# Preparation lead time

> Preparation lead time is the number of days from a car arriving in stock until it is advertised and ready to sell. It covers appraisal, workshop work, cosmetic preparation, inspection, photography and listing. Every day in preparation is a day the car ties up capital without being sellable.

**Source:** https://carruslink.com/en/ordbog/klargoeringstid/
**Glossary:** https://carruslink.com/en/ordbog/
**Category:** Aftersales
**Last updated:** 2026-08-11

Most dealers measure days in stock from the listing date, not from purchase. That hides the most expensive part of the holding cost: the days the car sits behind the workshop, invisible to buyers.

Lead time is rarely decided by the work itself, but by the waiting between steps: who orders parts, who approves the budget, who takes the photos and who publishes the ad.

A realistic target for a used-car operation is three to five working days from purchase to listing. That requires every step to have an owner and a deadline, so no car is forgotten between two departments.

## In CARRUSLiNK

CARRUSLiNK runs preparation as a chain of owned, deadlined tasks per car, and the listing can only be released once those steps are closed.

## Related

- Klargøring: https://carruslink.com/en/ordbog/klargoering
- Byttebil: https://carruslink.com/en/ordbog/byttebil
- Ex-leasing bil: https://carruslink.com/en/ordbog/ex-leasing-bil

— CARRUSLiNK · https://carruslink.com/en/ordbog/klargoeringstid/