Hire a General Manager

The general manager runs the whole store, from sales and F&I to service, parts and the office, and answers to the dealer for profit, people and customer satisfaction. Most GMs come up through sales or fixed operations.

When a store needs one: every store. Pay: $219,560 to $401,890 a year.

What to look for in a General Manager

• Ask for their store's results over the last three years: net profit, fixed absorption and how each changed.
• Ask which managers they hired and developed, and where those people are now.
• Ask about their worst month and what they changed. Listen for decisions, not blame.
• Check references with a dealer or regional executive they reported to, not only peers.

How the pay plan usually works

GMs are commonly paid a salary plus a share of the store's net profit, often with bonuses tied to manufacturer targets or customer satisfaction. Because most of the pay rides on net, how the plan defines net matters as much as the percentage.

What you get

• An intake call within one business day of payment: pay plan, hours, brand and what your best performer looks like
• Sourcing, screening and presenting candidates, with the first typically within 10 days of the intake
• You interview and make every hiring decision
• A 90-day replacement guarantee on every hire
• If we have not presented a qualified candidate within 45 days of the intake, you can cancel that position for a refund of its fee

Questions about the guarantee, refunds or hiring decisions? See common questions and our terms.

Read more: What a Dealership General Manager Earns, and What It Costs to Hire One

Need a different level? Store leadership positions: every level, pay band and fee.