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Highland County

Selling a Business in Highland County

Highland County has 733 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

Highland County by the numbers

733

733

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

88%

88%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

3,214

3,214

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

9,284

9,284

EMPLOYMENT

$402 million

$402 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

317

317

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 Highland County compares

  • Highland County ranks 62nd of 88 Ohio counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 10.9% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 20% of employer businesses in Highland County, compared with 13% in Ohio.

  • 317 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Highland County ranks 62nd of 88 Ohio counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 10.9% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 20% of employer businesses in Highland County, compared with 13% in Ohio.

  • 317 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 143 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 95 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 94 employer businesses

  • Construction: 82 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 66 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 143 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 95 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 94 employer businesses

  • Construction: 82 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 66 employer businesses

Every kind of business we sell in Highland County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Highland 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

76 related employer businesses in Highland County.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • General Contracting: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

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

  • Plumbing: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

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

  • Interior Finishing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Roofing & Siding: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

61 related employer businesses in Highland County.

Medical Practices

48 related employer businesses in Highland County.

Retail Stores

36 related employer businesses in Highland County.

Financial & Professional Services

34 related employer businesses in Highland County.

Automotive & Boat

31 related employer businesses in Highland County.

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

  • Auto Parts: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Collision Repair: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

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

Gas Stations & Convenience

28 related employer businesses in Highland County.

  • Gas Stations: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Logistics & Transportation

28 related employer businesses in Highland County.

Manufacturing

16 related employer businesses in Highland County.

Health & Fitness

10 related employer businesses in Highland County.

Hospitality & Travel

7 related employer businesses in Highland County.

  • Hotels: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

7 related employer businesses in Highland County.

Beauty & Personal Care

5 related employer businesses in Highland County.

  • Hair Salons: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

5 related employer businesses in Highland County.

Home Services

5 related employer businesses in Highland County.

Education & Childcare

4 related employer businesses in Highland County.

  • Daycare Centers: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

3 related employer businesses in Highland County.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Highland 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

76 related employer businesses in Highland County.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • General Contracting: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

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

  • Plumbing: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

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

  • Interior Finishing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Roofing & Siding: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

61 related employer businesses in Highland County.

Medical Practices

48 related employer businesses in Highland County.

Retail Stores

36 related employer businesses in Highland County.

Financial & Professional Services

34 related employer businesses in Highland County.

Automotive & Boat

31 related employer businesses in Highland County.

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

  • Auto Parts: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Collision Repair: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

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

Gas Stations & Convenience

28 related employer businesses in Highland County.

  • Gas Stations: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Logistics & Transportation

28 related employer businesses in Highland County.

Manufacturing

16 related employer businesses in Highland County.

Health & Fitness

10 related employer businesses in Highland County.

Hospitality & Travel

7 related employer businesses in Highland County.

  • Hotels: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

7 related employer businesses in Highland County.

Beauty & Personal Care

5 related employer businesses in Highland County.

  • Hair Salons: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

5 related employer businesses in Highland County.

Home Services

5 related employer businesses in Highland County.

Education & Childcare

4 related employer businesses in Highland County.

  • Daycare Centers: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

3 related employer businesses in Highland County.

Working with owners in Highland County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Highland County ask

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