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Lancaster County

Selling a Business in Lancaster County

Lancaster County has 458 employer businesses, and 92% 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

Lancaster County by the numbers

458

458

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

92%

92%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,148

1,148

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

4,238

4,238

EMPLOYMENT

$200 million

$200 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

178

178

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 Lancaster County compares

  • Lancaster County ranks 74th of 133 Virginia counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 0.7% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 17% of employer businesses in Lancaster County, compared with 12% in Virginia.

  • 178 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Lancaster County ranks 74th of 133 Virginia counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 0.7% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 17% of employer businesses in Lancaster County, compared with 12% in Virginia.

  • 178 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 79 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 62 employer businesses

  • Construction: 61 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 47 employer businesses

  • Professional and technical services: 40 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 79 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 62 employer businesses

  • Construction: 61 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 47 employer businesses

  • Professional and technical services: 40 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Lancaster County

Retail, repair, personal care and other services, construction, accommodation and food service

Electronics & Repair

Retail Stores

Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry

Retail Stores

Barber Shops

Beauty & Personal Care

Day Spas

Beauty & Personal Care

Auto Parts

Automotive & Boat

Auto Repair

Automotive & Boat

Every kind of business we sell in Lancaster County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Lancaster 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

62 related employer businesses in Lancaster County.

  • General Contracting: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • 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.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Electrical: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

Restaurants & Food

42 related employer businesses in Lancaster County.

Financial & Professional Services

25 related employer businesses in Lancaster County.

Retail Stores

25 related employer businesses in Lancaster County.

Medical Practices

14 related employer businesses in Lancaster County.

Automotive & Boat

12 related employer businesses in Lancaster County.

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

  • Marinas: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Hospitality & Travel

9 related employer businesses in Lancaster County.

  • Hotels: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 6 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.

Gas Stations & Convenience

8 related employer businesses in Lancaster County.

  • Gas Stations: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

8 related employer businesses in Lancaster County.

Beauty & Personal Care

6 related employer businesses in Lancaster County.

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

Home Services

4 related employer businesses in Lancaster County.

Technology & Media

4 related employer businesses in Lancaster County.

  • Creative Agencies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 3.0x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

4 related employer businesses in Lancaster County.

Senior Care & Living

3 related employer businesses in Lancaster County.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Lancaster 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

62 related employer businesses in Lancaster County.

  • General Contracting: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • 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.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Electrical: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

Restaurants & Food

42 related employer businesses in Lancaster County.

Financial & Professional Services

25 related employer businesses in Lancaster County.

Retail Stores

25 related employer businesses in Lancaster County.

Medical Practices

14 related employer businesses in Lancaster County.

Automotive & Boat

12 related employer businesses in Lancaster County.

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

  • Marinas: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Hospitality & Travel

9 related employer businesses in Lancaster County.

  • Hotels: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 6 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.

Gas Stations & Convenience

8 related employer businesses in Lancaster County.

  • Gas Stations: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

8 related employer businesses in Lancaster County.

Beauty & Personal Care

6 related employer businesses in Lancaster County.

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

Home Services

4 related employer businesses in Lancaster County.

Technology & Media

4 related employer businesses in Lancaster County.

  • Creative Agencies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 3.0x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

4 related employer businesses in Lancaster County.

Senior Care & Living

3 related employer businesses in Lancaster County.

Working with owners in Lancaster County

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

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Lancaster County ask

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