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 culmination of this journey as Biehl officially became the dealer principal of Mercedes-Benz of Fresno.
Biehl’s association with the Fresno Mercedes-Benz dealership began in 2003 when he joined as the General Sales Manager. His leadership and expertise quickly led to his promotion to General Manager. During this period, the dealership was under the ownership of Asbury Automotive Group. However, when Asbury decided to divest in 2011, Mercedes-Benz recognized Biehl’s value and expressed their desire for him to remain with the dealership.
This juncture 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. Beshoff assumed the role of majority owner, while Biehl continued his successful tenure as General Manager, driving the dealership’s growth and solidifying its presence in the Fresno market.
Following years of prosperous collaboration, the partnership decided to explore selling Mercedes-Benz of Fresno. Biehl initially considered leveraging his equity to invest in another dealership, continuing his pursuit of full ownership. However, Mercedes-Benz once again intervened, expressing their strong preference for Biehl to not only stay but to acquire the dealership outright.
This is where Brady Schmidt and Gary Mull of National Business Brokers (NBB) played a pivotal role. Recognizing Biehl’s deep commitment to the Fresno Mercedes-Benz dealership and his aspirations for principal ownership, NBB devised a creative strategy. They facilitated the formation of an investor group to buy out the majority stakeholders, paving the way for Biehl to become the dealer principal.
“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.
At 53, Biehl views this achievement as the beginning of a new “build mode” phase in his career. His ambitions extend beyond Mercedes-Benz of Fresno, as he intends to partner with NBB to actively seek further acquisition opportunities in the market. Utilizing NBB’s Realistic Market Value calculator, Biehl and his team are strategically analyzing potential dealerships, identifying undervalued assets and untapped potential for future growth.
“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 noted, highlighting the current landscape of dealership ownership transitions. “So even though multiples remain consistent, there are still good opportunities to buy dealerships at a fair price.”
Biehl emphasizes that NBB’s expertise goes beyond simple brokerage. “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, underscoring 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, National Business Brokers.
Facilitated by Brady Schmidt and Gary Mull of National Business Brokers, Scott Biehl’s journey to dealer principal at Mercedes-Benz of Fresno stands as a testament to his dedication, expertise, and strategic vision within the automotive industry. The Fresno Mercedes-Benz dealership is poised for continued success under his leadership.
