What reconditioning actually costs — and how to track it
Recon is where a lot of independent dealers lose track of their real number. Parts, labor, detail, a tow, a sublet repair — each one is small on its own, but by the time a car is ready to list, they add up to a cost that's easy to under-count if it isn't captured as it happens.
The short version: every dollar spent between "bought" and "listed" belongs in the same running total as the purchase price. If it isn't, your margin math is measuring something other than your actual margin.
The full framework — categorizing recon spend, deciding what's worth doing before listing versus after, and building a per-vehicle cost basis you can trust — is still being written. Check back soon, or tell us what you'd want covered first.
In GARAGEBIRDS: Cost tracking with true profit per vehicle (Free plan).