Selling a Business in Sandusky County
Sandusky County has 1,250 employer businesses, and 84% 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.
Areas in Ohio
LOCAL SNAPSHOT
Sandusky County by the numbers
1,250
1,250
EMPLOYER BUSINESSES
84%
84%
SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE
3,565
3,565
BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES
21,763
21,763
EMPLOYMENT
$1.1 billion
$1.1 billion
ANNUAL PAYROLL
566
566
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 Sandusky County compares
Sandusky County ranks 37th of 88 Ohio counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 5.5% between 2018 and 2023.
Manufacturing makes up 8% of employer businesses in Sandusky County, compared with 5% in Ohio.
566 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Sandusky County ranks 37th of 88 Ohio counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 5.5% between 2018 and 2023.
Manufacturing makes up 8% of employer businesses in Sandusky County, compared with 5% in Ohio.
566 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Industry mix
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Retail: 185 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 159 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 142 employer businesses
Construction: 136 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 119 employer businesses
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Retail: 185 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 159 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 142 employer businesses
Construction: 136 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 119 employer businesses
INDUSTRIES
What sells in Sandusky County
Retail, health care and social assistance, repair, personal care and other services, construction
Every kind of business we sell in Sandusky County
These are the industries in Sandusky 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
137 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
General Contracting: 39 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Plumbing: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Interior Finishing: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Foundation & Site Prep: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Landscaping: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Electrical: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Roofing & Siding: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Civil Engineering: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Masonry: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.
Restaurants & Food
107 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 45 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Full-Service Restaurants: 37 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Coffee Shops: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Liquor, Wine & Beer Stores: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Bakeries: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Medical Practices
81 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Primary & Family Care: 34 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Dental Practices: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Medical Labs & Imaging: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Mental & Behavioral Health: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Veterinary Medicine: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Vision & Eye Care: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Manufacturing
67 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Metal Fabrication: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Printing & Plastics: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.9x - 4.9x SDE.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Construction Materials Manufacturing: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Automotive & Boat
63 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Auto Parts: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Auto Repair: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Car Dealerships: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.
Collision Repair: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Car Washes: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Towing & Repo: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Logistics & Transportation
55 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
General Freight Trucking: 34 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Freight Brokerage & 3PL: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Warehousing & Fulfillment: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Heavy Haul Transport: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Retail Stores
54 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Home Decor & Furniture: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Sporting Goods & Firearms: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.4x SDE.
Electronics & Repair: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Financial & Professional Services
47 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Insurance Agencies: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Wealth Management: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Real Estate Brokerages: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Gas Stations & Convenience
31 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Gas Stations: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Convenience Stores: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Entertainment & Recreation
21 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Bars & Pubs: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.
Golf Courses: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Outdoor Recreation: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Beauty & Personal Care
16 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Hair Salons: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.
Wholesale & Distribution
13 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Industrial & Construction Supply: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Health & Fitness
11 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Wellness & Recovery Centers: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 5.5x - 9.7x EBITDA.
Gyms & Health Clubs: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.
Yoga Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.
Pilates Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.
Personal Training Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.
Home Services
11 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Residential Cleaning: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.
Senior Care & Living
10 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Non-Medical Home Care: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Assisted Living Facilities: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Energy & Utilities
8 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Propane & Fuel Distribution: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Waste Management & Recycling: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Hospitality & Travel
8 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Hotels: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.
Transportation Services: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.
Education & Childcare
7 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Daycare Centers: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
6 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Compounding Pharmacies: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Pet Services
4 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Pet Grooming & Spas: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Boarding, Daycare & Training: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.
These are the industries in Sandusky 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
137 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
General Contracting: 39 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Plumbing: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Interior Finishing: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Foundation & Site Prep: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Landscaping: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Electrical: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Roofing & Siding: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Civil Engineering: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Masonry: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.
Restaurants & Food
107 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 45 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Full-Service Restaurants: 37 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Coffee Shops: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Liquor, Wine & Beer Stores: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Bakeries: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Medical Practices
81 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Primary & Family Care: 34 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Dental Practices: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Medical Labs & Imaging: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Mental & Behavioral Health: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Veterinary Medicine: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Vision & Eye Care: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Manufacturing
67 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Metal Fabrication: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Printing & Plastics: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.9x - 4.9x SDE.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Construction Materials Manufacturing: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Automotive & Boat
63 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Auto Parts: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Auto Repair: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Car Dealerships: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.
Collision Repair: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Car Washes: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Towing & Repo: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Logistics & Transportation
55 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
General Freight Trucking: 34 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Freight Brokerage & 3PL: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Warehousing & Fulfillment: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Heavy Haul Transport: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Retail Stores
54 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Home Decor & Furniture: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Sporting Goods & Firearms: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.4x SDE.
Electronics & Repair: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Financial & Professional Services
47 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Insurance Agencies: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Wealth Management: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Real Estate Brokerages: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Gas Stations & Convenience
31 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Gas Stations: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Convenience Stores: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Entertainment & Recreation
21 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Bars & Pubs: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.
Golf Courses: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Outdoor Recreation: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Beauty & Personal Care
16 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Hair Salons: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.
Wholesale & Distribution
13 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Industrial & Construction Supply: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Health & Fitness
11 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Wellness & Recovery Centers: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 5.5x - 9.7x EBITDA.
Gyms & Health Clubs: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.
Yoga Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.
Pilates Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.
Personal Training Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.
Home Services
11 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Residential Cleaning: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.
Senior Care & Living
10 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Non-Medical Home Care: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Assisted Living Facilities: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Energy & Utilities
8 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Propane & Fuel Distribution: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Waste Management & Recycling: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Hospitality & Travel
8 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Hotels: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.
Transportation Services: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.
Education & Childcare
7 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Daycare Centers: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
6 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Compounding Pharmacies: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Pet Services
4 related employer businesses in Sandusky County.
Pet Grooming & Spas: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Boarding, Daycare & Training: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.
Working with owners in Sandusky County
Business Advisors of America works with owners who are selling a business in Sandusky County. Contact us to talk about a sale.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions owners in Sandusky County ask
How long does it take to sell a business in Sandusky County?
The time depends on the price, the quality of the records and the number of qualified buyers.
How is a business valued in Sandusky 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 Sandusky 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