Golf Carts For Dealers: Everything You Need To Know

The American golf cart market is growing exponentially, and it’s projected to reach $1,627.6 million by 2026. Becoming a golf cart dealer has never been a more lucrative proposition. 

Whether you currently drive a golf cart and you love it or you simply know how big this market is becoming and you want in before it gets any bigger, there’s never been a better time to become a dealer. 

Search terms for things like “electric golf cart dealers near me” and “dealers in Tifton that sell golf carts” have never been higher, and if you craft a solid business model and focus on serving customers in your area, you’re certain to have a solid business plan that will serve you well for generations. 

How do you even become a golf cart dealer, though, and what should you do before you start? 

This quick guide can help. 

Should You Sell New or Used Golf Carts?

The first step you’ll need to make is to decide whether you’ll market new golf carts, used golf carts, or a combination of the two. 

New golf carts for sale by dealers typically come from the company itself, and if you intend to sell new, you’ll need to agree with a company. There’s a bit more on that in the next section. 

If you intend to sell used golf carts only, you typically don’t need an agreement with the company, but what you do need is a good eye for golf carts. 

It may help if you’ve worked with golf carts before and you’re a good mechanic who understands what a good deal is and what isn’t. 

It may also help if you are a shrewd businessperson who can craft great deals that make you money and serve your customers well. It can be tougher to market used golf carts, as you’ll need to prove that they’re in decent shape, but people are always looking for a great deal, which makes both becoming a new golf cart dealer and a used golf cart dealer a good option. 

Should You Only Market One Brand? 

If you intend to market new golf carts, often you’ll have to specialize in a single brand. For example, say you want to market EZGO golf carts. You’ll have to send an application to the company, which will include information about whether you have sufficient capital, where your location might be, and what it looks like, as well as other information. 

Each brand has different requirements. 

EZGO requires so much available capital, the cost of signage, and certain building requirements just to get started. 

Yamaha has capital requirements, but they also only want so many dealers in a certain area. 

Club Car dealers must meet similar requirements. 

Do your research to learn more about the requirements if you want to become a branded dealer. 

Most of those companies are upfront about what they need when you reach out to them. 

Adding Accessories

For most dealers, the golf carts aren’t what bring in the real profit margin. 

Surprisingly, many find adding accessories makes them far more money than the golf carts themselves. Offering golf cart repair services can add to those totals. For example, say you sell a new golf cart for a certain amount. Add upgrades and customizations, and your profit margin quickly begins to skyrocket. 

What accessories should you add? That will depend a bit on the company with which you work, but the market today knows no bounds when it comes to accessories. 

If you can dream it, it is available for a golf cart today. 

If you do decide to add accessories, you’ll certainly want golf cart software to keep track of orders and everything you add, but we’ll talk a bit more about that in the next section. 

One accessory you’ll certainly want to consider selling is batteries for golf carts. Local dealers find that batteries are a hot item. They need to be replaced in electric carts every few years, and they produce a solid profit for local dealers. 

Be sure to source your batteries from a reliable provider, though, so you can make certain you offer a good deal for your customers.

The Nuts and Bolts of Running a Business

You’ll need to find a suitable location for your business, and that may be the toughest decision you make. 

Think about the demographics of the area before you choose a location. 

You’ll want to consider your target audience and how important it is that they be close to you. 

This is critical, as for golf cart retailers, people aren’t likely to travel far. 

Along with that, think about accessibility. You need people to be able to easily reach your location so you can get individuals through the door. 

Finally, consider your competition. How far away do you want to be? Closer can sometimes be better, but often it comes with its drawbacks, too. 

You’ll want to visit with an attorney to set up your basic business structure and to handle any tax concerns you may have. 

You’ll also want to sit down with the bank to get the capital you need to start. Drawing up a business plan is necessary at this stage, so work with a professional to get the help you need for this documentation. 

Your website is an important consideration in this mix. You’ll also want a solid web presence that reflects your company. Be sure to invest in optimization. That way, when a customer types in a search term like “Looking for golf cart dealers in Richmond, VA,” your website is the first one that will pop up on the search engines. 

