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Marion County

Selling a Business in Marion County

Marion County has 489 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. The largest industries here are retail and repair, personal care and other services.

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Areas in South Carolina

AbbevilleAikenAllendaleAndersonAugustaBambergBarnwellBeaufortBerkeleyCalhounCharlestonCharlotteCherokeeChesterChesterfieldClarendonColletonColumbiaDarlingtonDillonDorchesterEdgefieldFairfieldFlorenceGeorgetownGreenvilleGreenwoodHamptonHilton HeadJasperKershawLancasterLaurensLeeLexingtonMarionMarlboroMcCormickMyrtle BeachNewberryOconeeOrangeburgPickensRichlandSaludaSpartanburgSumterUnionWilliamsburgYork

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Marion County by the numbers

489

489

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

90%

90%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

2,000

2,000

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

4,965

4,965

EMPLOYMENT

$172 million

$172 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

220

220

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 Marion County compares

  • Marion County ranks 32nd of 46 South Carolina counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 0.4% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 21% of employer businesses in Marion County, compared with 15% in South Carolina.

  • 220 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Marion County ranks 32nd of 46 South Carolina counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 0.4% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 21% of employer businesses in Marion County, compared with 15% in South Carolina.

  • 220 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 104 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 67 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 64 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 49 employer businesses

  • Finance and insurance: 35 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 104 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 67 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 64 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 49 employer businesses

  • Finance and insurance: 35 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Marion County

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

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 Marion County

These are the industries in Marion 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

43 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Retail Stores

31 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Financial & Professional Services

22 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

22 related employer businesses in Marion County.

  • Gas Stations: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Construction & Engineering

20 related employer businesses in Marion County.

  • Plumbing: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • General Contracting: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

Automotive & Boat

16 related employer businesses in Marion County.

  • Auto Parts: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

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

  • Car Dealerships: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

Medical Practices

15 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Education & Childcare

12 related employer businesses in Marion County.

  • Daycare Centers: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Logistics & Transportation

10 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

9 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Senior Care & Living

5 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Home Services

3 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in Marion County.

  • Hotels: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Manufacturing

3 related employer businesses in Marion County.

These are the industries in Marion 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

43 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Retail Stores

31 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Financial & Professional Services

22 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

22 related employer businesses in Marion County.

  • Gas Stations: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Construction & Engineering

20 related employer businesses in Marion County.

  • Plumbing: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • General Contracting: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

Automotive & Boat

16 related employer businesses in Marion County.

  • Auto Parts: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

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

  • Car Dealerships: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

Medical Practices

15 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Education & Childcare

12 related employer businesses in Marion County.

  • Daycare Centers: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Logistics & Transportation

10 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

9 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Senior Care & Living

5 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Home Services

3 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in Marion County.

  • Hotels: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Manufacturing

3 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Working with owners in Marion County

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

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Marion County ask

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

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

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How is a business valued in Marion 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 Marion 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