This business growth case study spans auto retail, fuel, franchising, and manufacturing—showing how governance, leadership, and capital pacing improved execution and confidence. Quick Summary Growth strains leadership capacity, decision speed, and capital discipline. Owner dependency and unclear decision rights slow execution, while lenders value repeatability and governance. Avoid [...]
Tariffs are sending shockwaves through the auto industry — driving up costs, disrupting supply chains, and forcing dealers to rethink their strategies. As the landscape rapidly evolves, dealerships must act fast to assess the risks and uncover new opportunities. Here’s a closer look at how tariffs are reshaping the industry and what forward-thinking [...]
Tariffs aren't just shaking up Wall Street headlines — they’re forcing franchise leaders to rethink their business models. From rising costs to disrupted supply chains, multi-unit franchise owners and franchisors are already feeling the pressure. Whether you’re leading a multi-unit operation or overseeing a national brand, understanding the new tariffs are changing franchise business [...]
Here’s the hard truth: most succession plans don’t fail from lack of effort—they fail because they lack structure. Owners invest years into building their businesses, but when it’s time to pass the torch, many plans collapse under pressure. Without a framework, succession feels like walking into the unknown with blind spots everywhere. [...]
Did you know that steel tariffs have driven propane tank prices up by as much as 25%? According to Alliance Truck & Tank, the 25% tariff on imported steel led to propane tank price increases between 20% and 25%. For propane dealers across the U.S., the impact of global trade policies is no longer [...]
Did you know that multi-unit franchisees control over 50% of all franchised locations in the U.S.? The most successful franchise owners aren’t stopping at just one location. Instead, they’re growing strategically—building wealth, increasing their influence, and creating financial freedom. If you’re still operating a single-unit franchise, you could be leaving money, opportunities, and autonomy [...]
If you want momentum that lasts, you need sustainable business growth strategies that compound results without burning out people or breaking systems. The aim is resilient, transferable value you can defend in any market. Quick Summary Not all growth is good growth. For capital-intensive, family-owned businesses, chasing top [...]
In capital-intensive businesses, growth isn’t just about opportunity, it’s also about risk. Whether you’re in automotive, fuel distribution, multi-unit franchising, or manufacturing, your ability to scale depends on anticipating and preparing for disruption. That’s why understanding the most likely growth scenarios in capital-intensive businesses is essential to protect your [...]
Many owners see succession as reactive. At The Rawls Group, we use the Succession Framework, which is built on the Succession Matrix® as a growth planning tool to move leaders from one-off fixes to a proactive system that accelerates scale. The Framework strengthens leadership, clarifies decision rights, and aligns [...]
At National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Show 2025 and the Auto Team America (ATA) Buy/Sell Summit, industry leaders, financial experts, and top dealers gathered to discuss the biggest challenges and opportunities shaping dealership profitability in the year ahead. While the strong market outlook signals continued demand, shrinking margins, rising costs, and operational pressures demand [...]