Optimization isn’t all you’ll want to invest in, though.  

Often orders today will rely on various online technologies that you’ll need to invest in. 

A golf cart builder is a sound investment that you’re certain to want to focus on. With this kind of investment, customers can go online to learn more about customization options that will help them figure out exactly what they want before they ever arrive at your dealership. 

If you put a version of your “Build Your Golf Cart” software online, you’re likely to drive customers to your dealership to invest in a customized golf cart that they like. 

It’s not difficult to become a golf cart dealer today, but there is much to consider before you get started.

Custom Golf Carts: Everything You Need To Know

Ready to learn more about custom golf carts and exactly what you can do with this amazing purchase? Look at the power of this smart choice now! There’s never been a better time to own a golf cart. 

More often, people in all areas are realizing just how functional a golf cart can be. 

With so many uses and benefits, golf carts are now the perfect solution. After all, they’re affordable, economical, and they’re environmentally safe. What more could you want in a mode of transportation? 

More than that, though, they’re completely customizable, which makes them fun, too. 

What Can You Customize On a Golf Cart?

Simply put, you can customize almost any part of a golf cart to better meet your needs. 

Whether you’re looking to enhance the golf cart’s appearance, or you want simple modifications that will make it more comfortable, you can have almost anything you wish from a golf cart dealer. 

Look at a few different customization options now. 

Custom Golf Cart Bodies

A custom body kit is the best way to go if you want something completely different. 

These are available in sporty and incredibly creative styles. 

One look at parades today and you’ll see everything from a Rolls-Royce style golf cart to a monster truck. 

If you can dream it up, there are custom golf cart bodies available to meet your needs. 

Not everyone who wants a custom body, though, is looking for a showpiece. 

Many who invest in this choice do so because their carts have been damaged or they need something a bit different to meet their needs. For example, if you’re looking to take your cart off-road or you need it to haul things around your property, custom golf cart bodies are the way to go to ensure that your vehicle offers you a wider range of options. 

Custom Painted Golf Carts

Some people don’t want to go with a customized style, but they still want something quite different, and this is where custom painted golf carts enter the picture. 

Hoping to go with a camo design to help you get to and from your hunting blind? Need some bright flames on the side to show just how tough your golf cart is? Custom painted golf carts are big business these days, and if you can come up with a perfect design, you can certainly have it added to your golf cart. 

Whether you want to go with a custom golf cart body and a custom paint job or want the paint job to help give your vehicle a personality of its own, this is a fantastic way to upgrade your cart. 

Custom Golf Cart Wheels

The wheels may be the last thing you think about when it comes to custom golf carts, but they probably should be the first. 

Available from 8” to 25” these days, you can get almost any size you need, and there are many reasons to consider customizing your wheels. 

First, custom golf cart wheels make your cart look great, especially if you’ve taken advantage of other customization options. 

More than that, though, they can give you a much smoother ride, depending on how you plan to use your cart. 

Changing the way the golf cart rides is the number one reason people choose custom golf cart wheels. 

OEM typically designs its wheels to run on golf courses in a manner that won’t tear up the grass as the cart travels from hole to hole. 

If you’re planning to do something hugely different with your cart, though, you’re going to want a different kind of wheel. 

From those that you might find on ATVs to choices that work perfectly with a lift kit, you’re going to find lots of options in the world of custom golf cart wheels that can change almost everything about your ride. 

Custom Golf Cart Seats

As with almost everything else in the world of the custom golf cart, there are a variety of designs available for golf cart seats. 

If you want larger cushions that offer a contoured fit for added comfort and support, that’s certainly a possibility. 

You can also get custom golf cart seats with headrests and armrests. Add a few other modifications too like two-tone covers to match the custom golf cart paint job you had done. 

You can simply choose to go with something more luxurious or something simple like a fabric that will stay cool even in the heat of the sun. 

Custom Golf Cart Accessories

This is far from a comprehensive list of the number of options you have when it comes to customizing your golf cart. 

