Selling a Business in Colleton County
Colleton County has 793 employer businesses, and 89% 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
Colleton County by the numbers
793
793
EMPLOYER BUSINESSES
89%
89%
SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE
3,630
3,630
BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES
7,333
7,333
EMPLOYMENT
$342 million
$342 million
ANNUAL PAYROLL
363
363
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 Colleton County compares
Colleton County ranks 26th of 46 South Carolina counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses grew 6.2% between 2018 and 2023.
Agriculture, forestry and fishing makes up 5% of employer businesses in Colleton County, compared with 0% in South Carolina.
363 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Colleton County ranks 26th of 46 South Carolina counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses grew 6.2% between 2018 and 2023.
Agriculture, forestry and fishing makes up 5% of employer businesses in Colleton County, compared with 0% in South Carolina.
363 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Industry mix
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Retail: 147 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 86 employer businesses
Construction: 85 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 83 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 67 employer businesses
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Retail: 147 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 86 employer businesses
Construction: 85 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 83 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 67 employer businesses
INDUSTRIES
What sells in Colleton County
Retail, accommodation and food service, construction, health care and social assistance
Every kind of business we sell in Colleton County
We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Colleton 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
72 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 32 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Full-Service Restaurants: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Coffee Shops: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Construction & Engineering
70 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
Landscaping: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Plumbing: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
General Contracting: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Foundation & Site Prep: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Interior Finishing: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
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.
Financial & Professional Services
47 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
Real Estate Brokerages: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Insurance Agencies: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Private Lending: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Medical Practices
47 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
Primary & Family Care: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Dental Practices: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Veterinary Medicine: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Home Health & Hospice: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Gas Stations & Convenience
33 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
Gas Stations: 33 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Retail Stores
33 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Home Decor & Furniture: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Automotive & Boat
20 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
Auto Parts: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Car Dealerships: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.
Auto Repair: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Marinas: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Logistics & Transportation
19 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
General Freight Trucking: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Hospitality & Travel
18 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
Hotels: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.
Home Services
10 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
Property Management: 4 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.
Pest Control: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.
Manufacturing
9 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
Metal Fabrication: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
8 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
Compounding Pharmacies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Home Infusion: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Education & Childcare
6 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
Daycare Centers: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Senior Care & Living
5 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
Non-Medical Home Care: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Wholesale & Distribution
5 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
Industrial & Construction Supply: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Energy & Utilities
4 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
Propane & Fuel Distribution: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Entertainment & Recreation
3 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
Outdoor Recreation: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Colleton 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
72 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 32 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Full-Service Restaurants: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Coffee Shops: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Construction & Engineering
70 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
Landscaping: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Plumbing: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
General Contracting: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Foundation & Site Prep: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Interior Finishing: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
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.
Financial & Professional Services
47 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
Real Estate Brokerages: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Insurance Agencies: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Private Lending: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Medical Practices
47 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
Primary & Family Care: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Dental Practices: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Veterinary Medicine: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Home Health & Hospice: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Gas Stations & Convenience
33 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
Gas Stations: 33 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Retail Stores
33 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Home Decor & Furniture: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Automotive & Boat
20 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
Auto Parts: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Car Dealerships: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.
Auto Repair: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Marinas: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Logistics & Transportation
19 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
General Freight Trucking: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Hospitality & Travel
18 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
Hotels: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.
Home Services
10 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
Property Management: 4 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.
Pest Control: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.
Manufacturing
9 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
Metal Fabrication: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
8 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
Compounding Pharmacies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Home Infusion: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Education & Childcare
6 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
Daycare Centers: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Senior Care & Living
5 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
Non-Medical Home Care: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Wholesale & Distribution
5 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
Industrial & Construction Supply: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Energy & Utilities
4 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
Propane & Fuel Distribution: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Entertainment & Recreation
3 related employer businesses in Colleton County.
Outdoor Recreation: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Working with owners in Colleton County
Business Advisors of America works with owners who are selling a business in Colleton County. Contact us to talk about a sale.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions owners in Colleton County ask
How long does it take to sell a business in Colleton 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 Colleton 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 Colleton 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