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Essex County

Selling a Business in Essex County

Essex County has 309 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.

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LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Essex County by the numbers

309

309

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

89%

89%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

847

847

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

3,180

3,180

EMPLOYMENT

$125 million

$125 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

131

131

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 Essex County compares

  • Essex County ranks 95th of 133 Virginia counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 2.0% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 4% of employer businesses in Essex County, compared with 2% in Virginia.

  • 131 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Essex County ranks 95th of 133 Virginia counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 2.0% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 4% of employer businesses in Essex County, compared with 2% in Virginia.

  • 131 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 57 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 41 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 35 employer businesses

  • Construction: 32 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 29 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 57 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 41 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 35 employer businesses

  • Construction: 32 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 29 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Essex County

Retail, repair, personal care and other services, health care and social assistance, construction

Electronics & Repair

Retail Stores

Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry

Retail Stores

Barber Shops

Beauty & Personal Care

Day Spas

Beauty & Personal Care

Auto Parts

Automotive & Boat

Auto Repair

Automotive & Boat

Every kind of business we sell in Essex County

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

Construction & Engineering

27 related employer businesses in Essex County.

  • General Contracting: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Restaurants & Food

23 related employer businesses in Essex County.

Automotive & Boat

16 related employer businesses in Essex County.

  • Auto Repair: 5 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.

  • Collision Repair: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

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

Retail Stores

14 related employer businesses in Essex County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

12 related employer businesses in Essex County.

  • Gas Stations: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Medical Practices

12 related employer businesses in Essex County.

Financial & Professional Services

10 related employer businesses in Essex County.

Manufacturing

10 related employer businesses in Essex County.

Home Services

7 related employer businesses in Essex County.

Beauty & Personal Care

4 related employer businesses in Essex County.

  • Hair Salons: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Hospitality & Travel

4 related employer businesses in Essex County.

  • Hotels: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

4 related employer businesses in Essex County.

Wholesale & Distribution

4 related employer businesses in Essex County.

Education & Childcare

3 related employer businesses in Essex County.

  • Daycare Centers: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Logistics & Transportation

3 related employer businesses in Essex County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in Essex County.

  • Home Infusion: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.

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

Construction & Engineering

27 related employer businesses in Essex County.

  • General Contracting: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Restaurants & Food

23 related employer businesses in Essex County.

Automotive & Boat

16 related employer businesses in Essex County.

  • Auto Repair: 5 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.

  • Collision Repair: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

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

Retail Stores

14 related employer businesses in Essex County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

12 related employer businesses in Essex County.

  • Gas Stations: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Medical Practices

12 related employer businesses in Essex County.

Financial & Professional Services

10 related employer businesses in Essex County.

Manufacturing

10 related employer businesses in Essex County.

Home Services

7 related employer businesses in Essex County.

Beauty & Personal Care

4 related employer businesses in Essex County.

  • Hair Salons: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Hospitality & Travel

4 related employer businesses in Essex County.

  • Hotels: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

4 related employer businesses in Essex County.

Wholesale & Distribution

4 related employer businesses in Essex County.

Education & Childcare

3 related employer businesses in Essex County.

  • Daycare Centers: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Logistics & Transportation

3 related employer businesses in Essex County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in Essex County.

  • Home Infusion: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.

Working with owners in Essex County

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

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Essex County ask

How long does it take to sell a business in Essex 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.

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How is a business valued in Essex 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.

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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.

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FROM OUR BLOG

Guides for owners in Essex 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