Let’s be honest. No one wants a stressful job. But when you sign up to run a dealership, stress can quickly become a part of your day-to-day life, especially if you have a small team and handle all the sales. When starting a dealership, you may be the only salesperson for a while. Hiring help won’t be possible until your business reaches a certain threshold, and in some ways, that’s good. Commission is yours for the taking.
However, selling cars can be incredibly challenging. On top of running your business, you have to deal with various obstacles like the following:
- Self-motivation: Staying motivated enough to run a business is one thing. Staying motivated enough to sell cars is another. Unlike other jobs where you can take multiple breaks and zone out periodically, selling cars doesn’t provide that leeway. If you get too lax, your bank account and business will suffer.
- A competitive environment: The auto industry is competitive. What you fail to provide customers are things other dealerships on your block will readily offer. This environment puts pressure on you to succeed, but the inability to handle this pressure can be overwhelming and induce anxiety.
- Little job security: If you’re not making sales, guess what happens? Your dealership closes. Handling sales yourself requires you to be “on” all day, every day. No one can step in when you’re feeling off, so if you’re not hustling, your business will vanish before you have time to process what’s happening.
- Balancing other priorities: When you’re the sole person making deals, it’s hard to prioritize other responsibilities. You can get so focused on driving sales that you forget to do everything that happens afterward and all the tasks that come with running a business, even though they’re just as important.
All of these factors can make selling cars pretty stressful. But if you want your dealership to succeed and grow to the point where you can hire other salespeople, don’t quit because you’re overwhelmed. Instead of closing your doors, there are six steps you can take to reduce sales stress at your dealership.
1. Outsource DMV tasks
There are some tasks you shouldn’t have to worry about, and filling out DMV paperwork is one of them. If you want to focus on closing deals, you need to outsource some of your tasks, and the best one to delegate first is your DMV responsibilities. This includes the forms you have to fill out to get your customers’ licenses, registration, titles, tags, and more.
Instead of doing those things yourself, you can work with a private DMV services company like Barry Risk Management. Companies like ours know which documents you need to fill out after completing a transaction. Also, private DMV services companies like ours can submit the paperwork for you so that your customers get what they need without you having to worry.
The only things that separate Barry Risk Management from other options are our 30+ years of experience and ability to do everything online. Most companies don’t offer that knowledge or convenience, but we do to ensure your customers can drive their new vehicle without any hassles.
2. Establish boundaries
You need to set clear boundaries with any job, but that’s especially true when you’re a small business owner managing all of your sales. You can get leads at any time of the day, but you need to establish healthy boundaries to prevent yourself from overworking and bringing work home with you every night. If that means silencing your notifications and not checking email on your days off, do it.
3. Exercise regularly
“I don’t have time” is a great excuse to avoid a workout. However, if you’re serious about reducing your sales-related stress, exercising will become a regular part of your routine. Working out releases endorphins, leading to higher energy levels and a better mood. Exercise also helps strengthen your immune system so that you feel your best and don’t have to take so many sick days.
4. Maintain a healthy diet
When you’re stressed, it’s easy to turn to alcohol or comfort food. While these things are okay in moderation, it’s not good to make them staples in your diet. Stress makes your body release more cortisol and adrenaline, two hormones that can negatively impact your health. Additionally, stress can affect your blood flow and blood pressure. And when you turn to things like comfort foods, which can be high in sugar and fat, things can get even worse.
Healthy foods, on the other hand, can decrease the adverse effects of stress by reducing weight gain, lowering oxidation and inflammation, and improving blood flow in your body.
5. Take time off
It’s easy to work non-stop to make more money, but taking time off is important. Instead of living at your dealership, take a break every once in a while. Unplugging from work for an extended period can help you recharge and return ready to work with increased focus, discipline, and productivity.
6. Focus on customer needs
When you’re selling cars, do you focus more on listening and getting to know your customers or promoting a specific vehicle? If it’s the latter, you’re putting too much stress on yourself. Trying to sell a particular model can limit your success and prevent you from closing more deals. So, take the pressure off by simply listening to your customers’ needs and understanding what they want to guide them towards the right vehicle. When customers see you care about meeting their needs, they’ll want to make a deal with you.
Make car selling more enjoyable
Selling cars doesn’t have to be incredibly stressful. If you implement healthy habits, you can enjoy running your dealership and making deals without the anxiety that’s usually involved. So, use the above tips to make car selling a manageable money maker that allows you to bring more people on board.
Want to outsource your DMV tasks? Reach out to Barry Risk Management at 1-888-995-TAGS(8247).