Several other accessories can be added to completely change everything when it comes to making your golf cart your own. 

You could add Bluetooth speakers to your golf cart. You could also add drink coolers if you intend to be out on the course all day, and you need to cool off. 

Consider adding a roof rack to make your cart more useful around your property or even to haul your kayak to the edge of the water. Mirrors, fans, and even interior lighting are all possible with the best custom golf cart accessories. 

These aren’t just for your golf cart’s interior, though. There are lots of exterior custom golf cart accessories, too. Add fenders, brush guards, a windshield, or even expanded cargo space. Seat bag attachments, cup holders, and even phone chargers are available in the world of accessories today too. 

If you can dream it, there’s likely an accessory you can add to your cart easily!

Finding Custom Golf Carts for Sale

Worried you’ll never find exactly what you want in a golf cart? Don’t be concerned! Finding custom golf carts for sale is easier than you think. 

In fact, in most major metro areas, you’ll find golf cart dealers throughout the area ready to help you find custom golf carts for sale that meet your needs perfectly. 

Dealers, though, aren’t the only ones with an extensive inventory. Often, you’ll find communities online dedicated to the best golf cart brands that are easy to customize, and they typically have an online marketplace ready for use to help you find the cart you most want. 

If you’re new to the world of custom golf carts, though, it may help to familiarize yourself a bit with the most typical brands before you get ready to make a purchase. 

There are three top golf cart brands available today, and each offers an advantage. 

Custom EZGO Golf Carts

This is a key manufacturer for those who own residential golf carts around the world today. 

Textron owns the company, and they have a great reputation for reliable carts at a fantastic price. 

You’ll often see them used on golf courses, but you see just as many of these among private owners. 

They offer both two- and four-person seating options, as well as high weight capacities. You can buy them in gas and electric models, depending on your needs. 

Most of these use a standard four-wheel design, which adds some stability. 

Their frames are made from welded steel, making them an excellent choice for off-roading. 

Custom EZGO golf carts are simple to find, too, and they’re simple to further customize. 

Custom Club Car Golf Carts 

Often compared to EZGO carts, custom Club Car golf carts are great for the private market. 

They come in both gas and electric models, and they’re usually made of all aluminum. They have an I-beam base that makes the carts incredibly strong, and they’re able to resist common wear-and-tear type problems. 

Club Car is focused on the higher end of things, though, which means they can quickly get more expensive as you add customization options. 

They offer added builds that EZGO simply can’t match, and the construction quality on these models is fantastic. 

They’re also lighter than EZGO models, which means you can typically find custom Club Car golf carts with added options like higher speeds and power steering. 

Custom Yamaha Golf Carts

Yamaha offers some fantastic options in the custom golf cart market, but they primarily serve more commercial customers. 

Various sections of the PGA depend on Yamaha, as do many big-campus corporations to ensure their employees can get from space to space quickly. 

They offer gas and electric engines, as both Club Car and EZGO do, but within that, there are other added options. 

Yamaha tends to make far more expensive carts because so much of what they build is industrial quality, so if you intend to go with this brand for your custom build, expect to pay a bit more than you might for others. 

While these three manufacturers aren’t the entirety of the options in the custom golf cart market, they’re easily the big ones you’ll notice as you begin to shop for the options that are right for you. 

Are There Custom Golf Carts Near Me?

No matter where you live in the United States today, there are custom golf carts near you. 

If you say, “Custom Golf Carts Near Me,” Siri is likely to start listing dealership after dealership. 

The trick is to find the right golf cart to meet your needs. 

First, you must decide whether to buy new or used. New may be more expensive, but if you’re looking for customization, it’s usually the right choice. 

The last thing you want is to buy a golf cart that’s had too many customizations already, leaving you with added costs. 

More than that, though, you’ll want a solid warranty and a team on your side that can handle all the custom options that you want most in a golf cart. 

Custom golf carts are everywhere today. Just decide exactly what you want to be customized and what brand you’re looking for, then you can find a dealer who is ready to make your golf cart dreams come true.

