Selling a Business in Carroll County

Carroll County has 445 employer businesses, and 89% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows the local mix of industries and how a sale is handled here.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Carroll County by the numbers

445

445

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

89%

89%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,852

1,852

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

5,416

5,416

EMPLOYMENT

$240 million

$240 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

195

195

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 Carroll County compares

  • Carroll County ranks 54th of 95 Tennessee counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 5.0% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 22% of employer businesses in Carroll County, compared with 16% in Tennessee.

  • 195 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Carroll County ranks 54th of 95 Tennessee counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 5.0% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 22% of employer businesses in Carroll County, compared with 16% in Tennessee.

  • 195 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 100 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 57 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 56 employer businesses

  • Finance and insurance: 37 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 36 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 100 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 57 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 56 employer businesses

  • Finance and insurance: 37 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 36 employer businesses

Every kind of business we sell in Carroll County

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

Restaurants & Food

41 related employer businesses in Carroll County.

Financial & Professional Services

24 related employer businesses in Carroll County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

24 related employer businesses in Carroll County.

  • Gas Stations: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Medical Practices

24 related employer businesses in Carroll County.

Construction & Engineering

23 related employer businesses in Carroll County.

  • Landscaping: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • General Contracting: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Retail Stores

22 related employer businesses in Carroll County.

Automotive & Boat

14 related employer businesses in Carroll 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.

  • Car Dealerships: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

Manufacturing

11 related employer businesses in Carroll County.

Education & Childcare

9 related employer businesses in Carroll County.

  • Daycare Centers: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

9 related employer businesses in Carroll County.

Logistics & Transportation

7 related employer businesses in Carroll County.

Wholesale & Distribution

6 related employer businesses in Carroll County.

Energy & Utilities

5 related employer businesses in Carroll County.

Health & Fitness

4 related employer businesses in Carroll County.

  • Gyms & Health Clubs: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.

  • Yoga Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.

  • Pilates Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.

  • Personal Training Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.

Home Services

3 related employer businesses in Carroll County.

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in Carroll 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.

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

Restaurants & Food

41 related employer businesses in Carroll County.

Financial & Professional Services

24 related employer businesses in Carroll County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

24 related employer businesses in Carroll County.

  • Gas Stations: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Medical Practices

24 related employer businesses in Carroll County.

Construction & Engineering

23 related employer businesses in Carroll County.

  • Landscaping: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • General Contracting: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Retail Stores

22 related employer businesses in Carroll County.

Automotive & Boat

14 related employer businesses in Carroll 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.

  • Car Dealerships: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

Manufacturing

11 related employer businesses in Carroll County.

Education & Childcare

9 related employer businesses in Carroll County.

  • Daycare Centers: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

9 related employer businesses in Carroll County.

Logistics & Transportation

7 related employer businesses in Carroll County.

Wholesale & Distribution

6 related employer businesses in Carroll County.

Energy & Utilities

5 related employer businesses in Carroll County.

Health & Fitness

4 related employer businesses in Carroll County.

  • Gyms & Health Clubs: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.

  • Yoga Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.

  • Pilates Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.

  • Personal Training Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.

Home Services

3 related employer businesses in Carroll County.

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in Carroll 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 Carroll County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Carroll County ask

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