Selling a Business in Lee County

Lee County has 1,460 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

Lee County by the numbers

1,460

1,460

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

84%

84%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

5,219

5,219

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

25,852

25,852

EMPLOYMENT

$1.4 billion

$1.4 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

631

631

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 Lee County compares

  • Lee County ranks 42nd of 100 North Carolina counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 9.8% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 5% of employer businesses in Lee County, compared with 3% in North Carolina.

  • 631 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Lee County ranks 42nd of 100 North Carolina counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 9.8% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 5% of employer businesses in Lee County, compared with 3% in North Carolina.

  • 631 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 253 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 178 employer businesses

  • Construction: 164 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 157 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 140 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 253 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 178 employer businesses

  • Construction: 164 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 157 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 140 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Lee County

Retail, repair, personal care and other services, construction, health care and social assistance

Every kind of business we sell in Lee County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Lee 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

164 related employer businesses in Lee County.

  • General Contracting: 48 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Electrical: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

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

  • Interior Finishing: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

Restaurants & Food

135 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Medical Practices

95 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Retail Stores

94 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Financial & Professional Services

87 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Automotive & Boat

70 related employer businesses in Lee County.

  • Auto Repair: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

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

  • Collision Repair: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

46 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Logistics & Transportation

34 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

33 related employer businesses in Lee County.

  • Gas Stations: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

25 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Home Services

24 related employer businesses in Lee County.

  • Residential Cleaning: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.

  • Commercial Cleaning: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.

  • Property Management: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Pest Control: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

20 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Education & Childcare

18 related employer businesses in Lee County.

  • Daycare Centers: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Beauty & Personal Care

14 related employer businesses in Lee County.

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

  • Nail Salons: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

14 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Health & Fitness

14 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Technology & Media

12 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Senior Care & Living

9 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Entertainment & Recreation

8 related employer businesses in Lee County.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Hospitality & Travel

6 related employer businesses in Lee 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.

Pet Services

6 related employer businesses in Lee County.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Lee 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

164 related employer businesses in Lee County.

  • General Contracting: 48 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Electrical: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

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

  • Interior Finishing: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

Restaurants & Food

135 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Medical Practices

95 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Retail Stores

94 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Financial & Professional Services

87 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Automotive & Boat

70 related employer businesses in Lee County.

  • Auto Repair: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

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

  • Collision Repair: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

46 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Logistics & Transportation

34 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

33 related employer businesses in Lee County.

  • Gas Stations: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

25 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Home Services

24 related employer businesses in Lee County.

  • Residential Cleaning: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.

  • Commercial Cleaning: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.

  • Property Management: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Pest Control: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

20 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Education & Childcare

18 related employer businesses in Lee County.

  • Daycare Centers: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Beauty & Personal Care

14 related employer businesses in Lee County.

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

  • Nail Salons: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

14 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Health & Fitness

14 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Technology & Media

12 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Senior Care & Living

9 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Entertainment & Recreation

8 related employer businesses in Lee County.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Hospitality & Travel

6 related employer businesses in Lee 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.

Pet Services

6 related employer businesses in Lee County.

Working with owners in Lee County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Lee County ask

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