Selling a Business in Transylvania County
Transylvania County has 1,011 employer businesses, and 92% 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
Transylvania County by the numbers
1,011
1,011
EMPLOYER BUSINESSES
92%
92%
SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE
3,515
3,515
BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES
8,603
8,603
EMPLOYMENT
$374 million
$374 million
ANNUAL PAYROLL
383
383
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 Transylvania County compares
Transylvania County ranks 53rd of 100 North Carolina counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses grew 17.8% between 2018 and 2023.
Construction makes up 17% of employer businesses in Transylvania County, compared with 11% in North Carolina.
383 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Transylvania County ranks 53rd of 100 North Carolina counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses grew 17.8% between 2018 and 2023.
Construction makes up 17% of employer businesses in Transylvania County, compared with 11% in North Carolina.
383 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Industry mix
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Construction: 169 employer businesses
Retail: 133 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 112 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 110 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 105 employer businesses
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Construction: 169 employer businesses
Retail: 133 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 112 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 110 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 105 employer businesses
INDUSTRIES
What sells in Transylvania County
Construction, retail, accommodation and food service, health care and social assistance
Every kind of business we sell in Transylvania County
We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Transylvania 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 Transylvania County.
General Contracting: 68 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Landscaping: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Plumbing: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Foundation & Site Prep: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Electrical: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Interior Finishing: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Civil Engineering: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Masonry: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.
Restaurants & Food
89 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Full-Service Restaurants: 42 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Coffee Shops: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Liquor, Wine & Beer Stores: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Financial & Professional Services
62 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Real Estate Brokerages: 34 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Insurance Agencies: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Wealth Management: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Medical Practices
56 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Primary & Family Care: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Mental & Behavioral Health: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Dental Practices: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Veterinary Medicine: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Home Health & Hospice: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Retail Stores
48 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Hobby, Toys & Gift Shops: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE + Inventory.
Sporting Goods & Firearms: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.4x SDE.
Home Decor & Furniture: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Home Services
20 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Property Management: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Residential Cleaning: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.
Entertainment & Recreation
17 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Outdoor Recreation: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Bars & Pubs: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.
Automotive & Boat
16 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Auto Repair: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Auto Parts: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Collision Repair: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Gas Stations & Convenience
15 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Gas Stations: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Hospitality & Travel
12 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Hotels: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.
Campgrounds & RV Parks: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Bed & Breakfasts / Inns: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Technology & Media
12 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Creative Agencies: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 3.0x SDE.
Digital Marketing Agencies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Media, Film & Studio Production: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.5x SDE.
Manufacturing
11 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Medical & Chemical Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Construction Materials Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Health & Fitness
10 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Gyms & Health Clubs: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.
Yoga Studios: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.
Pilates Studios: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.
Personal Training Studios: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.
Wellness & Recovery Centers: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 5.5x - 9.7x EBITDA.
Beauty & Personal Care
8 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Hair Salons: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.
Education & Childcare
7 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Daycare Centers: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Energy & Utilities
7 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Water & Wastewater Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Propane & Fuel Distribution: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
7 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Compounding Pharmacies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Home Infusion: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Wholesale & Distribution
7 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Food & Beverage Distribution: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Industrial & Construction Supply: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Senior Care & Living
6 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Assisted Living Facilities: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Non-Medical Home Care: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Transylvania 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 Transylvania County.
General Contracting: 68 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Landscaping: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Plumbing: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Foundation & Site Prep: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Electrical: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Interior Finishing: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Civil Engineering: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Masonry: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.
Restaurants & Food
89 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Full-Service Restaurants: 42 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Coffee Shops: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Liquor, Wine & Beer Stores: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Financial & Professional Services
62 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Real Estate Brokerages: 34 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Insurance Agencies: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Wealth Management: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Medical Practices
56 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Primary & Family Care: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Mental & Behavioral Health: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Dental Practices: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Veterinary Medicine: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Home Health & Hospice: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Retail Stores
48 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Hobby, Toys & Gift Shops: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE + Inventory.
Sporting Goods & Firearms: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.4x SDE.
Home Decor & Furniture: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Home Services
20 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Property Management: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Residential Cleaning: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.
Entertainment & Recreation
17 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Outdoor Recreation: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Bars & Pubs: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.
Automotive & Boat
16 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Auto Repair: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Auto Parts: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Collision Repair: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Gas Stations & Convenience
15 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Gas Stations: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Hospitality & Travel
12 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Hotels: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.
Campgrounds & RV Parks: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Bed & Breakfasts / Inns: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Technology & Media
12 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Creative Agencies: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 3.0x SDE.
Digital Marketing Agencies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Media, Film & Studio Production: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.5x SDE.
Manufacturing
11 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Medical & Chemical Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Construction Materials Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Health & Fitness
10 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Gyms & Health Clubs: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.
Yoga Studios: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.
Pilates Studios: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.
Personal Training Studios: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.
Wellness & Recovery Centers: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 5.5x - 9.7x EBITDA.
Beauty & Personal Care
8 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Hair Salons: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.
Education & Childcare
7 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Daycare Centers: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Energy & Utilities
7 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Water & Wastewater Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Propane & Fuel Distribution: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
7 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Compounding Pharmacies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Home Infusion: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Wholesale & Distribution
7 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Food & Beverage Distribution: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Industrial & Construction Supply: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Senior Care & Living
6 related employer businesses in Transylvania County.
Assisted Living Facilities: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Non-Medical Home Care: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Working with owners in Transylvania County
Business Advisors of America works with owners who are selling a business in Transylvania County. Contact us to talk about a sale.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions owners in Transylvania County ask
How long does it take to sell a business in Transylvania 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 Transylvania 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 Transylvania 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