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Polk County

Selling a Business in Polk County

Polk County has 504 employer businesses, and 91% 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 construction and repair, personal care and other services.

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LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Polk County by the numbers

504

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

91%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

2,210

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

4,151

EMPLOYMENT

$167 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

173

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 Polk County compares

Polk County ranks 74th of 100 North Carolina counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses grew 4.3% between 2018 and 2023.
Manufacturing makes up 5% of employer businesses in Polk County, compared with 3% in North Carolina.
173 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Polk County ranks 74th of 100 North Carolina counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses grew 4.3% between 2018 and 2023.
Manufacturing makes up 5% of employer businesses in Polk County, compared with 3% in North Carolina.
173 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

Construction: 74 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 61 employer businesses
Retail: 60 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 50 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 47 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

Construction: 74 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 61 employer businesses
Retail: 60 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 50 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 47 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Polk County

Construction, repair, personal care and other services, retail, health care and social assistance

Carpentry & Framing

Construction & Engineering

Civil Engineering

Construction & Engineering

Audio Visual (AV)

Home Services

Commercial Cleaning

Home Services

Barber Shops

Beauty & Personal Care

Day Spas

Beauty & Personal Care

Every kind of business we sell in Polk County

These are the industries in Polk 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

83 related employer businesses in Polk County.

General Contracting: 30 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Landscaping: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x 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.
Interior Finishing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Foundation & Site Prep: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Electrical: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Masonry: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

Restaurants & Food

40 related employer businesses in Polk County.

Full-Service Restaurants: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Liquor, Wine & Beer Stores: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.

Financial & Professional Services

29 related employer businesses in Polk County.

Real Estate Brokerages: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Wealth Management: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Insurance Agencies: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Medical Practices

24 related employer businesses in Polk County.

Primary & Family Care: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Veterinary Medicine: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Dental Practices: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Home Health & Hospice: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

13 related employer businesses in Polk County.

Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Textile & Apparel Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.

Retail Stores

13 related employer businesses in Polk County.

Hardware, Garden & Building: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.

Automotive & Boat

10 related employer businesses in Polk County.

Auto Repair: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Auto Parts: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

Gas Stations & Convenience

7 related employer businesses in Polk County.

Gas Stations: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Entertainment & Recreation

6 related employer businesses in Polk County.

Outdoor Recreation: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Health & Fitness

6 related employer businesses in Polk County.

Gyms & Health Clubs: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.
Wellness & Recovery Centers: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 5.5x - 9.7x EBITDA.
Yoga Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.
Pilates Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.
Personal Training Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.

Home Services

4 related employer businesses in Polk County.

Property Management: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

Hospitality & Travel

4 related employer businesses in Polk County.

Hotels: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

4 related employer businesses in Polk County.

Industrial & Construction Supply: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Pet Services

3 related employer businesses in Polk County.

Pet Grooming & Spas: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Boarding, Daycare & Training: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in Polk County.

Home Infusion: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.

Construction & Engineering

83 related employer businesses in Polk County.

General Contracting: 30 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Landscaping: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x 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.
Interior Finishing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Foundation & Site Prep: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Electrical: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Masonry: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

Restaurants & Food

40 related employer businesses in Polk County.

Full-Service Restaurants: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Liquor, Wine & Beer Stores: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.

Financial & Professional Services

29 related employer businesses in Polk County.

Real Estate Brokerages: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Wealth Management: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Insurance Agencies: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Medical Practices

24 related employer businesses in Polk County.

Primary & Family Care: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Veterinary Medicine: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Dental Practices: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Home Health & Hospice: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

13 related employer businesses in Polk County.

Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Textile & Apparel Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.

Retail Stores

13 related employer businesses in Polk County.

Hardware, Garden & Building: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.

Automotive & Boat

10 related employer businesses in Polk County.

Auto Repair: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Auto Parts: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

Gas Stations & Convenience

7 related employer businesses in Polk County.

Gas Stations: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Entertainment & Recreation

6 related employer businesses in Polk County.

Outdoor Recreation: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Health & Fitness

6 related employer businesses in Polk County.

Gyms & Health Clubs: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.
Wellness & Recovery Centers: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 5.5x - 9.7x EBITDA.
Yoga Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.
Pilates Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.
Personal Training Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.

Home Services

4 related employer businesses in Polk County.

Property Management: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

Hospitality & Travel

4 related employer businesses in Polk County.

Hotels: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

4 related employer businesses in Polk County.

Industrial & Construction Supply: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Pet Services

3 related employer businesses in Polk County.

Pet Grooming & Spas: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Boarding, Daycare & Training: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in Polk County.

Home Infusion: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.

Working with owners in Polk County

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

Get a Free Valuation

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Polk County ask

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

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

How is a business valued in Polk 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 Polk 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