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Ashland County

Selling a Business in Ashland County

Ashland County has 1,021 employer businesses, and 83% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows the local mix of industries and how a sale is handled here.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Ashland County by the numbers

1,021

1,021

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

83%

83%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

4,018

4,018

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

17,851

17,851

EMPLOYMENT

$798 million

$798 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

493

493

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 Ashland County compares

  • Ashland County ranks 50th of 88 Ohio counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 2.2% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Repair, personal care and other services makes up 17% of employer businesses in Ashland County, compared with 11% in Ohio.

  • 493 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Ashland County ranks 50th of 88 Ohio counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 2.2% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Repair, personal care and other services makes up 17% of employer businesses in Ashland County, compared with 11% in Ohio.

  • 493 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 172 employer businesses

  • Retail: 143 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 110 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 97 employer businesses

  • Construction: 93 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 172 employer businesses

  • Retail: 143 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 110 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 97 employer businesses

  • Construction: 93 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Ashland County

Repair, personal care and other services, retail, health care and social assistance, accommodation and food service

Every kind of business we sell in Ashland County

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

Restaurants & Food

92 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

Construction & Engineering

89 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • General Contracting: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

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

Medical Practices

58 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

Manufacturing

56 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

Financial & Professional Services

44 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

Logistics & Transportation

40 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

Automotive & Boat

38 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

  • Auto Repair: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

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

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

  • Car Dealerships: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

Retail Stores

38 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

23 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

  • Gas Stations: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Wholesale & Distribution

18 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

Beauty & Personal Care

13 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

  • Hair Salons: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

Hospitality & Travel

13 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

  • Hotels: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Transportation Services: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Home Services

10 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

10 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

Entertainment & Recreation

9 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

9 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

Education & Childcare

8 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

  • Daycare Centers: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Health & Fitness

7 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

Pet Services

6 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

Technology & Media

6 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

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

Restaurants & Food

92 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

Construction & Engineering

89 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • General Contracting: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

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

Medical Practices

58 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

Manufacturing

56 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

Financial & Professional Services

44 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

Logistics & Transportation

40 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

Automotive & Boat

38 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

  • Auto Repair: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

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

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

  • Car Dealerships: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

Retail Stores

38 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

23 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

  • Gas Stations: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Wholesale & Distribution

18 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

Beauty & Personal Care

13 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

  • Hair Salons: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

Hospitality & Travel

13 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

  • Hotels: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Transportation Services: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Home Services

10 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

10 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

Entertainment & Recreation

9 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

9 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

Education & Childcare

8 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

  • Daycare Centers: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Health & Fitness

7 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

Pet Services

6 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

Technology & Media

6 related employer businesses in Ashland County.

Working with owners in Ashland County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Ashland County ask

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