I've asked the GM at my dealer point blank of sales service parts and clothes, where is the most profit. The answer is Sales, although I was a bit surprised. I assume profit as a % of revenue.
Hard to imagine it isn't parts and service, I had a friend that ran a shop in a very "touristy" location, the T-shirt operation netted $100k a month. Now I know this is no the norm but the gross profit in a T-shirt is well in excess of 100%, a bike is maybe 20% (now) and parts are normally around 35%.
Another acquaintance is looking to buy a shop where there is a "huge" and growing rally just to get the T-shirt business from a twice a year rally.............they project they can grow what is now a $3m sales operation to $9m in a matter of a couple of years.
Dealers have had a great run and it may continue, but with the economy being sluggish at best I imagine the great times are gone for awhile and it may become more of a challenge to produce the sales and profits that came so easily for the past 10 years.