David R. Melton
Dealership Sell-Side M&A Advisor
From the Desk of David Melton
I serve as a trusted Sell-Side M&A Advisor to owners across dealership-driven industries nationwide, guiding them through some of the most significant transitions of their careers. My role today is to provide senior-level, full-service sell-side representation to dealership principals who are preparing to divest, recapitalize, or strategically transition their operations and associated real estate.
With more than 40 years of experience in dealership operations, mergers and acquisitions, and real estate strategy—including my tenure as a dealership COO—I understand ownership pressures firsthand. I know the challenge of balancing day-to-day performance with long-term enterprise value, and I’ve lived the importance of timing, leverage, and disciplined deal structure when planning an exit or ownership transition.
Whether you are preparing for a full sale, minority recapitalization, generational transfer, or real estate restructuring, my responsibility is to protect your equity and maximize outcome. From confidential buyer outreach and qualification to valuation positioning and capital-efficient structuring, I manage each phase with precision and control to ensure no value is left on the table.
Every engagement is personal, confidential, and owner-focused—delivering the clarity, strategy, and confidence required to move forward decisively. My mission is straightforward: to ensure your transition is executed with maximum impact today and a strong foundation for what comes next.
M&A Advisory Services for Dealers
I know the dealership business because I’ve lived it. As a former dealership COO and now as a Sell-Side M&A Advisor to dealership-driven industries, I work directly with owners nationwide who are preparing for transition, evaluating recapitalization, or seeking to unlock the full value embedded in their operations and real estate.
This is not simply about executing a transaction—it’s about protecting and positioning what you’ve built. I understand the operational, manufacturer, facility, and capital pressures that shape dealership value. My role is to confidentially position your business, bring qualified buyers to the table, structure disciplined terms, and control the process—so you move forward with leverage, clarity, and confidence.
Off-Market Acquisitions
While our primary focus is sell-side representation, we selectively advise dealership groups pursuing disciplined growth. We identify and evaluate targeted on- and off-market opportunities across dealership-driven industries, ensuring alignment with manufacturer requirements, market positioning, capital structure, and long-term ownership strategy. From initial review through diligence, every opportunity is vetted to ensure it strengthens—not dilutes—enterprise value.
Dedicated Sell-Side Representation
When it’s time to transition, we provide confidential, senior-led sell-side advisory designed to maximize leverage and outcome. Your business is positioned carefully, marketed only to vetted and financially qualified buyers, and negotiated with discipline. Whether representing a single rooftop or a multi-location platform, our focus is on protecting legacy, controlling process, and optimizing value while minimizing operational disruption.
Process Leadership & Transition Oversight
Dealership transactions involve complex coordination among attorneys, CPAs, lenders, manufacturers, and real estate professionals. We serve as the central point of leadership throughout the process, maintaining momentum, managing risk, and eliminating avoidable delays—allowing you to remain focused on operations.
A well-executed transaction extends beyond closing. Whether you are exiting ownership, recapitalizing, or integrating into a larger platform, we provide guidance through transition to support continuity for employees, customers, and brand partners—positioning the business for long-term stability and success.
About Me
I serve as a trusted Sell-Side M&A Advisor to owners across dealership-driven industries nationwide, providing senior-level representation to franchised automotive, powersports, commercial truck, RV, and equipment dealerships. My role is to help dealer principals unlock enterprise value, strategically prepare for transition, and navigate the complex process of divesting, recapitalizing, or restructuring their operations and associated real estate.
With over 40 years in the dealership industry—including my tenure as a dealership COO—I bring an operator’s perspective to every engagement. I understand the financial, operational, and OEM or manufacturer pressures of running a store and how those dynamics influence timing, leverage, and valuation. Having sat in the same seat as my clients, I deliver disciplined strategy, strict confidentiality, and precision throughout every high-stakes transaction.
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.