Selling a Business in Stanly County

Stanly County has 1,459 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

Stanly County by the numbers

1,459

1,459

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

87%

87%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

5,225

5,225

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

18,013

18,013

EMPLOYMENT

$777 million

$777 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

633

633

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 Stanly County compares

  • Stanly County ranks 43rd of 100 North Carolina counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 9.4% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 6% of employer businesses in Stanly County, compared with 3% in North Carolina.

  • 633 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Stanly County ranks 43rd of 100 North Carolina counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 9.4% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 6% of employer businesses in Stanly County, compared with 3% in North Carolina.

  • 633 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 245 employer businesses

  • Construction: 218 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 190 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 163 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 130 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 245 employer businesses

  • Construction: 218 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 190 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 163 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 130 employer businesses

Every kind of business we sell in Stanly County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Stanly 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

215 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

  • General Contracting: 50 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 39 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 39 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 35 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 30 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Electrical: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

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

Restaurants & Food

130 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

Retail Stores

73 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

Financial & Professional Services

72 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

Automotive & Boat

71 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

  • Auto Repair: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Parts: 18 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.

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

Manufacturing

66 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

Medical Practices

62 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

34 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

  • Gas Stations: 34 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Logistics & Transportation

31 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

Education & Childcare

24 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

  • Daycare Centers: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Home Services

21 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

  • Residential Cleaning: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.

  • Commercial Cleaning: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.

  • Pest Control: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.

  • Property Management: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

Beauty & Personal Care

18 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

  • Hair Salons: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • 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.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

16 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

Health & Fitness

14 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

Wholesale & Distribution

13 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

Senior Care & Living

12 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

Energy & Utilities

10 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

Hospitality & Travel

8 related employer businesses in Stanly 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.

Pet Services

6 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

Entertainment & Recreation

4 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

Technology & Media

3 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

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

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Stanly 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

215 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

  • General Contracting: 50 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 39 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 39 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 35 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 30 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Electrical: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

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

Restaurants & Food

130 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

Retail Stores

73 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

Financial & Professional Services

72 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

Automotive & Boat

71 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

  • Auto Repair: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Parts: 18 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.

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

Manufacturing

66 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

Medical Practices

62 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

34 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

  • Gas Stations: 34 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Logistics & Transportation

31 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

Education & Childcare

24 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

  • Daycare Centers: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Home Services

21 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

  • Residential Cleaning: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.

  • Commercial Cleaning: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.

  • Pest Control: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.

  • Property Management: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

Beauty & Personal Care

18 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

  • Hair Salons: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • 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.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

16 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

Health & Fitness

14 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

Wholesale & Distribution

13 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

Senior Care & Living

12 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

Energy & Utilities

10 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

Hospitality & Travel

8 related employer businesses in Stanly 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.

Pet Services

6 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

Entertainment & Recreation

4 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

Technology & Media

3 related employer businesses in Stanly County.

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

Working with owners in Stanly County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Stanly County ask

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