The Golf Cart: Everything You Need To Know

If you’re tired of the golf cart rental fees or you simply wonder what owning a golf cart might be like, you’ve come to the right place. 

Golf cart sales have skyrocketed over the past few years and learning everything you can about these vehicles before you make a purchase is a wise decision. 

This quick guide can help you learn exactly what you need to know as you prepare to move forward with this fantastic purchase. 

The Benefits of Owning a Golf Cart

Let’s start with why you might even want to own a golf cart in the first place. 

Some come to golf cart ownership because they’re fed up with golf cart rental fees once they get to the clubhouse. Others are looking for an effortless way to get from place to place in small areas. 

Still, others are looking for an added vehicle that can help them complete tasks around their property. 

There are several reasons you might want to own a golf cart, and there are some great benefits to ownership. Here are a few of the most common. 

They’re affordable

Even if you go with a brand-new golf cart, you’re going to find one of the most affordable vehicles you’ve ever owned. The maintenance on these vehicles is incredibly inexpensive, and should you ever have a breakdown issue, they tend to be cheap to repair, too. 

They’re easy to use

Whether you drive regularly or have kids who need to get from place to place in your household, golf carts are easy to use. You just turn the key, hit the gas, then take off. There’s nothing complicated about a golf cart, and if you can drive a go-cart, you can certainly drive a golf cart. This makes it an ideal vehicle for older people or even kids. 

They’re fun

Golf cart communities abound these days, and any trip to the lake or another recreational spot is certain to reveal lots of golf carts. In fact, in many spaces, you may even find golf cart shows, parades, and festivals. There’s nothing quite as much fun as cruising around in your golf cart enjoying a beautiful day. 

The Top Brands to Know

Once you’re convinced a golf cart could be the best purchase you’ve ever made, you may want to familiarize yourself with the brands available. There are three top brands on the market today. 

EZGO

EZGO golf cart manufacturers golf carts primarily for private owners. While you’ll see some of these on golf courses, the company typically makes carts for individual owners. They’re incredibly tough because they use a frame made from welded steel. That makes them great if you’re thinking of making upgrades and taking them off-road. You can typically choose from gas and electric, as well as two- and four-person seating with this brand. 

Club Car

Club Car typically makes its golf cart models for the residential market. Every Club Car golf cart sits on an aluminum frame, which may not be the best for off-roading, but it is the best for upgrades and customizations, especially when it comes to speed. Like the EZGO golf cart, you can get this in both gas and electric, as well as a few configurations to meet your needs. These tend to cost a bit more than other carts on the market, but they’re well worth it given the higher-end options you can get with it. 

Yamaha

Yamaha primarily makes its golf cart models for the commercial market, though many private owners buy these models as well. They tend to be some of the most expensive carts on the market, but Yamaha golf cart options are also some of the toughest and most reliable. They don’t come with quite as many options as the other models on the market, but you can customize them just as you would any other golf cart. 

Many other companies make golf carts as well. You’re likely to see offerings from Polaris, Taylor Dunn, Par Car, Cushman, and even Harley Davidson. 

While none of these brands have any real drawbacks, it may be harder to find the customization options you want most within the brand, and they certainly don’t have the following that the big three brands do. 

The Power Behind a Golf Cart

Choosing a manufacturer isn’t the only choice you need to make as you look for a golf cart to meet your needs. You’ll also have to decide what type of golf cart you want. 

Both gas and electric golf carts are good options. 

The one you select depends on your personal preference. Many people decide to go with a gas golf cart because they believe golf cart batteries are too expensive. 

The reality, though, is quite different. 

Golf cart batteries can get expensive, but the cost of running the two types are pretty much the same. You’ll need to replace your golf cart batteries every five to seven years. 

With a gas-powered golf cart, you’ll need to perform oil changes, keep an eye on the belts, fuel it up, and replace filters routinely too. A quick look at the numbers shows that the cost of ownership is about the same in both settings. 

So, what are the advantages? 

