For First-Time Dealers · BHPH · Independent Operators

You don’t have a dealership yet.
Louie will help you build one.

LLC formation. Dealer license. First inventory. Floor plan. Banking.
I've seen guys open with nothing and close 40 units their first month. I'll walk you through every step — no lawyers, no guesswork.

From Louie

"I've seen people open with $20K and the right plan. I've also seen $500K burn in six months without one. Tell me your state — I'll tell you exactly what to do and when."

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Free to use · No DMS subscription required until you’re ready to go live

The Louie Startup Path

Eight steps. Zero guesswork.

I walk you through each step with state-specific guidance, real checklists, and actual resources — not generic advice from someone who's never sold a car.

1🏛️

Choose Entity

LLC vs S-Corp

Dealer License

State DMV process

3🗺️

Set Up Your Lot

Location & zoning

Source Inventory

Auction + private

Floor Plan

NextGear, AFC, etc.

Banking & Lenders

legacy F&I portals setup

Insurance

Lot, dealer, GGL

8💻

Launch Louie

Full DMS from Day 1

🏛️

1. Choose Your Entity

LLC vs S-Corp — I'll explain the tax and liability tradeoffs for a dealership specifically. It matters more than most attorneys will tell you.

2. Get Your Dealer License

State-specific checklist. Exact documents. Fees. Timeline. I know your state's DMV process — I'll tell you exactly what you need before you walk in.

🗺️

3. Set Up Your Lot

Zoning requirements, signage rules, lot layout, display requirements by state. I've seen dealers lose a license application over signage. Don't skip this step.

4. Source Your First Inventory

Before you bid on a single car, I'll show you what's actually moving in your market. Don't buy blind.

5. Floor Plan Financing

NextGear, AFC, Dealerline — I'll tell you which lender will actually approve a startup dealer. Some are easier than people think. Some will waste your time.

6. Banking & Lender Relationships

RouteOne and DealerTrack wired from Day 1. I'll help you build your lender matrix before you have any submission history — there's a way to do it right.

7. Insurance Package

Dealer lot coverage, general liability, GAPCO — I'll break down what each actually covers and what you legally can't operate without.

💻

8. Launch with LouieAuto

I'm ready before your first car hits the lot. Inventory, deals, lenders, BDC, compliance — one system you own outright. We open together.

Who This Is For

Three different starting points.
One platform that handles all of them.

The Ex-Finance Manager

“You’ve desked 3,000 deals. You know the numbers better than your GM. Now it’s time to stop making money for someone else.”

⟶ I'll help you apply what you already know to your own store — with tools that level the playing field against the big groups. You've earned this.

The BHPH Operator

“Sub-600 FICO customers need transportation. You need a business. The math on BHPH works when collections are managed correctly.”

⟶ My BHPH module handles collections, payment tracking, GPS integration, and Metro 2 credit reporting. The math works when you have the right tools — and now you do.

🚀

The First-Timer

“You’ve never been in the car business. You’ve read everything you could find. You just need someone to walk you through it step by step.”

⟶ That’s what I’m here for. Eight steps. Real state-specific resources. Guidance at every checkpoint. You don’t need experience — you need the right system. I’ll be the experience.

Nobody else does this

The traditional way costs more,
takes longer, and leaves you guessing.

What You Need	Traditional Approach	★ Louie Startup Guide
LLC Formation	✗ $500–1,500 lawyer fee, weeks of back-and-forth	✓ I walk you through state filing — free
Dealer License	✗ Read the DMV website and hope you get it right	✓ State-specific checklist, exact documents, timeline
First Inventory	✗ Guess at auctions, buy the wrong units, lose money fast	✓ I show you what’s actually selling in your market before you bid
Floor Plan	✗ Cold call NextGear, get declined, try again	✓ I surface the right floor plan lenders for your startup profile
Lender Relationships	✗ Start blind, build history over 2 years	✓ legacy F&I portals + legacy F&I software wired from Day 1
DMS Software	✗ $2,000–4,000/month, no exit, vendor owns your data	✓ $24,995 one-time — perpetual license, your data, your server
Total Year 1 Cost	$50,000–120,000 in software, legal, and mistakes	Under $30,000 all-in

The Louie Advantage

Four things no other DMS
will tell you.

We built this for operators who are starting with less, competing against more, and can’t afford to waste money on the wrong tools.

“You own it.”

Not SaaS. One license, perpetual. Runs on your machine. No monthly hostage fee. No “your price went up” call three years in. You bought it. It’s yours.

“It grows with you.”

Start with 10 units. Scale to 200. Same license, same price, same Louie. When you open your second rooftop, Louie already knows your patterns.

“It knows your market.”

Louie learns your customer base, your lenders, your lot patterns. In 12 months it’s trained on your specific store. In 18 months no other dealer has a Louie like yours.

“It never calls in sick.”

8 AI agents running 24/7. Your best closer, your smartest manager, your fastest BDC — all automated. When you’re asleep, Louie is following up on leads and flagging aged inventory.

Ready to Build?

Start your store with
the right foundation.

From Louie

"I've seen this work. Follow the steps, use the tools, and you'll be selling cars before you think you're ready. I'll be right there with you at every step."

Start with the free dealer startup guide. No credit card. No subscription until you’re ready to go live with real inventory.

Join the Waitlist → Join the Waitlist →

I've helped operators launch in TX, FL, GA, OH, CA, and 34 other states.

You don’t have a dealership yet.Louie will help you build one.

Eight steps. Zero guesswork.

Three different starting points.One platform that handles all of them.