Selling a Business in Lea County
Lea County has 1,730 employer businesses, and 81% 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 mining and oil and gas.
Areas in New Mexico
LOCAL SNAPSHOT
Lea County by the numbers
1,730
1,730
EMPLOYER BUSINESSES
81%
81%
SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE
4,706
4,706
BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES
24,911
24,911
EMPLOYMENT
$1.6 billion
$1.6 billion
ANNUAL PAYROLL
869
869
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 Lea County compares
Lea County ranks 6th of 33 New Mexico counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses grew 1.5% between 2018 and 2023.
Mining and oil and gas makes up 13% of employer businesses in Lea County, compared with 1% in New Mexico.
869 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Lea County ranks 6th of 33 New Mexico counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses grew 1.5% between 2018 and 2023.
Mining and oil and gas makes up 13% of employer businesses in Lea County, compared with 1% in New Mexico.
869 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Industry mix
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Retail: 240 employer businesses
Mining and oil and gas: 222 employer businesses
Transportation and warehousing: 198 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 167 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 146 employer businesses
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Retail: 240 employer businesses
Mining and oil and gas: 222 employer businesses
Transportation and warehousing: 198 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 167 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 146 employer businesses
INDUSTRIES
What sells in Lea County
Retail, mining and oil and gas, transportation and warehousing, accommodation and food service
Every kind of business we sell in Lea County
These are the industries in Lea 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.
Energy & Utilities
210 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Oil & Gas Services: 189 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x EBITDA + Equipment.
Waste Management & Recycling: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Propane & Fuel Distribution: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Water & Wastewater Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Logistics & Transportation
189 related employer businesses in Lea County.
General Freight Trucking: 159 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Heavy Haul Transport: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Warehousing & Fulfillment: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Last-Mile & Courier: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.76x - 3.32x SDE.
Restaurants & Food
132 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 56 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Full-Service Restaurants: 47 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Coffee Shops: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Construction & Engineering
111 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Electrical: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Plumbing: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Foundation & Site Prep: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Remediation & Restoration: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
General Contracting: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Landscaping: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Interior Finishing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Civil Engineering: 5 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.
Retail Stores
78 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 30 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Home Decor & Furniture: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Sporting Goods & Firearms: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.4x SDE.
Hobby, Toys & Gift Shops: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE + Inventory.
Automotive & Boat
69 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Auto Parts: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Auto Repair: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Collision Repair: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Car Dealerships: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.
Car Washes: 7 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.
Financial & Professional Services
65 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Insurance Agencies: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Private Lending: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Wealth Management: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Real Estate Brokerages: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Wholesale & Distribution
62 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Industrial & Construction Supply: 45 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Chemicals, Plastics & Raw Materials Distribution: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.
Food & Beverage Distribution: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Medical Practices
53 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Primary & Family Care: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Dental Practices: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Home Health & Hospice: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Veterinary Medicine: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Vision & Eye Care: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Mental & Behavioral Health: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Medical Labs & Imaging: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Gas Stations & Convenience
39 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Gas Stations: 39 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Hospitality & Travel
27 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Hotels: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.
Transportation Services: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.
Manufacturing
22 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Metal Fabrication: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Construction Materials Manufacturing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Printing & Plastics: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.9x - 4.9x SDE.
Home Services
21 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Property Management: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Residential Cleaning: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.
Education & Childcare
16 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Daycare Centers: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
14 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Compounding Pharmacies: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Home Infusion: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Beauty & Personal Care
7 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Hair Salons: 4 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.
Health & Fitness
4 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Gyms & Health Clubs: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.
Yoga Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.
Pilates Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.
Personal Training Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.
Entertainment & Recreation
3 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Bars & Pubs: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.
Technology & Media
3 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Creative Agencies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 3.0x SDE.
These are the industries in Lea 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.
Energy & Utilities
210 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Oil & Gas Services: 189 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x EBITDA + Equipment.
Waste Management & Recycling: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Propane & Fuel Distribution: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Water & Wastewater Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Logistics & Transportation
189 related employer businesses in Lea County.
General Freight Trucking: 159 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Heavy Haul Transport: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Warehousing & Fulfillment: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Last-Mile & Courier: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.76x - 3.32x SDE.
Restaurants & Food
132 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 56 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Full-Service Restaurants: 47 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Coffee Shops: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Construction & Engineering
111 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Electrical: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Plumbing: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Foundation & Site Prep: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Remediation & Restoration: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
General Contracting: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Landscaping: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Interior Finishing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Civil Engineering: 5 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.
Retail Stores
78 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 30 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Home Decor & Furniture: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Sporting Goods & Firearms: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.4x SDE.
Hobby, Toys & Gift Shops: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE + Inventory.
Automotive & Boat
69 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Auto Parts: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Auto Repair: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Collision Repair: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Car Dealerships: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.
Car Washes: 7 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.
Financial & Professional Services
65 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Insurance Agencies: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Private Lending: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Wealth Management: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Real Estate Brokerages: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Wholesale & Distribution
62 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Industrial & Construction Supply: 45 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Chemicals, Plastics & Raw Materials Distribution: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.
Food & Beverage Distribution: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Medical Practices
53 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Primary & Family Care: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Dental Practices: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Home Health & Hospice: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Veterinary Medicine: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Vision & Eye Care: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Mental & Behavioral Health: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Medical Labs & Imaging: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Gas Stations & Convenience
39 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Gas Stations: 39 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Hospitality & Travel
27 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Hotels: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.
Transportation Services: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.
Manufacturing
22 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Metal Fabrication: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Construction Materials Manufacturing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Printing & Plastics: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.9x - 4.9x SDE.
Home Services
21 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Property Management: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Residential Cleaning: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.
Education & Childcare
16 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Daycare Centers: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
14 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Compounding Pharmacies: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Home Infusion: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Beauty & Personal Care
7 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Hair Salons: 4 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.
Health & Fitness
4 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Gyms & Health Clubs: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.
Yoga Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.
Pilates Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.
Personal Training Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.
Entertainment & Recreation
3 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Bars & Pubs: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.
Technology & Media
3 related employer businesses in Lea County.
Creative Agencies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 3.0x SDE.
Working with owners in Lea County
Business Advisors of America works with owners who are selling a business in Lea County. Contact us to talk about a sale.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions owners in Lea County ask
How long does it take to sell a business in Lea County?
The time depends on the price, the quality of the records and the number of qualified buyers.
How is a business valued in Lea 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 Lea 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