Selling a Business in Lewis County

Lewis County has 1,990 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

Lewis County by the numbers

1,990

1,990

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

88%

88%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

4,565

4,565

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

22,275

22,275

EMPLOYMENT

$1.2 billion

$1.2 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

835

835

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 Lewis County compares

  • Lewis County ranks 16th of 39 Washington counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 4.8% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Transportation and warehousing makes up 6% of employer businesses in Lewis County, compared with 3% in Washington.

  • 835 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Lewis County ranks 16th of 39 Washington counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 4.8% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Transportation and warehousing makes up 6% of employer businesses in Lewis County, compared with 3% in Washington.

  • 835 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 299 employer businesses

  • Construction: 292 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 217 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 201 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 172 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 299 employer businesses

  • Construction: 292 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 217 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 201 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 172 employer businesses

Every kind of business we sell in Lewis County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Lewis 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

291 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

  • General Contracting: 109 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 41 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Interior Finishing: 36 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

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

  • 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.

  • Landscaping: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Roofing & Siding: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

192 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

Financial & Professional Services

128 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

Logistics & Transportation

102 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

Medical Practices

100 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

Retail Stores

98 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

Automotive & Boat

87 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

  • Auto Repair: 34 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

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

  • Collision Repair: 6 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.

  • Towing & Repo: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Manufacturing

76 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

46 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

  • Gas Stations: 35 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Hospitality & Travel

33 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

  • Hotels: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Transportation Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Home Services

32 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

Wholesale & Distribution

30 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

Beauty & Personal Care

28 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

  • Nail Salons: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Hair Salons: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

22 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

16 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

Education & Childcare

12 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

  • Daycare Centers: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Health & Fitness

12 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

Entertainment & Recreation

8 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

Energy & Utilities

6 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

Pet Services

6 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Lewis 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

291 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

  • General Contracting: 109 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 41 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Interior Finishing: 36 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

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

  • 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.

  • Landscaping: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Roofing & Siding: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

192 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

Financial & Professional Services

128 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

Logistics & Transportation

102 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

Medical Practices

100 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

Retail Stores

98 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

Automotive & Boat

87 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

  • Auto Repair: 34 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

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

  • Collision Repair: 6 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.

  • Towing & Repo: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Manufacturing

76 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

46 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

  • Gas Stations: 35 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Hospitality & Travel

33 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

  • Hotels: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Transportation Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Home Services

32 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

Wholesale & Distribution

30 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

Beauty & Personal Care

28 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

  • Nail Salons: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Hair Salons: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

22 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

16 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

Education & Childcare

12 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

  • Daycare Centers: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Health & Fitness

12 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

Entertainment & Recreation

8 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

Energy & Utilities

6 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

Pet Services

6 related employer businesses in Lewis County.

Working with owners in Lewis County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Lewis County ask

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