After dedicating 32 years to the automotive industry, Scott Biehl has achieved a significant milestone in his career, realizing his long-held ambition of owning a car dealership. Last week marked the pinnacle of this journey as Biehl officially became the dealer principal of Mercedes-Benz of Fresno, a testament to his unwavering dedication and expertise in the automotive sector.
Biehl’s journey with Mercedes-Benz of Fresno began in 2003 when he joined the team as General Sales Manager. His exceptional leadership and business acumen quickly propelled him to the position of General Manager. At that time, the dealership was under the ownership of Asbury Automotive Group. However, when Asbury made the decision to sell the Fresno location in 2011, a strong desire from the manufacturer emerged to retain Biehl’s leadership within the dealership.
This pivotal moment presented Biehl with his first opportunity to step into ownership. He forged a partnership with Ray Beshoff and Jerry Heuer, acquiring his initial ownership stake in Mercedes-Benz of Fresno. While Beshoff assumed the role of majority owner, Biehl continued to excel as the General Manager, driving the dealership’s success.
Following years of fruitful collaboration, the partnership group contemplated selling Mercedes-Benz of Fresno. Biehl initially envisioned leveraging his equity to invest in another dealership, continuing his pursuit of full ownership. However, the manufacturer once again expressed their strong preference for Biehl to remain at the helm – this time, with an even greater opportunity: they wanted Biehl to buy the store and become the dealer principal.
To navigate this complex transition to principal ownership, Brady Schmidt and Gary Mull of National Business Brokers (NBB) provided invaluable guidance and a creative pathway for Biehl. NBB facilitated the process of assembling a group of investors who were interested in purchasing the majority stake, effectively paving the way for Biehl to assume the position of dealer principal at Mercedes-Benz of Fresno.
“Brady and Gary showed me a way to stay in the deal, take a little cash off the table, and come up with more shares. They structured the deal and gathered investors to put all the pieces in place to make it happen,” Biehl explained, highlighting the crucial role NBB played in realizing his ownership aspirations.
At 53, Biehl is now firmly in what he describes as “build mode,” with ambitions extending beyond Mercedes-Benz of Fresno. He is actively partnering with NBB to identify and evaluate promising opportunities in the dealership market. Utilizing NBB’s proprietary Realistic Market Value calculator, Biehl and his team are diligently analyzing potential acquisitions, seeking out undervalued dealerships with hidden potential for growth and increased profitability.
“There are so many Mom and Pop stores that are going to be selling in the next few years. Either they feel like they can’t compete with the big automotive groups, or they’re just ready to retire,” Biehl observed, pointing to the evolving landscape of the automotive retail sector. “So even though multiples remain consistent, there are still good opportunities to buy dealerships at a fair price,” he added, emphasizing the strategic timing for expansion.
Biehl underscores that NBB’s expertise extends far beyond simply brokering buy-sell agreements. “They’re not just a couple of guys trying to sell you a store. They’re instrumental at every stage — all the way to finding investors, structuring the deals, and structuring financing to purchase a store,” he stated, praising the comprehensive support NBB provides throughout the dealership acquisition process.
It was an incredible privilege to work with Scott, Jerry and Ray. They are all incredible car guys with notable careers in their own right; but more importantly they are really great people. We are so excited for Scott as he moves into the next phase of his career, and happy for Ray and Jerry that they were able to sell their interest in this store at the top of their game. Congratulations, you guys, and thank you for putting your trust in us to help guide you through this complicated process. — Brady Schmidt and Gary Mull of National Business Brokers.
With Scott Biehl at the helm as dealer principal, Mercedes-Benz of Fresno is poised for continued success, benefiting from his extensive experience and forward-thinking leadership in the Fresno automotive market.
