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McDowell County

Selling a Business in McDowell County

McDowell County has 213 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.

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LOCAL SNAPSHOT

McDowell County by the numbers

213

213

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

90%

90%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

469

469

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

2,253

2,253

EMPLOYMENT

$98 million

$98 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

94

94

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 McDowell County compares

  • McDowell County ranks 41st of 55 West Virginia counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 5.3% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Mining and oil and gas makes up 8% of employer businesses in McDowell County, compared with 1% in West Virginia.

  • 94 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • McDowell County ranks 41st of 55 West Virginia counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 5.3% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Mining and oil and gas makes up 8% of employer businesses in McDowell County, compared with 1% in West Virginia.

  • 94 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 47 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 31 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 27 employer businesses

  • Transportation and warehousing: 23 employer businesses

  • Mining and oil and gas: 16 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 47 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 31 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 27 employer businesses

  • Transportation and warehousing: 23 employer businesses

  • Mining and oil and gas: 16 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in McDowell County

Retail, health care and social assistance, repair, personal care and other services, transportation and warehousing

Electronics & Repair

Retail Stores

Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry

Retail Stores

Dental Practices

Medical Practices

Home Health & Hospice

Medical Practices

Gyms & Health Clubs

Health & Fitness

Personal Training Studios

Health & Fitness

Every kind of business we sell in McDowell County

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

Logistics & Transportation

23 related employer businesses in McDowell County.

Restaurants & Food

14 related employer businesses in McDowell County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

13 related employer businesses in McDowell County.

  • Gas Stations: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Retail Stores

13 related employer businesses in McDowell County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

10 related employer businesses in McDowell County.

Medical Practices

6 related employer businesses in McDowell County.

Automotive & Boat

5 related employer businesses in McDowell County.

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

Construction & Engineering

4 related employer businesses in McDowell County.

Financial & Professional Services

4 related employer businesses in McDowell County.

  • Insurance Agencies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in McDowell 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.

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

Logistics & Transportation

23 related employer businesses in McDowell County.

Restaurants & Food

14 related employer businesses in McDowell County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

13 related employer businesses in McDowell County.

  • Gas Stations: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Retail Stores

13 related employer businesses in McDowell County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

10 related employer businesses in McDowell County.

Medical Practices

6 related employer businesses in McDowell County.

Automotive & Boat

5 related employer businesses in McDowell County.

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

Construction & Engineering

4 related employer businesses in McDowell County.

Financial & Professional Services

4 related employer businesses in McDowell County.

  • Insurance Agencies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in McDowell 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.

Working with owners in McDowell County

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

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in McDowell County ask

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

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How is a business valued in McDowell 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 McDowell 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