Selling a Business in Surry County

Surry County has 1,661 employer businesses, and 84% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows the local mix of industries and how a sale is handled here.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Surry County by the numbers

1,661

1,661

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

84%

84%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

5,614

5,614

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

32,143

32,143

EMPLOYMENT

$1.8 billion

$1.8 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

719

719

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 Surry County compares

  • Surry County ranks 37th of 100 North Carolina counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 0.8% between 2018 and 2023.

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

  • 719 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Surry County ranks 37th of 100 North Carolina counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 0.8% between 2018 and 2023.

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

  • 719 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 312 employer businesses

  • Construction: 206 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 189 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 172 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 163 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 312 employer businesses

  • Construction: 206 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 189 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 172 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 163 employer businesses

Every kind of business we sell in Surry County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Surry 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

186 related employer businesses in Surry County.

  • General Contracting: 55 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Landscaping: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 9 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.

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

Restaurants & Food

146 related employer businesses in Surry County.

Medical Practices

100 related employer businesses in Surry County.

Retail Stores

97 related employer businesses in Surry County.

Financial & Professional Services

86 related employer businesses in Surry County.

Automotive & Boat

78 related employer businesses in Surry County.

  • Auto Repair: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 8 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.

Manufacturing

76 related employer businesses in Surry County.

Logistics & Transportation

65 related employer businesses in Surry County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

40 related employer businesses in Surry County.

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

  • Convenience Stores: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

23 related employer businesses in Surry County.

Home Services

20 related employer businesses in Surry County.

  • Residential Cleaning: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.

  • Commercial Cleaning: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.

  • Property Management: 7 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

18 related employer businesses in Surry County.

  • Hotels: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Bed & Breakfasts / Inns: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

18 related employer businesses in Surry County.

Education & Childcare

14 related employer businesses in Surry County.

  • Daycare Centers: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Beauty & Personal Care

11 related employer businesses in Surry County.

  • Hair Salons: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

11 related employer businesses in Surry County.

Entertainment & Recreation

10 related employer businesses in Surry County.

  • Golf Courses: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Bars & Pubs: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

Technology & Media

7 related employer businesses in Surry County.

Energy & Utilities

5 related employer businesses in Surry County.

Health & Fitness

4 related employer businesses in Surry County.

  • Gyms & Health Clubs: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.

  • Yoga Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.

  • Pilates Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.

  • Personal Training Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.

Pet Services

3 related employer businesses in Surry County.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Surry 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

186 related employer businesses in Surry County.

  • General Contracting: 55 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Landscaping: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 9 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.

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

Restaurants & Food

146 related employer businesses in Surry County.

Medical Practices

100 related employer businesses in Surry County.

Retail Stores

97 related employer businesses in Surry County.

Financial & Professional Services

86 related employer businesses in Surry County.

Automotive & Boat

78 related employer businesses in Surry County.

  • Auto Repair: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 8 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.

Manufacturing

76 related employer businesses in Surry County.

Logistics & Transportation

65 related employer businesses in Surry County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

40 related employer businesses in Surry County.

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

  • Convenience Stores: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

23 related employer businesses in Surry County.

Home Services

20 related employer businesses in Surry County.

  • Residential Cleaning: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.

  • Commercial Cleaning: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.

  • Property Management: 7 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

18 related employer businesses in Surry County.

  • Hotels: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Bed & Breakfasts / Inns: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

18 related employer businesses in Surry County.

Education & Childcare

14 related employer businesses in Surry County.

  • Daycare Centers: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Beauty & Personal Care

11 related employer businesses in Surry County.

  • Hair Salons: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

11 related employer businesses in Surry County.

Entertainment & Recreation

10 related employer businesses in Surry County.

  • Golf Courses: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Bars & Pubs: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

Technology & Media

7 related employer businesses in Surry County.

Energy & Utilities

5 related employer businesses in Surry County.

Health & Fitness

4 related employer businesses in Surry County.

  • Gyms & Health Clubs: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.

  • Yoga Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.

  • Pilates Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.

  • Personal Training Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.

Pet Services

3 related employer businesses in Surry County.

Working with owners in Surry County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Surry County ask

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