Selling a Business in Cortland County
Cortland County has 981 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. The largest industries here are retail and accommodation and food service.
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LOCAL SNAPSHOT
Cortland County by the numbers
981
981
EMPLOYER BUSINESSES
85%
85%
SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE
2,714
2,714
BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES
14,353
14,353
EMPLOYMENT
$619 million
$619 million
ANNUAL PAYROLL
435
435
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 Cortland County compares
Cortland County ranks 50th of 62 New York counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 4.1% between 2018 and 2023.
Manufacturing makes up 6% of employer businesses in Cortland County, compared with 3% in New York.
435 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Cortland County ranks 50th of 62 New York counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 4.1% between 2018 and 2023.
Manufacturing makes up 6% of employer businesses in Cortland County, compared with 3% in New York.
435 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Industry mix
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Retail: 159 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 131 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 120 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 106 employer businesses
Construction: 101 employer businesses
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Retail: 159 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 131 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 120 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 106 employer businesses
Construction: 101 employer businesses
INDUSTRIES
What sells in Cortland County
Retail, accommodation and food service, repair, personal care and other services, health care and social assistance
Every kind of business we sell in Cortland County
These are the industries in Cortland 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
112 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Full-Service Restaurants: 36 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 35 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Coffee Shops: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Liquor, Wine & Beer Stores: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Construction & Engineering
103 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
General Contracting: 34 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Interior Finishing: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Landscaping: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Foundation & Site Prep: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Plumbing: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Electrical: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Civil Engineering: 3 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.
Automotive & Boat
55 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Auto Repair: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Car Dealerships: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.
Auto Parts: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Collision Repair: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Towing & Repo: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Car Washes: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Financial & Professional Services
48 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Insurance Agencies: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Real Estate Brokerages: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Wealth Management: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Retail Stores
41 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Home Decor & Furniture: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Manufacturing
40 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Metal Fabrication: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Printing & Plastics: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.9x - 4.9x SDE.
Medical & Chemical Manufacturing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Construction Materials Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Medical Practices
40 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Primary & Family Care: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Dental Practices: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Veterinary Medicine: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Entertainment & Recreation
21 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Bars & Pubs: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.
Golf Courses: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Bowling Alleys: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Gas Stations & Convenience
18 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Gas Stations: 10 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.
Hospitality & Travel
15 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Hotels: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.
Logistics & Transportation
15 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
General Freight Trucking: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Beauty & Personal Care
14 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Hair Salons: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.
Nail Salons: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.
Energy & Utilities
12 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Propane & Fuel Distribution: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Water & Wastewater Services: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Waste Management & Recycling: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Home Services
10 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Residential Cleaning: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.
Property Management: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Health & Fitness
8 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Gyms & Health Clubs: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.
Yoga Studios: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.
Pilates Studios: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.
Personal Training Studios: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.
Wellness & Recovery Centers: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 5.5x - 9.7x EBITDA.
Wholesale & Distribution
7 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Industrial & Construction Supply: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Education & Childcare
6 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Daycare Centers: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
6 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Compounding Pharmacies: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Pet Services
5 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Pet Grooming & Spas: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Boarding, Daycare & Training: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.
Senior Care & Living
5 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Non-Medical Home Care: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
These are the industries in Cortland 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
112 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Full-Service Restaurants: 36 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 35 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Coffee Shops: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Liquor, Wine & Beer Stores: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Construction & Engineering
103 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
General Contracting: 34 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Interior Finishing: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Landscaping: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Foundation & Site Prep: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Plumbing: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Electrical: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Civil Engineering: 3 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.
Automotive & Boat
55 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Auto Repair: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Car Dealerships: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.
Auto Parts: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Collision Repair: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Towing & Repo: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Car Washes: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Financial & Professional Services
48 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Insurance Agencies: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Real Estate Brokerages: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Wealth Management: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Retail Stores
41 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Home Decor & Furniture: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Manufacturing
40 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Metal Fabrication: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Printing & Plastics: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.9x - 4.9x SDE.
Medical & Chemical Manufacturing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Construction Materials Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Medical Practices
40 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Primary & Family Care: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Dental Practices: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Veterinary Medicine: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Entertainment & Recreation
21 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Bars & Pubs: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.
Golf Courses: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Bowling Alleys: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Gas Stations & Convenience
18 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Gas Stations: 10 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.
Hospitality & Travel
15 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Hotels: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.
Logistics & Transportation
15 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
General Freight Trucking: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Beauty & Personal Care
14 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Hair Salons: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.
Nail Salons: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.
Energy & Utilities
12 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Propane & Fuel Distribution: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Water & Wastewater Services: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Waste Management & Recycling: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Home Services
10 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Residential Cleaning: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.
Property Management: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Health & Fitness
8 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Gyms & Health Clubs: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.
Yoga Studios: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.
Pilates Studios: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.
Personal Training Studios: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.
Wellness & Recovery Centers: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 5.5x - 9.7x EBITDA.
Wholesale & Distribution
7 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Industrial & Construction Supply: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Education & Childcare
6 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Daycare Centers: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
6 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Compounding Pharmacies: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Pet Services
5 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Pet Grooming & Spas: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Boarding, Daycare & Training: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.
Senior Care & Living
5 related employer businesses in Cortland County.
Non-Medical Home Care: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Working with owners in Cortland County
Business Advisors of America works with owners who are selling a business in Cortland County. Contact us to talk about a sale.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions owners in Cortland County ask
How long does it take to sell a business in Cortland County?
The time depends on the price, the quality of the records and the number of qualified buyers.
How is a business valued in Cortland 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 Cortland 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