Selling a Business in Hertford County

Hertford County has 459 employer businesses, and 84% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows the local mix of industries and how a sale is handled here.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Hertford County by the numbers

459

459

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

84%

84%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,222

1,222

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

6,870

6,870

EMPLOYMENT

$353 million

$353 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

208

208

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 Hertford County compares

  • Hertford County ranks 77th of 100 North Carolina counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 5.4% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Transportation and warehousing makes up 7% of employer businesses in Hertford County, compared with 3% in North Carolina.

  • 208 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Hertford County ranks 77th of 100 North Carolina counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 5.4% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Transportation and warehousing makes up 7% of employer businesses in Hertford County, compared with 3% in North Carolina.

  • 208 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 87 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 77 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 64 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 39 employer businesses

  • Transportation and warehousing: 31 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 87 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 77 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 64 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 39 employer businesses

  • Transportation and warehousing: 31 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Hertford County

Retail, health care and social assistance, repair, personal care and other services, accommodation and food service

Every kind of business we sell in Hertford County

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

Medical Practices

40 related employer businesses in Hertford County.

Restaurants & Food

35 related employer businesses in Hertford County.

Logistics & Transportation

30 related employer businesses in Hertford County.

Retail Stores

21 related employer businesses in Hertford County.

Automotive & Boat

20 related employer businesses in Hertford 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: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

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

Financial & Professional Services

20 related employer businesses in Hertford County.

Construction & Engineering

16 related employer businesses in Hertford County.

  • Plumbing: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

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

  • Landscaping: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Gas Stations & Convenience

16 related employer businesses in Hertford County.

  • Gas Stations: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

13 related employer businesses in Hertford County.

Education & Childcare

7 related employer businesses in Hertford County.

  • Daycare Centers: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Manufacturing

6 related employer businesses in Hertford County.

Wholesale & Distribution

5 related employer businesses in Hertford County.

Beauty & Personal Care

3 related employer businesses in Hertford County.

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

Health & Fitness

3 related employer businesses in Hertford County.

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in Hertford County.

Senior Care & Living

3 related employer businesses in Hertford County.

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

Medical Practices

40 related employer businesses in Hertford County.

Restaurants & Food

35 related employer businesses in Hertford County.

Logistics & Transportation

30 related employer businesses in Hertford County.

Retail Stores

21 related employer businesses in Hertford County.

Automotive & Boat

20 related employer businesses in Hertford 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: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

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

Financial & Professional Services

20 related employer businesses in Hertford County.

Construction & Engineering

16 related employer businesses in Hertford County.

  • Plumbing: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

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

  • Landscaping: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Gas Stations & Convenience

16 related employer businesses in Hertford County.

  • Gas Stations: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

13 related employer businesses in Hertford County.

Education & Childcare

7 related employer businesses in Hertford County.

  • Daycare Centers: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Manufacturing

6 related employer businesses in Hertford County.

Wholesale & Distribution

5 related employer businesses in Hertford County.

Beauty & Personal Care

3 related employer businesses in Hertford County.

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

Health & Fitness

3 related employer businesses in Hertford County.

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in Hertford County.

Senior Care & Living

3 related employer businesses in Hertford County.

Working with owners in Hertford County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Hertford County ask

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