Selling a Business in Ross County

Ross County has 1,245 employer businesses, and 81% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows the local mix of industries and how a sale is handled here.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Ross County by the numbers

1,245

1,245

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

81%

81%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

4,375

4,375

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

24,319

24,319

EMPLOYMENT

$1.2 billion

$1.2 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

614

614

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 Ross County compares

  • Ross County ranks 38th of 88 Ohio counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 2.2% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 20% of employer businesses in Ross County, compared with 13% in Ohio.

  • 614 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Ross County ranks 38th of 88 Ohio counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 2.2% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 20% of employer businesses in Ross County, compared with 13% in Ohio.

  • 614 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 251 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 161 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 141 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 139 employer businesses

  • Construction: 90 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 251 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 161 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 141 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 139 employer businesses

  • Construction: 90 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Ross County

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

Every kind of business we sell in Ross County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Ross 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

136 related employer businesses in Ross County.

Construction & Engineering

91 related employer businesses in Ross County.

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

  • Landscaping: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Plumbing: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Civil Engineering: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Medical Practices

84 related employer businesses in Ross County.

Retail Stores

81 related employer businesses in Ross County.

Financial & Professional Services

56 related employer businesses in Ross County.

Automotive & Boat

54 related employer businesses in Ross County.

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

  • Car Dealerships: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Repair: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Collision Repair: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

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

  • Towing & Repo: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Logistics & Transportation

48 related employer businesses in Ross County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

37 related employer businesses in Ross County.

  • Gas Stations: 37 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Wholesale & Distribution

24 related employer businesses in Ross County.

Manufacturing

20 related employer businesses in Ross County.

Beauty & Personal Care

16 related employer businesses in Ross County.

  • Hair Salons: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

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

  • Nail Salons: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x 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.

Home Services

16 related employer businesses in Ross County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

16 related employer businesses in Ross County.

Entertainment & Recreation

13 related employer businesses in Ross County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 3 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

13 related employer businesses in Ross County.

  • Hotels: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Health & Fitness

11 related employer businesses in Ross County.

Energy & Utilities

10 related employer businesses in Ross County.

Education & Childcare

6 related employer businesses in Ross County.

  • Daycare Centers: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

4 related employer businesses in Ross County.

Pet Services

3 related employer businesses in Ross County.

Technology & Media

3 related employer businesses in Ross County.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Ross 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

136 related employer businesses in Ross County.

Construction & Engineering

91 related employer businesses in Ross County.

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

  • Landscaping: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Plumbing: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Civil Engineering: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Medical Practices

84 related employer businesses in Ross County.

Retail Stores

81 related employer businesses in Ross County.

Financial & Professional Services

56 related employer businesses in Ross County.

Automotive & Boat

54 related employer businesses in Ross County.

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

  • Car Dealerships: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Repair: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Collision Repair: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

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

  • Towing & Repo: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Logistics & Transportation

48 related employer businesses in Ross County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

37 related employer businesses in Ross County.

  • Gas Stations: 37 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Wholesale & Distribution

24 related employer businesses in Ross County.

Manufacturing

20 related employer businesses in Ross County.

Beauty & Personal Care

16 related employer businesses in Ross County.

  • Hair Salons: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

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

  • Nail Salons: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x 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.

Home Services

16 related employer businesses in Ross County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

16 related employer businesses in Ross County.

Entertainment & Recreation

13 related employer businesses in Ross County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 3 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

13 related employer businesses in Ross County.

  • Hotels: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Health & Fitness

11 related employer businesses in Ross County.

Energy & Utilities

10 related employer businesses in Ross County.

Education & Childcare

6 related employer businesses in Ross County.

  • Daycare Centers: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

4 related employer businesses in Ross County.

Pet Services

3 related employer businesses in Ross County.

Technology & Media

3 related employer businesses in Ross County.

Working with owners in Ross County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Ross County ask

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