Selling a Business in Cayuga County

Cayuga County has 1,509 employer businesses, and 88% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows the local mix of industries and how a sale is handled here.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Cayuga County by the numbers

1,509

1,509

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

88%

88%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

4,693

4,693

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

17,820

17,820

EMPLOYMENT

$863 million

$863 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

623

623

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 Cayuga County compares

  • Cayuga County ranks 37th of 62 New York counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 4.9% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 6% of employer businesses in Cayuga County, compared with 3% in New York.

  • 623 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Cayuga County ranks 37th of 62 New York counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 4.9% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 6% of employer businesses in Cayuga County, compared with 3% in New York.

  • 623 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Construction: 219 employer businesses

  • Retail: 204 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 176 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 167 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 166 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Construction: 219 employer businesses

  • Retail: 204 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 176 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 167 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 166 employer businesses

Every kind of business we sell in Cayuga County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Cayuga 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

219 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

  • General Contracting: 67 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Interior Finishing: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Roofing & Siding: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

150 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

Automotive & Boat

86 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

  • Auto Repair: 41 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Marinas: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 3 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.

  • Boat Dealerships: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.

Medical Practices

86 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

Retail Stores

67 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

Manufacturing

62 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

Logistics & Transportation

56 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

Financial & Professional Services

47 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

Hospitality & Travel

35 related employer businesses in Cayuga 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.

  • Transportation Services: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Entertainment & Recreation

33 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Golf Courses: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Bowling Alleys: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x EBITDA.

Gas Stations & Convenience

32 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

  • Gas Stations: 28 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

22 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

18 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

Home Services

13 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

Beauty & Personal Care

12 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

  • Hair Salons: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

Education & Childcare

10 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

  • Daycare Centers: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

10 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

Senior Care & Living

9 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

Pet Services

6 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

Health & Fitness

5 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

  • Gyms & Health Clubs: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.

  • Yoga Studios: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.

  • Pilates Studios: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.

  • Personal Training Studios: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.

Technology & Media

4 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

  • Creative Agencies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 3.0x SDE.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Cayuga 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

219 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

  • General Contracting: 67 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Interior Finishing: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Roofing & Siding: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

150 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

Automotive & Boat

86 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

  • Auto Repair: 41 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Marinas: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 3 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.

  • Boat Dealerships: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.

Medical Practices

86 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

Retail Stores

67 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

Manufacturing

62 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

Logistics & Transportation

56 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

Financial & Professional Services

47 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

Hospitality & Travel

35 related employer businesses in Cayuga 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.

  • Transportation Services: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Entertainment & Recreation

33 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Golf Courses: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Bowling Alleys: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x EBITDA.

Gas Stations & Convenience

32 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

  • Gas Stations: 28 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

22 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

18 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

Home Services

13 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

Beauty & Personal Care

12 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

  • Hair Salons: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

Education & Childcare

10 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

  • Daycare Centers: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

10 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

Senior Care & Living

9 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

Pet Services

6 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

Health & Fitness

5 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

  • Gyms & Health Clubs: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.

  • Yoga Studios: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.

  • Pilates Studios: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.

  • Personal Training Studios: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.

Technology & Media

4 related employer businesses in Cayuga County.

  • Creative Agencies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 3.0x SDE.

Working with owners in Cayuga County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Cayuga County ask

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