Selling a Business in Kauai County

Kauai County has 2,281 employer businesses, and 88% 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.

Areas in Hawaii

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LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Kauai County by the numbers

2,281

2,281

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

88%

88%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

7,720

7,720

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

27,099

27,099

EMPLOYMENT

$1.4 billion

$1.4 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

927

927

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 Kauai County compares

  • Kauai County ranks 4th of 5 Hawaii counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 4.5% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Transportation and warehousing makes up 4% of employer businesses in Kauai County, compared with 3% in Hawaii.

  • 927 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Kauai County ranks 4th of 5 Hawaii counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 4.5% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Transportation and warehousing makes up 4% of employer businesses in Kauai County, compared with 3% in Hawaii.

  • 927 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 356 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 310 employer businesses

  • Construction: 252 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 213 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 195 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 356 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 310 employer businesses

  • Construction: 252 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 213 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 195 employer businesses

Every kind of business we sell in Kauai County

These are the industries in Kauai 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

301 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

  • General Contracting: 99 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 58 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 42 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Civil Engineering: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Roofing & Siding: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

246 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

Retail Stores

215 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

Financial & Professional Services

122 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

Medical Practices

115 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

Home Services

72 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

  • Residential Cleaning: 35 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.

  • Commercial Cleaning: 35 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.

  • Property Management: 33 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Pest Control: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.

Hospitality & Travel

56 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

  • Hotels: 45 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 45 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

  • Travel Agencies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.2x SDE.

Automotive & Boat

51 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

  • Auto Repair: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

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

  • Collision Repair: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Wholesale & Distribution

38 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

Entertainment & Recreation

30 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

30 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

28 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

  • Gas Stations: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Logistics & Transportation

25 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

Technology & Media

24 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

Beauty & Personal Care

21 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

  • Hair Salons: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

20 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

Education & Childcare

17 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

  • Daycare Centers: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

12 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

Senior Care & Living

12 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

Health & Fitness

6 related employer businesses in Kauai 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.

These are the industries in Kauai 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

301 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

  • General Contracting: 99 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 58 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 42 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Civil Engineering: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Roofing & Siding: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

246 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

Retail Stores

215 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

Financial & Professional Services

122 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

Medical Practices

115 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

Home Services

72 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

  • Residential Cleaning: 35 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.

  • Commercial Cleaning: 35 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.

  • Property Management: 33 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Pest Control: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.

Hospitality & Travel

56 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

  • Hotels: 45 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 45 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

  • Travel Agencies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.2x SDE.

Automotive & Boat

51 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

  • Auto Repair: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

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

  • Collision Repair: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Wholesale & Distribution

38 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

Entertainment & Recreation

30 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

30 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

28 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

  • Gas Stations: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Logistics & Transportation

25 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

Technology & Media

24 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

Beauty & Personal Care

21 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

  • Hair Salons: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

20 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

Education & Childcare

17 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

  • Daycare Centers: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

12 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

Senior Care & Living

12 related employer businesses in Kauai County.

Health & Fitness

6 related employer businesses in Kauai 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.

Working with owners in Kauai County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Kauai County ask

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

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

How is a business valued in Kauai 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 Kauai 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