Selling a Business in Ocean County

Ocean County has 15,020 employer businesses, and 88% 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 health care and social assistance.

Part of the New York City area.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Ocean County by the numbers

15,020

15,020

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

88%

88%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

56,836

56,836

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

172,650

172,650

EMPLOYMENT

$8.8 billion

$8.8 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

5,605

5,605

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 Ocean County compares

  • Ocean County ranks 6th of 21 New Jersey counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 11.1% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Real estate and rental makes up 7% of employer businesses in Ocean County, compared with 4% in New Jersey.

  • 5,605 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Ocean County ranks 6th of 21 New Jersey counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 11.1% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Real estate and rental makes up 7% of employer businesses in Ocean County, compared with 4% in New Jersey.

  • 5,605 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 2,057 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 2,025 employer businesses

  • Construction: 1,970 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 1,587 employer businesses

  • Professional and technical services: 1,419 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 2,057 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 2,025 employer businesses

  • Construction: 1,970 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 1,587 employer businesses

  • Professional and technical services: 1,419 employer businesses

Every kind of business we sell in Ocean County

These are the industries in Ocean 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

2,111 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

  • General Contracting: 624 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 339 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 339 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 302 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 301 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 249 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 92 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Masonry: 54 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Civil Engineering: 53 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 52 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Remediation & Restoration: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Restaurants & Food

1,386 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

Medical Practices

1,262 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

Retail Stores

863 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

Financial & Professional Services

722 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

Automotive & Boat

520 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

  • Auto Repair: 164 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Marinas: 74 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Dealerships: 73 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Parts: 62 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Collision Repair: 53 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 46 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Boat Dealerships: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Beauty & Personal Care

453 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

  • Hair Salons: 227 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 113 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 70 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 70 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 70 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Barber Shops: 43 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.25x SDE.

Home Services

452 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

  • Property Management: 256 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Residential Cleaning: 126 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.

  • Commercial Cleaning: 126 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.

  • Pest Control: 45 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.

  • Security Systems: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.9x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

257 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

Wholesale & Distribution

257 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

Logistics & Transportation

235 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

212 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

202 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

  • Gas Stations: 117 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 85 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Technology & Media

191 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

Hospitality & Travel

177 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

  • Hotels: 81 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 81 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 56 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

  • Travel Agencies: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Bed & Breakfasts / Inns: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Education & Childcare

151 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

  • Daycare Centers: 133 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

  • Tutoring Centers: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.

Health & Fitness

117 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

Entertainment & Recreation

106 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 52 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Bars & Pubs: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Arcades & FECs: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.1x - 3.6x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Bowling Alleys: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x EBITDA.

Senior Care & Living

105 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

Pet Services

62 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

Energy & Utilities

50 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

These are the industries in Ocean 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

2,111 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

  • General Contracting: 624 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 339 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 339 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 302 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 301 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 249 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 92 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Masonry: 54 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Civil Engineering: 53 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 52 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Remediation & Restoration: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Restaurants & Food

1,386 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

Medical Practices

1,262 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

Retail Stores

863 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

Financial & Professional Services

722 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

Automotive & Boat

520 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

  • Auto Repair: 164 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Marinas: 74 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Dealerships: 73 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Parts: 62 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Collision Repair: 53 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 46 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Boat Dealerships: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Beauty & Personal Care

453 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

  • Hair Salons: 227 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 113 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 70 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 70 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 70 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Barber Shops: 43 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.25x SDE.

Home Services

452 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

  • Property Management: 256 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Residential Cleaning: 126 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.

  • Commercial Cleaning: 126 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.

  • Pest Control: 45 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.

  • Security Systems: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.9x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

257 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

Wholesale & Distribution

257 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

Logistics & Transportation

235 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

212 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

202 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

  • Gas Stations: 117 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 85 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Technology & Media

191 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

Hospitality & Travel

177 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

  • Hotels: 81 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 81 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 56 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

  • Travel Agencies: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Bed & Breakfasts / Inns: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Education & Childcare

151 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

  • Daycare Centers: 133 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

  • Tutoring Centers: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.

Health & Fitness

117 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

Entertainment & Recreation

106 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 52 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Bars & Pubs: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Arcades & FECs: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.1x - 3.6x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Bowling Alleys: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x EBITDA.

Senior Care & Living

105 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

Pet Services

62 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

Energy & Utilities

50 related employer businesses in Ocean County.

Working with owners in Ocean County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Ocean County ask

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

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

How is a business valued in Ocean 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 Ocean 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