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Rockbridge County

Selling a Business in Rockbridge County

Rockbridge County has 458 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.

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LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Rockbridge County by the numbers

458

458

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

88%

88%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,728

1,728

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

5,356

5,356

EMPLOYMENT

$215 million

$215 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

177

177

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 Rockbridge County compares

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

  • The number of employer businesses grew 5.3% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 5% of employer businesses in Rockbridge County, compared with 2% in Virginia.

  • 177 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

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

  • The number of employer businesses grew 5.3% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 5% of employer businesses in Rockbridge County, compared with 2% in Virginia.

  • 177 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 72 employer businesses

  • Construction: 69 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 59 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 56 employer businesses

  • Professional and technical services: 31 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 72 employer businesses

  • Construction: 69 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 59 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 56 employer businesses

  • Professional and technical services: 31 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Rockbridge County

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

Electronics & Repair

Retail Stores

Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry

Retail Stores

Carpentry & Framing

Construction & Engineering

Civil Engineering

Construction & Engineering

Audio Visual (AV)

Home Services

Commercial Cleaning

Home Services

Every kind of business we sell in Rockbridge County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Rockbridge 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 Rockbridge County.

  • General Contracting: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Landscaping: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Plumbing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

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

Gas Stations & Convenience

29 related employer businesses in Rockbridge County.

  • Gas Stations: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Restaurants & Food

27 related employer businesses in Rockbridge County.

Medical Practices

23 related employer businesses in Rockbridge County.

Hospitality & Travel

20 related employer businesses in Rockbridge 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.

  • Bed & Breakfasts / Inns: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Logistics & Transportation

17 related employer businesses in Rockbridge County.

Automotive & Boat

14 related employer businesses in Rockbridge County.

  • Auto Repair: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

Manufacturing

14 related employer businesses in Rockbridge County.

Financial & Professional Services

7 related employer businesses in Rockbridge County.

Retail Stores

6 related employer businesses in Rockbridge County.

Home Services

4 related employer businesses in Rockbridge County.

Technology & Media

3 related employer businesses in Rockbridge County.

  • Creative Agencies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 3.0x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

3 related employer businesses in Rockbridge County.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Rockbridge 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 Rockbridge County.

  • General Contracting: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Landscaping: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Plumbing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

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

Gas Stations & Convenience

29 related employer businesses in Rockbridge County.

  • Gas Stations: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Restaurants & Food

27 related employer businesses in Rockbridge County.

Medical Practices

23 related employer businesses in Rockbridge County.

Hospitality & Travel

20 related employer businesses in Rockbridge 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.

  • Bed & Breakfasts / Inns: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Logistics & Transportation

17 related employer businesses in Rockbridge County.

Automotive & Boat

14 related employer businesses in Rockbridge County.

  • Auto Repair: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

Manufacturing

14 related employer businesses in Rockbridge County.

Financial & Professional Services

7 related employer businesses in Rockbridge County.

Retail Stores

6 related employer businesses in Rockbridge County.

Home Services

4 related employer businesses in Rockbridge County.

Technology & Media

3 related employer businesses in Rockbridge County.

  • Creative Agencies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 3.0x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

3 related employer businesses in Rockbridge County.

Working with owners in Rockbridge County

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

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Rockbridge County ask

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