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Nicholas County

Selling a Business in Nicholas County

Nicholas County has 541 employer businesses, and 89% 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.

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LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Nicholas County by the numbers

541

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

89%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,261

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

5,911

EMPLOYMENT

$265 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

249

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 Nicholas County compares

Nicholas County ranks 18th of 55 West Virginia counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 3.2% between 2018 and 2023.
Agriculture, forestry and fishing makes up 4% of employer businesses in Nicholas County, compared with 1% in West Virginia.
249 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Nicholas County ranks 18th of 55 West Virginia counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 3.2% between 2018 and 2023.
Agriculture, forestry and fishing makes up 4% of employer businesses in Nicholas County, compared with 1% in West Virginia.
249 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

Retail: 93 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 63 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 63 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 57 employer businesses
Construction: 54 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

Retail: 93 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 63 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 63 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 57 employer businesses
Construction: 54 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Nicholas County

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

Electronics & Repair

Retail Stores

Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry

Retail Stores

Bakeries

Restaurants & Food

Coffee Shops

Restaurants & Food

Bed & Breakfasts / Inns

Hospitality & Travel

Campgrounds & RV Parks

Hospitality & Travel

Every kind of business we sell in Nicholas County

These are the industries in Nicholas 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

53 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

Foundation & Site Prep: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
General Contracting: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Plumbing: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Civil Engineering: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Electrical: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Roofing & Siding: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Landscaping: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Interior Finishing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

47 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

Full-Service Restaurants: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.

Logistics & Transportation

27 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

General Freight Trucking: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.

Retail Stores

24 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Medical Practices

22 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

Primary & Family Care: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Dental Practices: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

Automotive & Boat

21 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

Auto Repair: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Car Dealerships: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.
Auto Parts: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

Financial & Professional Services

20 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

Insurance Agencies: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.

Gas Stations & Convenience

13 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

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

Hospitality & Travel

12 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

Hotels: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Manufacturing

12 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Metal Fabrication: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

10 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

Compounding Pharmacies: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.

Wholesale & Distribution

7 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

Industrial & Construction Supply: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Entertainment & Recreation

4 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

Bars & Pubs: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

Education & Childcare

3 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

Daycare Centers: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

3 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

Propane & Fuel Distribution: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.

Senior Care & Living

3 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

Non-Medical Home Care: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Technology & Media

3 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

Digital Marketing Agencies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.

Construction & Engineering

53 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

Foundation & Site Prep: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
General Contracting: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Plumbing: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Civil Engineering: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Electrical: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Roofing & Siding: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Landscaping: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Interior Finishing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

47 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

Full-Service Restaurants: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.

Logistics & Transportation

27 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

General Freight Trucking: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.

Retail Stores

24 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Medical Practices

22 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

Primary & Family Care: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Dental Practices: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

Automotive & Boat

21 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

Auto Repair: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Car Dealerships: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.
Auto Parts: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

Financial & Professional Services

20 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

Insurance Agencies: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.

Gas Stations & Convenience

13 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

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

Hospitality & Travel

12 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

Hotels: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Manufacturing

12 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Metal Fabrication: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

10 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

Compounding Pharmacies: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.

Wholesale & Distribution

7 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

Industrial & Construction Supply: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Entertainment & Recreation

4 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

Bars & Pubs: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

Education & Childcare

3 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

Daycare Centers: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

3 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

Propane & Fuel Distribution: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.

Senior Care & Living

3 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

Non-Medical Home Care: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Technology & Media

3 related employer businesses in Nicholas County.

Digital Marketing Agencies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.

Working with owners in Nicholas County

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

Get a Free Valuation

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Nicholas County ask

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

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

How is a business valued in Nicholas 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 Nicholas 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