Selling a Business in Richmond County

Richmond County has 814 employer businesses, and 87% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows the local mix of industries and how a sale is handled here.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Richmond County by the numbers

814

814

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

87%

87%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

2,743

2,743

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

12,523

12,523

EMPLOYMENT

$564 million

$564 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

346

346

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 Richmond County compares

  • Richmond County ranks 62nd of 100 North Carolina counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 1.2% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 22% of employer businesses in Richmond County, compared with 14% in North Carolina.

  • 346 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Richmond County ranks 62nd of 100 North Carolina counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 1.2% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 22% of employer businesses in Richmond County, compared with 14% in North Carolina.

  • 346 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 176 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 112 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 100 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 75 employer businesses

  • Construction: 69 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 176 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 112 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 100 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 75 employer businesses

  • Construction: 69 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Richmond County

Retail, repair, personal care and other services, health care and social assistance, accommodation and food service

Every kind of business we sell in Richmond County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Richmond 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.

Restaurants & Food

75 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

Construction & Engineering

62 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

  • General Contracting: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Electrical: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Plumbing: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

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

Retail Stores

46 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

45 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

  • Gas Stations: 32 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Financial & Professional Services

40 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

Medical Practices

39 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

Automotive & Boat

38 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

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

  • Collision Repair: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Auto Parts: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Car Washes: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

26 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

Logistics & Transportation

25 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

14 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

Home Services

12 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

  • Residential Cleaning: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.

  • Commercial Cleaning: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.

  • Property Management: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Pest Control: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.

Hospitality & Travel

12 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

  • Hotels: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 9 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.

Education & Childcare

11 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

  • Daycare Centers: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

7 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

Energy & Utilities

6 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

Beauty & Personal Care

4 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

  • Day Spas: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

Health & Fitness

3 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

  • Gyms & Health Clubs: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.

  • Yoga Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.

  • Pilates Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.

  • Personal Training Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

3 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Richmond 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.

Restaurants & Food

75 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

Construction & Engineering

62 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

  • General Contracting: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Electrical: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Plumbing: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

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

Retail Stores

46 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

45 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

  • Gas Stations: 32 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Financial & Professional Services

40 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

Medical Practices

39 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

Automotive & Boat

38 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

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

  • Collision Repair: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Auto Parts: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Car Washes: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

26 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

Logistics & Transportation

25 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

14 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

Home Services

12 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

  • Residential Cleaning: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.

  • Commercial Cleaning: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.

  • Property Management: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Pest Control: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.

Hospitality & Travel

12 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

  • Hotels: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 9 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.

Education & Childcare

11 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

  • Daycare Centers: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

7 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

Energy & Utilities

6 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

Beauty & Personal Care

4 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

  • Day Spas: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

Health & Fitness

3 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

  • Gyms & Health Clubs: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.

  • Yoga Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.

  • Pilates Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.

  • Personal Training Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

3 related employer businesses in Richmond County.

Working with owners in Richmond County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Richmond County ask

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