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Swain County

Selling a Business in Swain County

Swain County has 382 employer businesses, and 92% 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

Swain County by the numbers

382

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

92%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,385

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

3,724

EMPLOYMENT

$157 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

148

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 Swain County compares

Swain County ranks 80th of 100 North Carolina counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses grew 3.2% between 2018 and 2023.
Accommodation and food service makes up 20% of employer businesses in Swain County, compared with 9% in North Carolina.
148 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Swain County ranks 80th of 100 North Carolina counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses grew 3.2% between 2018 and 2023.
Accommodation and food service makes up 20% of employer businesses in Swain County, compared with 9% in North Carolina.
148 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: 77 employer businesses
Construction: 47 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 32 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 30 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

Retail: 93 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 77 employer businesses
Construction: 47 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 32 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 30 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Swain County

Retail, accommodation and food service, construction, health care and social assistance

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 Swain County

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

Construction & Engineering

46 related employer businesses in Swain County.

General Contracting: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Landscaping: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Plumbing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
Foundation & Site Prep: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
HVAC Services: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Electrical: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Masonry: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

Retail Stores

44 related employer businesses in Swain County.

Hobby, Toys & Gift Shops: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE + Inventory.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Sporting Goods & Firearms: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.4x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

41 related employer businesses in Swain County.

Full-Service Restaurants: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Coffee Shops: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.

Hospitality & Travel

25 related employer businesses in Swain County.

Hotels: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.
Campgrounds & RV Parks: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Financial & Professional Services

11 related employer businesses in Swain County.

Real Estate Brokerages: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.

Gas Stations & Convenience

11 related employer businesses in Swain County.

Gas Stations: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Home Services

9 related employer businesses in Swain County.

Property Management: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Residential Cleaning: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.

Entertainment & Recreation

7 related employer businesses in Swain County.

Outdoor Recreation: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Automotive & Boat

6 related employer businesses in Swain County.

Collision Repair: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Auto Parts: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

Education & Childcare

4 related employer businesses in Swain County.

Daycare Centers: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Logistics & Transportation

3 related employer businesses in Swain County.

General Freight Trucking: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.

Medical Practices

3 related employer businesses in Swain County.

Dental Practices: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.

Wholesale & Distribution

3 related employer businesses in Swain County.

Food & Beverage Distribution: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.

Construction & Engineering

46 related employer businesses in Swain County.

General Contracting: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Landscaping: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Plumbing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
Foundation & Site Prep: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
HVAC Services: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Electrical: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Masonry: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

Retail Stores

44 related employer businesses in Swain County.

Hobby, Toys & Gift Shops: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE + Inventory.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Sporting Goods & Firearms: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.4x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

41 related employer businesses in Swain County.

Full-Service Restaurants: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Coffee Shops: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.

Hospitality & Travel

25 related employer businesses in Swain County.

Hotels: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.
Campgrounds & RV Parks: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Financial & Professional Services

11 related employer businesses in Swain County.

Real Estate Brokerages: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.

Gas Stations & Convenience

11 related employer businesses in Swain County.

Gas Stations: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Home Services

9 related employer businesses in Swain County.

Property Management: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Residential Cleaning: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.

Entertainment & Recreation

7 related employer businesses in Swain County.

Outdoor Recreation: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Automotive & Boat

6 related employer businesses in Swain County.

Collision Repair: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Auto Parts: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

Education & Childcare

4 related employer businesses in Swain County.

Daycare Centers: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Logistics & Transportation

3 related employer businesses in Swain County.

General Freight Trucking: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.

Medical Practices

3 related employer businesses in Swain County.

Dental Practices: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.

Wholesale & Distribution

3 related employer businesses in Swain County.

Food & Beverage Distribution: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.

Working with owners in Swain County

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

Get a Free Valuation

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Swain County ask

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

How is a business valued in Swain 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 Swain 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