Selling a Business in Belknap County

Belknap County has 1,905 employer businesses, and 88% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows the local mix of industries and how a sale is handled here. The largest industries here are retail and construction.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Belknap County by the numbers

1,905

1,905

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

88%

88%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

6,309

6,309

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

21,197

21,197

EMPLOYMENT

$1.1 billion

$1.1 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

756

756

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 Belknap County compares

  • Belknap County ranks 7th of 10 New Hampshire counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 5.6% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Accommodation and food service makes up 13% of employer businesses in Belknap County, compared with 10% in New Hampshire.

  • 756 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Belknap County ranks 7th of 10 New Hampshire counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 5.6% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Accommodation and food service makes up 13% of employer businesses in Belknap County, compared with 10% in New Hampshire.

  • 756 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 297 employer businesses

  • Construction: 273 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 244 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 219 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 155 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 297 employer businesses

  • Construction: 273 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 244 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 219 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 155 employer businesses

Every kind of business we sell in Belknap County

These are the industries in Belknap County and the number of employer businesses in each. 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.

Construction & Engineering

313 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

  • General Contracting: 80 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 69 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 45 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Plumbing: 42 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 42 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Civil Engineering: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

184 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

Retail Stores

122 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

Automotive & Boat

107 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

  • Auto Repair: 45 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Parts: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Boat Dealerships: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.

  • Marinas: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Collision Repair: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Medical Practices

81 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

Financial & Professional Services

80 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

Manufacturing

63 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

Hospitality & Travel

47 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

  • Hotels: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Bed & Breakfasts / Inns: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Travel Agencies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Gas Stations & Convenience

39 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

  • Gas Stations: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Home Services

35 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

  • Residential Cleaning: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.

  • Commercial Cleaning: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.

  • Property Management: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Pest Control: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.

Beauty & Personal Care

33 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

  • Hair Salons: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

31 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

Education & Childcare

28 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

  • Daycare Centers: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Entertainment & Recreation

26 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Bars & Pubs: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Arcades & FECs: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.1x - 3.6x SDE.

Logistics & Transportation

19 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

19 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

Health & Fitness

17 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

Technology & Media

16 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

Energy & Utilities

14 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

Pet Services

13 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

Senior Care & Living

3 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

These are the industries in Belknap County and the number of employer businesses in each. 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.

Construction & Engineering

313 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

  • General Contracting: 80 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 69 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 45 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Plumbing: 42 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 42 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Civil Engineering: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

184 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

Retail Stores

122 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

Automotive & Boat

107 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

  • Auto Repair: 45 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Parts: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Boat Dealerships: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.

  • Marinas: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Collision Repair: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Medical Practices

81 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

Financial & Professional Services

80 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

Manufacturing

63 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

Hospitality & Travel

47 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

  • Hotels: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Bed & Breakfasts / Inns: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Travel Agencies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Gas Stations & Convenience

39 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

  • Gas Stations: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Home Services

35 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

  • Residential Cleaning: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.

  • Commercial Cleaning: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.

  • Property Management: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Pest Control: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.

Beauty & Personal Care

33 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

  • Hair Salons: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

31 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

Education & Childcare

28 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

  • Daycare Centers: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Entertainment & Recreation

26 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Bars & Pubs: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Arcades & FECs: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.1x - 3.6x SDE.

Logistics & Transportation

19 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

19 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

Health & Fitness

17 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

Technology & Media

16 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

Energy & Utilities

14 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

Pet Services

13 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

Senior Care & Living

3 related employer businesses in Belknap County.

Working with owners in Belknap County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Belknap County ask

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

The time depends on the price, the quality of the records and the number of qualified buyers.

How is a business valued in Belknap 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 Belknap 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