Selling a Business in Chaffee County

Chaffee County has 1,076 employer businesses, and 94% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows the local mix of industries and how a sale is handled here.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Chaffee County by the numbers

1,076

1,076

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

94%

94%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

3,317

3,317

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

7,171

7,171

EMPLOYMENT

$352 million

$352 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

334

334

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 Chaffee County compares

  • Chaffee County ranks 21st of 64 Colorado counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 8.6% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Construction makes up 17% of employer businesses in Chaffee County, compared with 11% in Colorado.

  • 334 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Chaffee County ranks 21st of 64 Colorado counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 8.6% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Construction makes up 17% of employer businesses in Chaffee County, compared with 11% in Colorado.

  • 334 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Construction: 178 employer businesses

  • Retail: 157 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 127 employer businesses

  • Professional and technical services: 116 employer businesses

  • Real estate and rental: 99 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Construction: 178 employer businesses

  • Retail: 157 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 127 employer businesses

  • Professional and technical services: 116 employer businesses

  • Real estate and rental: 99 employer businesses

Every kind of business we sell in Chaffee County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Chaffee 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

182 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

  • General Contracting: 73 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Electrical: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Plumbing: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Interior Finishing: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Masonry: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

Restaurants & Food

95 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

Financial & Professional Services

94 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

Retail Stores

60 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

Medical Practices

50 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

Automotive & Boat

36 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

  • Auto Repair: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Collision Repair: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Auto Parts: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Car Washes: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Entertainment & Recreation

30 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Bars & Pubs: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

Hospitality & Travel

23 related employer businesses in Chaffee 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: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

19 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

15 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

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

Home Services

15 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

Energy & Utilities

9 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

Wholesale & Distribution

6 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

Education & Childcare

5 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

  • Daycare Centers: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Beauty & Personal Care

4 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

  • Hair Salons: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

4 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

Health & Fitness

3 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

  • Gyms & Health Clubs: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.

  • Yoga Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.

  • Pilates Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.

  • Personal Training Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.

Logistics & Transportation

3 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

Pet Services

3 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

  • Home Infusion: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Chaffee 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

182 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

  • General Contracting: 73 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Electrical: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Plumbing: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Interior Finishing: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Masonry: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

Restaurants & Food

95 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

Financial & Professional Services

94 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

Retail Stores

60 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

Medical Practices

50 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

Automotive & Boat

36 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

  • Auto Repair: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Collision Repair: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Auto Parts: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Car Washes: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Entertainment & Recreation

30 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Bars & Pubs: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

Hospitality & Travel

23 related employer businesses in Chaffee 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: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

19 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

15 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

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

Home Services

15 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

Energy & Utilities

9 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

Wholesale & Distribution

6 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

Education & Childcare

5 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

  • Daycare Centers: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Beauty & Personal Care

4 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

  • Hair Salons: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

4 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

Health & Fitness

3 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

  • Gyms & Health Clubs: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.

  • Yoga Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.

  • Pilates Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.

  • Personal Training Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.

Logistics & Transportation

3 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

Pet Services

3 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in Chaffee County.

  • Home Infusion: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.

Working with owners in Chaffee County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Chaffee County ask

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