David R. Melton
Dealership Sales & Acquisitions
Automotive | Powersports | RV & Marine | Commercial Trucks | Heavy Machinery | Outdoor Equipment
From the Desk of David Melton
I serve as a trusted dealership broker to dealers across the U.S., helping them navigate some of the most important transitions and opportunities of their careers. My focus today is on providing full-service brokerage solutions—guiding dealers through buying, selling, valuing, and restructuring dealerships across Automotive, Powersports, RV & Marine, Commercial Trucks, Heavy Machinery, and Outdoor Equipment Sectors.
With over 40 years of experience in dealership operations, mergers and acquisitions, and real estate strategies—including my tenure as a dealership COO—I understand the pressures of ownership firsthand. I know the weight of balancing daily performance with long-term enterprise value, and I’ve lived the importance of timing, negotiation, and deal structure when it comes to growth, succession, or exit planning.
Whether you’re preparing to sell your dealership, expand through acquisitions, reposition real estate, or utilize tools like sale-leasebacks and 1031 exchanges, my role is to protect your equity and ensure every decision strengthens your financial position. From confidential marketing to qualified buyers, to structuring capital-efficient transactions, I work with precision to deliver outcomes that create lasting value.
Every engagement is personal, confidential, and dealer-focused—providing the clarity, strategy, and confidence you need to move forward. My mission is simple: to ensure your dealership goals, whether growth or transition, are achieved with the greatest impact today and the strongest foundation for tomorrow.
Buy-Sell Advisory Services for Dealers
At David Melton Advisors, we know the dealership business because we’ve lived it. Our role as a full-service dealership brokerage partner is to stand beside you—the dealer—whether you are looking to grow, transition, or unlock the value tied up in your business and real estate. We work across all dealership types: Automotive, Powersports, RV & Marine, Commercial Trucks, Heavy Machinery, and Outdoor Equipment.
We’re not just transaction managers—we’re advisors who understand the unique challenges of running a dealership. From confidentially bringing the right buyers to the table to helping you structure the best lease terms, our job is to protect your interests while maximizing the value of what you’ve built.
Buy-Side Support
Growth starts with finding the right opportunities. We help dealers expand their platforms by sourcing on- and off-market dealerships that align with your franchise requirements, market positioning, and long-term goals. From initial screening to due diligence, we ensure every potential acquisition is a strategic fit that adds real value to your business.
Sell-Side Representation
When it’s time to transition or exit, we represent your dealership with confidentiality and precision. Our team markets your business only to qualified buyers, protects sensitive information, and negotiates terms that safeguard your hard work and legacy. Whether you’re selling a single store or a multi-location group, we focus on maximizing value while minimizing disruption.
Valuation & Deal Strategy
Accurate valuations are the foundation of every successful transaction. We provide in-depth, data-driven assessments of both the business and the real estate, giving you clarity on what your dealership is truly worth. Our deal strategies are structured to deliver financial security, optimize tax outcomes, and position you for long-term success.
Negotiations That Protect You
Every contract matters. From purchase and sale agreements to long-term lease structures, we advocate fiercely for your interests. Our negotiation approach ensures terms are favorable, risks are minimized, and your priorities—operational control, financial strength, and legacy—are reflected in the final deal.
Seamless Coordination
The dealership sale or acquisition process involves many moving parts. We serve as the central point of coordination between your attorneys, CPAs, lenders, and OEM representatives, ensuring the process remains on track and eliminating potential roadblocks. This allows you to stay focused on running your store while we handle the details behind the scenes.
Smooth Transitions
A successful deal doesn’t end at closing—it’s about what happens next. Whether you’re retiring, passing the business to the next generation, or joining a larger dealer group, we provide guidance throughout the transition process. Our goal is to make sure your employees, customers, and operations are positioned for stability and long-term success.
Unlocking the Value in Your Dealership Real Estate
Your dealership property can be one of your biggest hidden assets. Through sale-leasebacks, we help dealers free up capital while continuing to operate from the same location. This strategy is especially effective when funding acquisitions, upgrades, or debt reduction.
Benefits of a Sale-Leaseback for Dealers:
Gain immediate liquidity to fuel growth, remodels, or pay down debt
Keep operating your dealership under a long-term, customized lease
Strengthen your balance sheet without disrupting day-to-day business
Appeal to investors seeking stable returns while you retain control
Our goal is simple: make sure you walk away from every transaction stronger, more secure, and positioned for the future you want.
About Me
I serve as a trusted Dealership Brokerage Advisor to dealers across the U.S., providing full-service support for Automotive, Powersports, RV & Marine, Commercial Trucks, Heavy Machinery, and Outdoor Equipment Dealerships. My role is to help dealers unlock value, plan for growth or transition, and navigate the complex process of buying, selling, or restructuring their businesses and real estate.
With over 40 years of experience in the dealership industry, including my tenure as a COO, I bring an operator’s perspective to every engagement. I understand the day-to-day challenges dealers face and balance them against the bigger picture of legacy, growth, and financial security. Having sat in the same seat as my clients, I know how to manage high-stakes decisions with clarity, confidentiality, and precision.
My brokerage work is centered around three core areas:
Buy-Side & Sell-Side Representation: Whether you’re expanding or preparing to exit, I represent your interests from sourcing opportunities to negotiating terms and closing transactions—always with the goal of maximizing value and protecting your legacy.
Valuation, Growth & Succession Planning: I provide clear, data-driven valuations and guide dealers through generational transitions, exit strategies, and long-term planning, ensuring equity and family legacy are preserved.
Real Estate & Capital Strategies: From sale-leasebacks and 1031 exchanges to capital structuring, I integrate real estate into every transaction, helping dealers unlock liquidity while maintaining operational control.
I work closely with CPAs, attorneys, OEM representatives, estate planners, and lenders to deliver seamless transactions and strategic outcomes. My goal is simple: to give dealers the confidence that every decision—whether buying, selling, or restructuring—is aligned with their financial objectives, operational needs, and long-term success.
David R. Melton
“Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.”
– Abraham Lincoln
Let’s Talk
If you’re considering selling your dealership, unlocking equity in your real estate, or planning a strategic exit, I’d be happy to have a confidential conversation.