by Olivia Fast | Jul 29, 2026 | Contract Negotiation & Compliance
The Problem With “We’ve Been With Them Forever” There’s a phrase you hear all the time in dealership groups, franchises, and multi-location businesses: “We’ve been with them forever.” It sounds like stability.It sounds like trust.It sounds like a relationship that’s...
by Olivia Fast | Jul 22, 2026 | Contract Negotiation & Compliance, Vendor Overbilling & Credits
What Vendors Learn About Your Business Before You Learn About Your Own Spend Here’s an uncomfortable reality most operators don’t consider: Your vendor often understands your spend patterns better than you do. Not because they’re smarter.Because they’re closer to the...
by Olivia Fast | Jul 8, 2026 | Contract Negotiation & Compliance
The Hidden Cost of Letting Branches Manage Their Own Laundry Program For dealership groups, franchises, and multi-location operators, decentralization feels like the right move. Let each branch handle its own vendors. Keep things flexible. Avoid corporate bottlenecks....
by Olivia Fast | Jul 1, 2026 | Contract Negotiation & Compliance
Why Uniform Programs Get Harder to Control as Companies Grow Growth should create leverage. More locations, more employees, and more buying power should make a uniform program easier to manage and negotiate. But for many companies, the opposite happens. As the...
by Olivia Fast | May 27, 2026 | Contract Negotiation & Compliance
Why a Signed Contract Does Not Mean Your Vendor Billing Is Under Control For many companies, a signed vendor agreement creates a sense of relief. The pricing has been negotiated. The terms have been accepted. The relationship is active. On paper, it feels like the...
by Olivia Fast | May 20, 2026 | Contract Negotiation & Compliance
How Invoice Creep Quietly Eats Margin in Multi-Location Operations For multi-location businesses, vendor billing often becomes part of the background. The service continues, deliveries happen, products show up, and invoices get approved as part of the normal rhythm of...
