Selling a Business in Winston County

Winston County has 412 employer businesses, and 86% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows the local mix of industries and how a sale is handled here.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Winston County by the numbers

412

412

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

86%

86%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,664

1,664

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

6,213

6,213

EMPLOYMENT

$281 million

$281 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

165

165

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 Winston County compares

  • Winston County ranks 42nd of 67 Alabama counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 7.2% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Transportation and warehousing makes up 8% of employer businesses in Winston County, compared with 3% in Alabama.

  • 165 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Winston County ranks 42nd of 67 Alabama counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 7.2% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Transportation and warehousing makes up 8% of employer businesses in Winston County, compared with 3% in Alabama.

  • 165 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 81 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 45 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 43 employer businesses

  • Manufacturing: 39 employer businesses

  • Transportation and warehousing: 35 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 81 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 45 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 43 employer businesses

  • Manufacturing: 39 employer businesses

  • Transportation and warehousing: 35 employer businesses

Every kind of business we sell in Winston County

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

Logistics & Transportation

34 related employer businesses in Winston County.

Manufacturing

31 related employer businesses in Winston County.

Restaurants & Food

28 related employer businesses in Winston County.

Retail Stores

28 related employer businesses in Winston County.

Construction & Engineering

24 related employer businesses in Winston County.

  • Landscaping: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • General Contracting: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

Financial & Professional Services

20 related employer businesses in Winston County.

Medical Practices

20 related employer businesses in Winston County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

15 related employer businesses in Winston County.

  • Gas Stations: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Automotive & Boat

11 related employer businesses in Winston County.

  • Collision Repair: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Auto Parts: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Towing & Repo: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Energy & Utilities

8 related employer businesses in Winston County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

7 related employer businesses in Winston County.

Education & Childcare

4 related employer businesses in Winston County.

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

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

Logistics & Transportation

34 related employer businesses in Winston County.

Manufacturing

31 related employer businesses in Winston County.

Restaurants & Food

28 related employer businesses in Winston County.

Retail Stores

28 related employer businesses in Winston County.

Construction & Engineering

24 related employer businesses in Winston County.

  • Landscaping: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • General Contracting: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

Financial & Professional Services

20 related employer businesses in Winston County.

Medical Practices

20 related employer businesses in Winston County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

15 related employer businesses in Winston County.

  • Gas Stations: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Automotive & Boat

11 related employer businesses in Winston County.

  • Collision Repair: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Auto Parts: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Towing & Repo: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Energy & Utilities

8 related employer businesses in Winston County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

7 related employer businesses in Winston County.

Education & Childcare

4 related employer businesses in Winston County.

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

Working with owners in Winston County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Winston County ask

How long does it take to sell a business in Winston 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 Winston 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 Winston 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