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DeSoto County

Selling a Business in DeSoto County

DeSoto County has 566 employer businesses, and 90% 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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DeSoto County

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LOCAL SNAPSHOT

DeSoto County by the numbers

566

566

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

90%

90%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

2,427

2,427

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

6,281

6,281

EMPLOYMENT

$282 million

$282 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

201

201

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 DeSoto County compares

  • DeSoto County ranks 48th of 67 Florida counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 14.6% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Transportation and warehousing makes up 6% of employer businesses in DeSoto County, compared with 3% in Florida.

  • 201 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • DeSoto County ranks 48th of 67 Florida counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 14.6% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Transportation and warehousing makes up 6% of employer businesses in DeSoto County, compared with 3% in Florida.

  • 201 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Construction: 103 employer businesses

  • Retail: 79 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 69 employer businesses

  • Administrative and support services: 47 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 45 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Construction: 103 employer businesses

  • Retail: 79 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 69 employer businesses

  • Administrative and support services: 47 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 45 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in DeSoto County

Construction, retail, repair, personal care and other services, administrative and support services

Carpentry & Framing

Construction & Engineering

Civil Engineering

Construction & Engineering

Audio Visual (AV)

Home Services

Commercial Cleaning

Home Services

Electronics & Repair

Retail Stores

Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry

Retail Stores

Every kind of business we sell in DeSoto County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in DeSoto 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

102 related employer businesses in DeSoto County.

  • Landscaping: 30 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • General Contracting: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Interior Finishing: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 6 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

35 related employer businesses in DeSoto County.

Logistics & Transportation

28 related employer businesses in DeSoto County.

Retail Stores

23 related employer businesses in DeSoto County.

Financial & Professional Services

20 related employer businesses in DeSoto County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

20 related employer businesses in DeSoto County.

  • Convenience Stores: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

  • Gas Stations: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Medical Practices

14 related employer businesses in DeSoto County.

Automotive & Boat

11 related employer businesses in DeSoto County.

  • Auto Parts: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Auto Repair: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

Education & Childcare

10 related employer businesses in DeSoto County.

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

Wholesale & Distribution

7 related employer businesses in DeSoto County.

Manufacturing

6 related employer businesses in DeSoto County.

Hospitality & Travel

5 related employer businesses in DeSoto County.

Energy & Utilities

4 related employer businesses in DeSoto County.

Home Services

4 related employer businesses in DeSoto County.

Land & Agriculture

4 related employer businesses in DeSoto County.

Beauty & Personal Care

3 related employer businesses in DeSoto County.

  • Hair Salons: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in DeSoto 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

102 related employer businesses in DeSoto County.

  • Landscaping: 30 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • General Contracting: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Interior Finishing: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 6 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

35 related employer businesses in DeSoto County.

Logistics & Transportation

28 related employer businesses in DeSoto County.

Retail Stores

23 related employer businesses in DeSoto County.

Financial & Professional Services

20 related employer businesses in DeSoto County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

20 related employer businesses in DeSoto County.

  • Convenience Stores: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

  • Gas Stations: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Medical Practices

14 related employer businesses in DeSoto County.

Automotive & Boat

11 related employer businesses in DeSoto County.

  • Auto Parts: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Auto Repair: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

Education & Childcare

10 related employer businesses in DeSoto County.

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

Wholesale & Distribution

7 related employer businesses in DeSoto County.

Manufacturing

6 related employer businesses in DeSoto County.

Hospitality & Travel

5 related employer businesses in DeSoto County.

Energy & Utilities

4 related employer businesses in DeSoto County.

Home Services

4 related employer businesses in DeSoto County.

Land & Agriculture

4 related employer businesses in DeSoto County.

Beauty & Personal Care

3 related employer businesses in DeSoto County.

  • Hair Salons: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Working with owners in DeSoto County

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

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in DeSoto County ask

How long does it take to sell a business in DeSoto 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.

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How is a business valued in DeSoto 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.

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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.

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FROM OUR BLOG

Guides for owners in DeSoto 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