You can use this list as a tune-up for your business or a guideline for growing.

You need competitors. The more people telling used car managers their cars are ugly, the more they will fix. Competitors make you work harder and better. Price wars only hurt your business, if the quality is there, you'll always have eager clients.

Never go home without setting up tomorrow's work schedule. If you don't know which cars you're working on tomorrow, go find them before retiring. Starting each day looking for work will eventually end your business and if you work this way you should save your money and go be an employee.

Never give your work away. If you treat it as of little value, so will your clients. That said, know when to reward your clients.

Tell your clients they are happy with your work and feel like they sell more cars for more money because of you. They will think good or bad about you, praise or criticize you, make sure it's good praise by telling them how satisfied they are with you.

Be grateful. Always thank them for their business and money. Be redundant about it.

Use the highest quality tools, equipment, materials, uniform and work vehicle you can afford. If you show up with a dirty shirt in a dirty minivan, what message are you sending?

Have referral friends. Promote their business and ask them to promote yours. This happens automatically over the years, but why not jump start it if you can.

Use the best accountants and lawyers. This isn't a good place to save money.

Your umbrella policy should be two million, not the minimum amounts.

Get an HSA and a retirement program going. If you can't afford it, you should be an employee.