMW/MINI when selecting franchisees. I understand that it was fairly easy (comparatively) for people to get Ford, Chevy, and Chrysler franchises although this may have begun to change recently.
Most of this I gleened from my time (3 years) working in the car business. A lot of it was banter among the staff, so I cannot guarantee the validity of my statements. But I don't think they are far off. Hope it is somewhat helpful.
Coordinator :: Cooper Owners of Rural Nebraska (CORN)
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 0
From: MIN-i-DEN, NE
I'd assume so they added 10 in the past few years (maybe a few more than that with one in Kansas just opening) MINI is looking to increase the presence of their brand and they'd have to make these dealers more common to make the car practical for a vast majorirty of the masses.
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