Selling a Business in Lee County

Lee County has 242 employer businesses, and 90% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows the local mix of industries and how a sale is handled here.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Lee County by the numbers

242

242

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

90%

90%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,074

1,074

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

2,329

2,329

EMPLOYMENT

$88 million

$88 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

113

113

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 Lee County compares

  • Lee County ranks 109th of 133 Virginia counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 4.3% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 26% of employer businesses in Lee County, compared with 12% in Virginia.

  • 113 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Lee County ranks 109th of 133 Virginia counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 4.3% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 26% of employer businesses in Lee County, compared with 12% in Virginia.

  • 113 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 62 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 32 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 20 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 19 employer businesses

  • Professional and technical services: 19 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 62 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 32 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 20 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 19 employer businesses

  • Professional and technical services: 19 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Lee County

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

Every kind of business we sell in Lee County

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

Restaurants & Food

22 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

16 related employer businesses in Lee County.

  • Gas Stations: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Retail Stores

11 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Financial & Professional Services

10 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Construction & Engineering

9 related employer businesses in Lee County.

  • Interior Finishing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Medical Practices

9 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Logistics & Transportation

6 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Automotive & Boat

5 related employer businesses in Lee County.

  • Auto Parts: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

5 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Manufacturing

3 related employer businesses in Lee County.

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

Restaurants & Food

22 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

16 related employer businesses in Lee County.

  • Gas Stations: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Retail Stores

11 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Financial & Professional Services

10 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Construction & Engineering

9 related employer businesses in Lee County.

  • Interior Finishing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Medical Practices

9 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Logistics & Transportation

6 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Automotive & Boat

5 related employer businesses in Lee County.

  • Auto Parts: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

5 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Manufacturing

3 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Working with owners in Lee County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Lee County ask

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

How is a business valued in Lee 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 Lee 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