Selling a Business in Dukes County
Dukes County has 1,251 employer businesses, and 97% 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 construction and retail.
LOCAL SNAPSHOT
Dukes County by the numbers
1,251
1,251
EMPLOYER BUSINESSES
97%
97%
SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE
4,558
4,558
BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES
6,082
6,082
EMPLOYMENT
$501 million
$501 million
ANNUAL PAYROLL
337
337
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 Dukes County compares
Dukes County ranks 14th of 14 Massachusetts counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses grew 10.9% between 2018 and 2023.
Construction makes up 22% of employer businesses in Dukes County, compared with 12% in Massachusetts.
337 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Dukes County ranks 14th of 14 Massachusetts counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses grew 10.9% between 2018 and 2023.
Construction makes up 22% of employer businesses in Dukes County, compared with 12% in Massachusetts.
337 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Industry mix
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Construction: 276 employer businesses
Retail: 185 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 154 employer businesses
Administrative and support services: 125 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 105 employer businesses
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Construction: 276 employer businesses
Retail: 185 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 154 employer businesses
Administrative and support services: 125 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 105 employer businesses
INDUSTRIES
What sells in Dukes County
Construction, retail, accommodation and food service, administrative and support services
Every kind of business we sell in Dukes County
These are the industries in Dukes 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
350 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
General Contracting: 124 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Landscaping: 88 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Plumbing: 41 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 41 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Interior Finishing: 37 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Electrical: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Foundation & Site Prep: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Civil Engineering: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Roofing & Siding: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Masonry: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.
Restaurants & Food
133 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Full-Service Restaurants: 67 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Coffee Shops: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Liquor, Wine & Beer Stores: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Bakeries: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Retail Stores
106 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 55 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Hobby, Toys & Gift Shops: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE + Inventory.
Home Decor & Furniture: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Sporting Goods & Firearms: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.4x SDE.
Financial & Professional Services
63 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Real Estate Brokerages: 40 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Insurance Agencies: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Wealth Management: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Home Services
36 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Property Management: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Residential Cleaning: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.
Hospitality & Travel
25 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Hotels: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.
Bed & Breakfasts / Inns: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Transportation Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.
Technology & Media
22 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Creative Agencies: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 3.0x SDE.
Media, Film & Studio Production: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.5x SDE.
Digital Marketing Agencies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Automotive & Boat
21 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Auto Repair: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Marinas: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Car Washes: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Medical Practices
18 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Dental Practices: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Mental & Behavioral Health: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Veterinary Medicine: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Home Health & Hospice: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Beauty & Personal Care
16 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Hair Salons: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.
Day Spas: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.
Tattoo Shops: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Massage Parlors: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Entertainment & Recreation
15 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Outdoor Recreation: 9 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.
Manufacturing
12 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Printing & Plastics: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.9x - 4.9x SDE.
Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Gas Stations & Convenience
11 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Gas Stations: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Logistics & Transportation
9 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
General Freight Trucking: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Last-Mile & Courier: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.76x - 3.32x SDE.
Education & Childcare
7 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Daycare Centers: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Pet Services
7 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Pet Grooming & Spas: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Boarding, Daycare & Training: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.
Wholesale & Distribution
7 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Food & Beverage Distribution: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Energy & Utilities
6 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Propane & Fuel Distribution: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Health & Fitness
6 related employer businesses in Dukes 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.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
6 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Compounding Pharmacies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Home Infusion: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Senior Care & Living
4 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Non-Medical Home Care: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
These are the industries in Dukes 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
350 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
General Contracting: 124 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Landscaping: 88 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Plumbing: 41 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 41 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Interior Finishing: 37 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Electrical: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Foundation & Site Prep: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Civil Engineering: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Roofing & Siding: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Masonry: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.
Restaurants & Food
133 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Full-Service Restaurants: 67 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Coffee Shops: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Liquor, Wine & Beer Stores: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Bakeries: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Retail Stores
106 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 55 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Hobby, Toys & Gift Shops: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE + Inventory.
Home Decor & Furniture: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Sporting Goods & Firearms: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.4x SDE.
Financial & Professional Services
63 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Real Estate Brokerages: 40 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Insurance Agencies: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Wealth Management: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Home Services
36 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Property Management: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Residential Cleaning: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.
Hospitality & Travel
25 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Hotels: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.
Bed & Breakfasts / Inns: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Transportation Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.
Technology & Media
22 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Creative Agencies: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 3.0x SDE.
Media, Film & Studio Production: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.5x SDE.
Digital Marketing Agencies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Automotive & Boat
21 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Auto Repair: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Marinas: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Car Washes: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Medical Practices
18 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Dental Practices: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Mental & Behavioral Health: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Veterinary Medicine: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Home Health & Hospice: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Beauty & Personal Care
16 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Hair Salons: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.
Day Spas: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.
Tattoo Shops: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Massage Parlors: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Entertainment & Recreation
15 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Outdoor Recreation: 9 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.
Manufacturing
12 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Printing & Plastics: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.9x - 4.9x SDE.
Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Gas Stations & Convenience
11 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Gas Stations: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Logistics & Transportation
9 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
General Freight Trucking: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Last-Mile & Courier: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.76x - 3.32x SDE.
Education & Childcare
7 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Daycare Centers: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Pet Services
7 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Pet Grooming & Spas: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Boarding, Daycare & Training: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.
Wholesale & Distribution
7 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Food & Beverage Distribution: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Energy & Utilities
6 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Propane & Fuel Distribution: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Health & Fitness
6 related employer businesses in Dukes 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.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
6 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Compounding Pharmacies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Home Infusion: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Senior Care & Living
4 related employer businesses in Dukes County.
Non-Medical Home Care: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Working with owners in Dukes County
Business Advisors of America works with owners who are selling a business in Dukes County. Contact us to talk about a sale.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions owners in Dukes County ask
How long does it take to sell a business in Dukes County?
The time depends on the price, the quality of the records and the number of qualified buyers.
How is a business valued in Dukes 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 Dukes 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