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Adams County

Selling a Business in Adams County

Adams County has 401 employer businesses, and 90% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows the local mix of industries and how a sale is handled here.

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LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Adams County by the numbers

401

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

90%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

863

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

4,759

EMPLOYMENT

$268 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

170

BUSINESSES WITH 5 TO 49 EMPLOYEES

U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023 and Nonemployer Statistics 2024. Counts are employer establishments, meaning business locations with paid employees.

How Adams County compares

Adams County ranks 32nd of 39 Washington counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses grew 11.7% between 2018 and 2023.
Transportation and warehousing makes up 17% of employer businesses in Adams County, compared with 3% in Washington.
170 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Adams County ranks 32nd of 39 Washington counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses grew 11.7% between 2018 and 2023.
Transportation and warehousing makes up 17% of employer businesses in Adams County, compared with 3% in Washington.
170 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

Transportation and warehousing: 68 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 52 employer businesses
Retail: 49 employer businesses
Wholesale: 45 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 36 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

Transportation and warehousing: 68 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 52 employer businesses
Retail: 49 employer businesses
Wholesale: 45 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 36 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Adams County

Transportation and warehousing, repair, personal care and other services, retail, wholesale

Commercial Moving

Logistics & Transportation

Freight Brokerage & 3PL

Logistics & Transportation

Barber Shops

Beauty & Personal Care

Day Spas

Beauty & Personal Care

Auto Parts

Automotive & Boat

Auto Repair

Automotive & Boat

Every kind of business we sell in Adams County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Adams County. Counts are employer businesses in the closest Census industry codes. Industries without a clean Census match are listed without a count, and a few industries share one Census category, so their counts match. A sale multiple is the price a business typically sells for as a multiple of its earnings. SDE means seller's discretionary earnings, which is the owner's pay plus the profit of the business. EBITDA means earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

Logistics & Transportation

72 related employer businesses in Adams County.

General Freight Trucking: 61 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Heavy Haul Transport: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Warehousing & Fulfillment: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

38 related employer businesses in Adams County.

Full-Service Restaurants: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Coffee Shops: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.

Financial & Professional Services

19 related employer businesses in Adams County.

Insurance Agencies: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Real Estate Brokerages: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.

Gas Stations & Convenience

17 related employer businesses in Adams County.

Gas Stations: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Construction & Engineering

16 related employer businesses in Adams County.

General Contracting: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Foundation & Site Prep: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Electrical: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Automotive & Boat

14 related employer businesses in Adams County.

Auto Repair: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Auto Parts: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Collision Repair: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

11 related employer businesses in Adams County.

Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

11 related employer businesses in Adams County.

Industrial & Construction Supply: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Land & Agriculture

7 related employer businesses in Adams County.

Agricultural Labor Contracting: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.4x - 6.09x EBITDA.

Senior Care & Living

7 related employer businesses in Adams County.

Assisted Living Facilities: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Non-Medical Home Care: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Education & Childcare

6 related employer businesses in Adams County.

Daycare Centers: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Retail Stores

5 related employer businesses in Adams County.

Hardware, Garden & Building: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in Adams County.

Hotels: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Logistics & Transportation

72 related employer businesses in Adams County.

General Freight Trucking: 61 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Heavy Haul Transport: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Warehousing & Fulfillment: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

38 related employer businesses in Adams County.

Full-Service Restaurants: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Coffee Shops: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.

Financial & Professional Services

19 related employer businesses in Adams County.

Insurance Agencies: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Real Estate Brokerages: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.

Gas Stations & Convenience

17 related employer businesses in Adams County.

Gas Stations: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Construction & Engineering

16 related employer businesses in Adams County.

General Contracting: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Foundation & Site Prep: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Electrical: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Automotive & Boat

14 related employer businesses in Adams County.

Auto Repair: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Auto Parts: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Collision Repair: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

11 related employer businesses in Adams County.

Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

11 related employer businesses in Adams County.

Industrial & Construction Supply: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Land & Agriculture

7 related employer businesses in Adams County.

Agricultural Labor Contracting: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.4x - 6.09x EBITDA.

Senior Care & Living

7 related employer businesses in Adams County.

Assisted Living Facilities: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Non-Medical Home Care: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Education & Childcare

6 related employer businesses in Adams County.

Daycare Centers: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Retail Stores

5 related employer businesses in Adams County.

Hardware, Garden & Building: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in Adams County.

Hotels: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Working with owners in Adams County

Business Advisors of America works with owners who are selling a business in Adams County. Contact us to talk about a sale.

Get a Free Valuation

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Adams County ask

How long does it take to sell a business in Adams County?

The time depends on the price, the quality of the records and the number of qualified buyers. Many sales take six months or longer from the start of the process to closing.

How is a business valued in Adams County?

Valuation starts with the earnings the business produces for an owner, then adjusts for assets, size, industry and the terms a buyer is likely to accept. The result is a range, and the asking price is set inside it.

Is the sale confidential?

Buyers are asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement before they see the name of the business or its financial statements.

FROM OUR BLOG

Guides for owners in Adams County

October 3, 2025

Business Owners

Add-Backs: What Counts, What Does Not, and What Buyers Push Back On

Every add-back you can prove raises your sale price by two to three times its amount. Every add-back you cannot prove costs you credibility on all the others.

Read article

October 3, 2025

Business Owners

Add-Backs: What Counts, What Does Not, and What Buyers Push Back On

Every add-back you can prove raises your sale price by two to three times its amount. Every add-back you cannot prove costs you credibility on all the others.

Read article

March 5, 2026

Business Owners

Buyer Qualification: How We Screen Out the Buyers Who Cannot Close

Most inquiries on a business listing come from people who cannot close. Here is how they get screened out before they see your name or your financials.

Read article

March 5, 2026

Business Owners

Buyer Qualification: How We Screen Out the Buyers Who Cannot Close

Most inquiries on a business listing come from people who cannot close. Here is how they get screened out before they see your name or your financials.

Read article

February 9, 2026

Business Owners

The Confidential Information Memorandum: What Goes In It and Why

The CIM is the document a buyer reads before they decide to spend time on your business. Here is what it has to contain and the mistakes that cost sellers offers.

Read article

February 9, 2026

Business Owners

The Confidential Information Memorandum: What Goes In It and Why

The CIM is the document a buyer reads before they decide to spend time on your business. Here is what it has to contain and the mistakes that cost sellers offers.

Read article

Selling a Business in Adams County

Areas in Washington

Adams County by the numbers

401

401

90%

90%

863

863

4,759

4,759

$268 million

$268 million

170

170

How Adams County compares

Industry mix

What sells in Adams County

Commercial Moving

Freight Brokerage & 3PL

Barber Shops

Day Spas

Auto Parts

Auto Repair

Every kind of business we sell in Adams County

Working with owners in Adams County

Questions owners in Adams County ask

Guides for owners in Adams County