Selling a Business in Ashley County

Ashley County has 329 employer businesses, and 85% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows the local mix of industries and how a sale is handled here.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Ashley County by the numbers

329

329

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

85%

85%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,068

1,068

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

4,418

4,418

EMPLOYMENT

$227 million

$227 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

161

161

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 Ashley County compares

  • Ashley County ranks 39th of 75 Arkansas counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 12.0% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Agriculture, forestry and fishing makes up 6% of employer businesses in Ashley County, compared with 1% in Arkansas.

  • 161 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Ashley County ranks 39th of 75 Arkansas counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 12.0% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Agriculture, forestry and fishing makes up 6% of employer businesses in Ashley County, compared with 1% in Arkansas.

  • 161 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 57 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 44 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 37 employer businesses

  • Construction: 30 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 25 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 57 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 44 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 37 employer businesses

  • Construction: 30 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 25 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Ashley County

Retail, repair, personal care and other services, health care and social assistance, construction

Every kind of business we sell in Ashley County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Ashley 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.

Retail Stores

21 related employer businesses in Ashley County.

Restaurants & Food

18 related employer businesses in Ashley County.

Construction & Engineering

17 related employer businesses in Ashley County.

  • General Contracting: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Manufacturing

16 related employer businesses in Ashley County.

Automotive & Boat

12 related employer businesses in Ashley County.

  • Auto Parts: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Auto Repair: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Collision Repair: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

Financial & Professional Services

12 related employer businesses in Ashley County.

Logistics & Transportation

11 related employer businesses in Ashley County.

Medical Practices

9 related employer businesses in Ashley County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

7 related employer businesses in Ashley County.

  • Gas Stations: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

5 related employer businesses in Ashley County.

Education & Childcare

4 related employer businesses in Ashley County.

  • Daycare Centers: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in Ashley 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.

Wholesale & Distribution

3 related employer businesses in Ashley County.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Ashley 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.

Retail Stores

21 related employer businesses in Ashley County.

Restaurants & Food

18 related employer businesses in Ashley County.

Construction & Engineering

17 related employer businesses in Ashley County.

  • General Contracting: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Manufacturing

16 related employer businesses in Ashley County.

Automotive & Boat

12 related employer businesses in Ashley County.

  • Auto Parts: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Auto Repair: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Collision Repair: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

Financial & Professional Services

12 related employer businesses in Ashley County.

Logistics & Transportation

11 related employer businesses in Ashley County.

Medical Practices

9 related employer businesses in Ashley County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

7 related employer businesses in Ashley County.

  • Gas Stations: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

5 related employer businesses in Ashley County.

Education & Childcare

4 related employer businesses in Ashley County.

  • Daycare Centers: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in Ashley 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.

Wholesale & Distribution

3 related employer businesses in Ashley County.

Working with owners in Ashley County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Ashley County ask

How long does it take to sell a business in Ashley 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 Ashley 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 Ashley 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