Selling a Business in Chaves County
Chaves County has 1,342 employer businesses, and 86% 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 health care and social assistance.
Areas in New Mexico
LOCAL SNAPSHOT
Chaves County by the numbers
1,342
1,342
EMPLOYER BUSINESSES
86%
86%
SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE
3,379
3,379
BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES
16,093
16,093
EMPLOYMENT
$684 million
$684 million
ANNUAL PAYROLL
606
606
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 Chaves County compares
Chaves County ranks 8th of 33 New Mexico counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 1.4% between 2018 and 2023.
Transportation and warehousing makes up 5% of employer businesses in Chaves County, compared with 3% in New Mexico.
606 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Chaves County ranks 8th of 33 New Mexico counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 1.4% between 2018 and 2023.
Transportation and warehousing makes up 5% of employer businesses in Chaves County, compared with 3% in New Mexico.
606 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Industry mix
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Retail: 200 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 175 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 141 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 132 employer businesses
Construction: 122 employer businesses
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Retail: 200 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 175 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 141 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 132 employer businesses
Construction: 122 employer businesses
INDUSTRIES
What sells in Chaves County
Retail, health care and social assistance, accommodation and food service, repair, personal care and other services
Every kind of business we sell in Chaves County
These are the industries in Chaves 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.
Restaurants & Food
108 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 45 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Full-Service Restaurants: 41 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Coffee Shops: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Construction & Engineering
107 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
General Contracting: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Plumbing: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Interior Finishing: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Electrical: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Foundation & Site Prep: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Landscaping: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Civil Engineering: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Masonry: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.
Medical Practices
88 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Primary & Family Care: 32 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Dental Practices: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Home Health & Hospice: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Veterinary Medicine: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Medical Labs & Imaging: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Mental & Behavioral Health: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Financial & Professional Services
75 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Insurance Agencies: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Private Lending: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Real Estate Brokerages: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Wealth Management: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Retail Stores
66 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Home Decor & Furniture: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Sporting Goods & Firearms: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.4x SDE.
Electronics & Repair: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Hobby, Toys & Gift Shops: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE + Inventory.
Logistics & Transportation
61 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
General Freight Trucking: 49 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Heavy Haul Transport: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Last-Mile & Courier: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.76x - 3.32x SDE.
Automotive & Boat
51 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Auto Repair: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Car Dealerships: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.
Collision Repair: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Car Washes: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Auto Parts: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Energy & Utilities
34 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Oil & Gas Services: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x EBITDA + Equipment.
Water & Wastewater Services: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Propane & Fuel Distribution: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Gas Stations & Convenience
27 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Gas Stations: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Hospitality & Travel
25 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Hotels: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.
Transportation Services: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.
Wholesale & Distribution
23 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Industrial & Construction Supply: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Food & Beverage Distribution: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Chemicals, Plastics & Raw Materials Distribution: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.
Manufacturing
21 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Printing & Plastics: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.9x - 4.9x SDE.
Metal Fabrication: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Medical & Chemical Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Home Services
18 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Residential Cleaning: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.
Property Management: 7 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.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
17 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Home Infusion: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Medical Supply Retail: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE + Inventory.
Senior Care & Living
16 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Non-Medical Home Care: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Education & Childcare
13 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Daycare Centers: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Beauty & Personal Care
10 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Hair Salons: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.
Health & Fitness
6 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Gyms & Health Clubs: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.
Yoga Studios: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.
Pilates Studios: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.
Personal Training Studios: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.
Entertainment & Recreation
3 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Outdoor Recreation: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
These are the industries in Chaves 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.
Restaurants & Food
108 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 45 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Full-Service Restaurants: 41 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Coffee Shops: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Construction & Engineering
107 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
General Contracting: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Plumbing: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Interior Finishing: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Electrical: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Foundation & Site Prep: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Landscaping: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Civil Engineering: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Masonry: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.
Medical Practices
88 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Primary & Family Care: 32 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Dental Practices: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Home Health & Hospice: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Veterinary Medicine: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Medical Labs & Imaging: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Mental & Behavioral Health: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Financial & Professional Services
75 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Insurance Agencies: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Private Lending: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Real Estate Brokerages: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Wealth Management: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Retail Stores
66 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Home Decor & Furniture: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Sporting Goods & Firearms: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.4x SDE.
Electronics & Repair: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Hobby, Toys & Gift Shops: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE + Inventory.
Logistics & Transportation
61 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
General Freight Trucking: 49 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Heavy Haul Transport: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Last-Mile & Courier: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.76x - 3.32x SDE.
Automotive & Boat
51 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Auto Repair: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Car Dealerships: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.
Collision Repair: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Car Washes: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Auto Parts: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Energy & Utilities
34 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Oil & Gas Services: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x EBITDA + Equipment.
Water & Wastewater Services: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Propane & Fuel Distribution: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Gas Stations & Convenience
27 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Gas Stations: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Hospitality & Travel
25 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Hotels: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.
Transportation Services: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.
Wholesale & Distribution
23 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Industrial & Construction Supply: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Food & Beverage Distribution: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Chemicals, Plastics & Raw Materials Distribution: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.
Manufacturing
21 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Printing & Plastics: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.9x - 4.9x SDE.
Metal Fabrication: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Medical & Chemical Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Home Services
18 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Residential Cleaning: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.
Property Management: 7 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.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
17 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Home Infusion: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Medical Supply Retail: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE + Inventory.
Senior Care & Living
16 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Non-Medical Home Care: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Education & Childcare
13 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Daycare Centers: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Beauty & Personal Care
10 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Hair Salons: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.
Health & Fitness
6 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Gyms & Health Clubs: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.
Yoga Studios: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.
Pilates Studios: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.
Personal Training Studios: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.
Entertainment & Recreation
3 related employer businesses in Chaves County.
Outdoor Recreation: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Working with owners in Chaves County
Business Advisors of America works with owners who are selling a business in Chaves County. Contact us to talk about a sale.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions owners in Chaves County ask
How long does it take to sell a business in Chaves County?
The time depends on the price, the quality of the records and the number of qualified buyers.
How is a business valued in Chaves 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 Chaves 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