Electric golf carts are incredibly convenient and easy to use. Maintenance is almost nil, especially if you take care of your golf cart batteries, and they’re incredibly quiet. They’re also economically friendly. 

Gas golf carts, on the other hand, offer you added power and speed. They have far more pulling power, and they don’t need any charging time. In most cases, you can drive a gas golf cart on a road meant for cars because you can keep the minimum speed. Gas golf carts do tend to be more expensive at the dealership than electric carts are. 

Golf Cart Accessories You May Want to Invest In

How you power your golf cart is just one of many decisions you’ll need to make because golf carts aren’t a one-size-fits-all proposition these days. There are custom golf carts almost everywhere as well as golf cart accessories to consider. If you can dream of an accessory, it’s possible with today’s custom golf carts. 

Imagine, for a moment, that you’d like a golf cart to do a bit of work on your property. Add a windshield, a brush guard, an extended cargo bed, and some tougher tires, and you have an equation that’s perfect no matter where you live. 

If, on the other hand, you want a golf cart to get you around the neighborhood, but you want to look great doing it, consider adding different wheels and rims, a custom body, and maybe some more comfortable seats, and you can spend the day in your cart with everyone looking at what a great piece of machinery it is. 

Golf cart accessories abound these days, and whether you want something simple like Bluetooth speakers so you can listen to music while you’re out or need an upgrade like lighting so you can drive at night, there are many options to choose from to meet your needs. 

Nearly any dealer will offer you a variety of golf cart accessories to add to the package before you ever buy, so you may want to define exactly what you want before you walk into the dealership. 

Golf Carts For Sale – Too Good to Be True?

You see an ad on Facebook linked to the term “Golf Carts for Sale Near Me,” so you click quickly. 

Unfortunately, used golf carts for sale are all you find. They look like they’ve been through a natural disaster and golf push carts just won’t meet your needs. 

Don’t worry, you’re not alone. 

You can find used golf carts for sale almost everywhere these days and understanding what might work for you and what you should avoid is key to getting exactly what you need. 

Start by considering the age of the golf cart

Older golf carts aren’t necessarily a bad investment but pay attention to the make and model before you decide to buy. It can help you with your research. 

Understand how easy or hard it is to get golf cart accessories and other parts for the used cart. 

You may also want to make sure that the make and model didn’t experience any real problems after production. 

You’ll also want to talk to the seller about how many hours (or cycles) are on the golf cart. When you go to look for a used car, typically you explore how many miles are on the car. This is the same idea. 

You’ll understand just how long the cart has been in service. 

If a dealer or seller seems reluctant to release that information, you may want to pass on the model, as it’s going to be tough to get a good understanding of whether the cart is worth the price you’re paying without those numbers. 

If you’re looking at an electric golf cart, you’ll want to make sure the golf cart batteries are in decent shape. Bad batteries can be an expensive proposition when you’re just buying them, so make sure they’re not corroded or bulging at the sides. If they’re clean and free from any damage, they’re likely a worthwhile investment. 

Avoid the temptation to just look at the price

If you’re shopping for a golf cart, remember that you’ve probably already started making a list of features and golf cart accessories you want in your mind. 

Even if the vehicle isn’t new, it doesn’t mean you can’t look for a custom golf cart with everything you want on it. 

This is an investment just like any other vehicle, and golf carts typically last for years, so you don’t want to get stuck with something you’re not happy with. 

If you want an EZGO golf cart, for example, with an electric engine and a custom flatbed for hauling brush around your property, don’t negotiate for a used Yamaha that doesn’t have any of those features but happens to be cheap. Instead, pick one that fits your style.  

You may see the words used and refurbished thrown around when it comes to golf carts. Both are an excellent choice. 

Refurbished golf carts typically come from a golf course or corporate facility that has decided to retire them from their fleet. Usually, they’re reconditioned from a certified dealer, and often they come with a good warranty. 

Used golf carts come at a lower price tag, but they sometimes come with their problems. Shop carefully for one that meets your needs. 

The next time you head for the green, don’t shell out the cash for a golf cart rental. Instead, start shopping for your model!