THE SHORT ANSWER
Prepare a dated tire inventory, reconcile tire and service results, and identify distributor, customer and premises terms that need review. Distinguish company-owned saleable stock, consigned goods and waste tires. Document the team, equipment and handling arrangements behind operations. None of these records alone guarantees a premium, automatic program transfer or that every tire is saleable.
Reconcile stock and service records
Separate tire sales from mounting, balancing, alignment and other services in the actual records. Review returns, credits, warranty work, promotional pricing and earned supplier rebates. Explain service packages and remaining customer obligations rather than treating every sale as future recurring revenue.
Prepare an item-level count showing product identity, location, title, condition and unresolved questions. Identify consigned stock, supplier returns and waste tires separately. Reconcile physical counts to the ledger and clarify the proposed inventory treatment with the closing working-capital worksheet.
Build the distributor-and-stock handoff register
| Preparation item | Reviewable record |
|---|---|
| Stock ownership | Purchased, consigned, customer-owned or disputed |
| Product status | Identification, condition, age, recalls and return questions |
| Distributor arrangements | Credit, rebates, commitments, assignment and new approval |
| Equipment | Title, leases, service records and actual operating condition |
| Customer commitments | Prepaid services, warranty handling and open work |
| Premises and team | Use rights, capacity, actual responsibilities and proposed coverage |
NHTSA provides tire recall resources and explains aging and identification evidence.
(NHTSA: tire identification, aging and recall resources)Use appropriate product review; appearance alone cannot detect tire aging. Do not give a buyer an inventory safety certification from a spreadsheet count.
Review tire handling and recorded obligations
Gather the actual waste pickup, storage, fee and notification records that apply to the location and activities. Identify known violations or unresolved issues through the transaction team.
Illinois EPA describes retailer, storage-site and transporter responsibilities, and distinguishes the user fee from disposal cost.
(Illinois EPA: used-tire retailer and storage guidance)This is an Illinois example, not a nationwide checklist or a determination of this shop’s classification. Confirm current requirements and change-of-operator steps with the agency and advisors. Keep collected fees, customer disposal charges and actual disposal costs distinct in the accounting review.
Coordinate access and operating continuity
Review who can order stock, manage credits, operate service equipment and resolve a customer claim without you. Use the owner-role handoff and the consent register for actual coverage and terms.
FTC data guidance supports limiting access to customer information.
(FTC: protecting personal information in business)Use approved access for service-history records and confirm the lawful treatment with advisors. A customer database is not automatically a separately priced transferable asset.
Use the tire-shop value guide to keep earnings and included assets consistent. Produce the stock schedule, distributor questions and open commitments before marketing; no fixed preparation duration or automatic exit premium is established.
Owner questions
Are waste tires the same as saleable stock?
No. Separate handling obligations from stock whose ownership and saleability are supported.
Will distributor credit and rebates continue after sale?
Check actual agreements, earned amounts, approval and change-of-control or assignment requirements.
Can the service-history database be sold without review?
Review ownership, provider terms, lawful use, privacy and approved disclosure before any transfer.
Sources and review scope
Source review completed . The sources below support the identified concepts or rules; they do not validate hypothetical amounts or a valuation of your business.
- NHTSA: tire identification, aging and recall resources
TireWise recall resources and aging/identification guidance. Physical appearance alone cannot detect tire aging. Not a certification that particular inventory is safe or saleable, a universal legal age limit or an inventory appraisal.
- Illinois EPA: used-tire retailer and storage guidance
Illinois-specific retailer, storage and transporter responsibilities; user fees and disposal costs are distinct. Confirm actual operations and current applicable rules with the agency and advisors; not a nationwide permit or transfer checklist.
- FTC: protecting personal information in business
Information inventory, necessary access, authentication, encryption, service-provider oversight, retention and incident planning. General security guidance; not an M&A privacy-law compliance certification.
Confirm tax, legal, accounting and lending applications with the relevant professionals. Historical market observations describe the stated period and reported sample.
This is educational material. Industry figures and program rules can change; check the original sources and your advisors before applying them to a transaction. Calculator scenarios are not appraisals, lending decisions, or offers.
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