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Howard County

Selling a Business in Howard County

Howard County has 737 employer businesses, and 87% 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

Howard County by the numbers

737

737

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

87%

87%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,951

1,951

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

9,082

9,082

EMPLOYMENT

$548 million

$548 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

348

348

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 Howard County compares

  • Howard County ranks 84th of 254 Texas counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 2.1% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Mining and oil and gas makes up 8% of employer businesses in Howard County, compared with 1% in Texas.

  • 348 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Howard County ranks 84th of 254 Texas counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 2.1% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Mining and oil and gas makes up 8% of employer businesses in Howard County, compared with 1% in Texas.

  • 348 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 110 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 88 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 70 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 68 employer businesses

  • Mining and oil and gas: 60 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 110 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 88 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 70 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 68 employer businesses

  • Mining and oil and gas: 60 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Howard County

Retail, accommodation and food service, repair, personal care and other services, health care and social assistance

Every kind of business we sell in Howard County

These are the industries in Howard 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

66 related employer businesses in Howard County.

Energy & Utilities

52 related employer businesses in Howard County.

Financial & Professional Services

49 related employer businesses in Howard County.

Retail Stores

35 related employer businesses in Howard County.

Automotive & Boat

31 related employer businesses in Howard County.

  • Auto Repair: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

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

  • Car Washes: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

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

  • Auto Parts: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

Construction & Engineering

28 related employer businesses in Howard County.

  • Electrical: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Plumbing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • HVAC Services: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

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

Gas Stations & Convenience

25 related employer businesses in Howard County.

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

  • Convenience Stores: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Logistics & Transportation

25 related employer businesses in Howard County.

Medical Practices

25 related employer businesses in Howard County.

Wholesale & Distribution

20 related employer businesses in Howard County.

Hospitality & Travel

19 related employer businesses in Howard County.

  • Hotels: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Home Services

11 related employer businesses in Howard County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

9 related employer businesses in Howard County.

  • Home Infusion: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

6 related employer businesses in Howard County.

  • Metal Fabrication: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.

Education & Childcare

5 related employer businesses in Howard County.

  • Daycare Centers: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Technology & Media

4 related employer businesses in Howard County.

Beauty & Personal Care

3 related employer businesses in Howard County.

  • Hair Salons: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

3 related employer businesses in Howard County.

These are the industries in Howard 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

66 related employer businesses in Howard County.

Energy & Utilities

52 related employer businesses in Howard County.

Financial & Professional Services

49 related employer businesses in Howard County.

Retail Stores

35 related employer businesses in Howard County.

Automotive & Boat

31 related employer businesses in Howard County.

  • Auto Repair: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

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

  • Car Washes: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

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

  • Auto Parts: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

Construction & Engineering

28 related employer businesses in Howard County.

  • Electrical: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Plumbing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • HVAC Services: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

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

Gas Stations & Convenience

25 related employer businesses in Howard County.

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

  • Convenience Stores: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Logistics & Transportation

25 related employer businesses in Howard County.

Medical Practices

25 related employer businesses in Howard County.

Wholesale & Distribution

20 related employer businesses in Howard County.

Hospitality & Travel

19 related employer businesses in Howard County.

  • Hotels: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Home Services

11 related employer businesses in Howard County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

9 related employer businesses in Howard County.

  • Home Infusion: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

6 related employer businesses in Howard County.

  • Metal Fabrication: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.

Education & Childcare

5 related employer businesses in Howard County.

  • Daycare Centers: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Technology & Media

4 related employer businesses in Howard County.

Beauty & Personal Care

3 related employer businesses in Howard County.

  • Hair Salons: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

3 related employer businesses in Howard County.

Working with owners in Howard County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Howard County ask

How long does it take to sell a business in Howard County?

The time depends on the price, the quality of the records and the number of qualified buyers.

How is a business valued in Howard 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 Howard 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