Local Business Development Manager jobs are automotive sales roles focused on building relationships with local businesses, company car users, van operators and fleet customers. These roles are commonly found within car dealerships, commercial sales departments, leasing businesses and rental sales environments.
Candidates often search for Local Business Development Manager jobs when looking for a field-based or business-to-business sales role with strong earning potential and repeat customer opportunities. Perfect Placement has specialised in Automotive Recruitment since 2003 and regularly recruits for Local Business Development Manager roles across the UK.
Key Takeaways:
- Local Business Development Manager jobs are most commonly found in car dealerships, commercial sales departments and leasing or rental businesses.
- The role usually involves prospecting local companies, selling vehicles or LCVs and developing repeat business accounts.
- Salary packages are often OTE-led, with bonus linked to sales volume, finance, fleet orders and local business growth.
- Progression can lead into Fleet Sales Manager, Corporate Sales Manager, General Sales Manager or Sales Director roles.
Role Overview
A Local Business Development Manager, often shortened to LBDM, is responsible for generating vehicle sales from local companies and business users. The role usually combines prospecting, account management, product presentation, finance discussions and ongoing customer relationship management.
Typical responsibilities may include:
- Identifying and contacting local businesses with car or LCV requirements.
- Managing fleet, company car, van and business user enquiries.
- Arranging appointments, demonstrations, test drives and finance proposals.
- Building repeat business with SMEs, trades, local operators and company decision-makers.
- Working with dealership sales teams, finance providers and manufacturer programmes.
Local Business Development Manager roles are usually found in car dealerships, commercial sales departments, leasing and rental businesses. LCV-focused roles are particularly common where employers want someone to develop van and light commercial vehicle business with local companies.
Salary and Market Insight
Local Business Development Manager salaries vary depending on dealership type, brand, territory, LCV focus, commission structure, finance performance and the size of the local business opportunity.
These salary insights are based on real Local Business Development Manager vacancies handled by Perfect Placement across the UK automotive sector in the last 12 months.
Local Business Development Manager earnings are usually strongest where candidates can generate repeat business, build fleet relationships and convert LCV or company car opportunities.
Across the supplied vacancy data, basic salaries for Local Business Development Manager roles ranged from around £25,551 to £30,000. OTE figures ranged from around £52,000 to £65,000, reflecting the importance of commission and performance-related earnings in this type of automotive sales role.
The average basic salary sits at around £28,900, with average OTE at around £59,600. Bonus is a major part of the package and is commonly linked to vehicle sales, fleet orders, finance penetration, customer retention and local business account growth.
Car Dealerships, commercial sales departments and leasing or rental businesses are the main employers for Local Business Development Manager jobs. LCV-focused positions are common where dealerships want to grow van sales among local trades, SMEs and business users.
Career Progression
Local Business Development Managers can progress into Fleet Sales Manager, Corporate Sales Manager, Commercial Sales Manager, General Sales Manager or Sales Director roles. Candidates with strong territory performance, account management and sales leadership skills are often well placed for progression.
For experienced Sales Executives, an LBDM role can offer a move into more relationship-led, business-to-business automotive sales.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Local Business Development Manager do?
A Local Business Development Manager develops vehicle sales with local businesses, fleet users, company car drivers and LCV customers through prospecting and account management.
Do Local Business Development Manager jobs include commission?
Yes, most Local Business Development Manager jobs include commission or bonus linked to sales volume, fleet performance, finance products and local business growth.
What experience do employers look for?
Employers usually look for automotive sales experience, business-to-business sales ability, confidence prospecting local companies and strong account management skills.
Find Local Business Development Manager Jobs Near You
Perfect Placement is a specialist Automotive Recruitment agency that has been helping candidates and employers across the motor trade since 2003. We regularly recruit for Local Business Development Manager jobs with car dealerships, commercial sales departments, leasing businesses and rental sales operations throughout the UK.
You can view our latest live vacancies below or upload your CV to Perfect Placement so our Automotive Recruitment team can help match you with Local Business Development Manager roles that suit your experience, location and salary expectations.
If you are interested in hearing more about the role of a Local Business Development Manager, visit our Career Guide for more insight into the role.
Last Updated: June 2026