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Holmes County

Selling a Business in Holmes County

Holmes County has 1,413 employer businesses, and 85% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows the local mix of industries and how a sale is handled here.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Holmes County by the numbers

1,413

1,413

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

85%

85%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

6,431

6,431

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

19,733

19,733

EMPLOYMENT

$982 million

$982 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

660

660

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 Holmes County compares

  • Holmes County ranks 34th of 88 Ohio counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 8.4% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 22% of employer businesses in Holmes County, compared with 5% in Ohio.

  • 660 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Holmes County ranks 34th of 88 Ohio counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 8.4% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 22% of employer businesses in Holmes County, compared with 5% in Ohio.

  • 660 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Manufacturing: 315 employer businesses

  • Construction: 290 employer businesses

  • Retail: 195 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 114 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 75 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Manufacturing: 315 employer businesses

  • Construction: 290 employer businesses

  • Retail: 195 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 114 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 75 employer businesses

Every kind of business we sell in Holmes County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Holmes 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

285 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

  • General Contracting: 82 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 46 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Interior Finishing: 32 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Roofing & Siding: 32 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Masonry: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Landscaping: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

277 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

Retail Stores

95 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

Logistics & Transportation

64 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

Restaurants & Food

64 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

Medical Practices

28 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

Automotive & Boat

26 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

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

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

  • Car Washes: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Collision Repair: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

Hospitality & Travel

26 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

  • Hotels: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Transportation Services: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Financial & Professional Services

24 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

Wholesale & Distribution

21 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

10 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

  • Gas Stations: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Beauty & Personal Care

6 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

  • Hair Salons: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Technology & Media

6 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

Entertainment & Recreation

5 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

Home Services

5 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

Energy & Utilities

3 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

Pet Services

3 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Holmes 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

285 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

  • General Contracting: 82 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 46 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Interior Finishing: 32 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Roofing & Siding: 32 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Masonry: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Landscaping: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

277 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

Retail Stores

95 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

Logistics & Transportation

64 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

Restaurants & Food

64 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

Medical Practices

28 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

Automotive & Boat

26 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

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

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

  • Car Washes: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Collision Repair: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

Hospitality & Travel

26 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

  • Hotels: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Transportation Services: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Financial & Professional Services

24 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

Wholesale & Distribution

21 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

10 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

  • Gas Stations: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Beauty & Personal Care

6 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

  • Hair Salons: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Technology & Media

6 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

Entertainment & Recreation

5 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

Home Services

5 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

Energy & Utilities

3 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

Pet Services

3 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in Holmes County.

Working with owners in Holmes County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Holmes County ask

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