Selling a Business in Upshur County

Upshur County has 513 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.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Upshur County by the numbers

513

513

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

88%

88%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,298

1,298

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

6,101

6,101

EMPLOYMENT

$306 million

$306 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

230

230

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 Upshur County compares

  • Upshur County ranks 19th of 55 West Virginia counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 2.3% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Construction makes up 12% of employer businesses in Upshur County, compared with 9% in West Virginia.

  • 230 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Upshur County ranks 19th of 55 West Virginia counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 2.3% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Construction makes up 12% of employer businesses in Upshur County, compared with 9% in West Virginia.

  • 230 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Health care and social assistance: 86 employer businesses

  • Retail: 82 employer businesses

  • Construction: 59 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 49 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 42 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Health care and social assistance: 86 employer businesses

  • Retail: 82 employer businesses

  • Construction: 59 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 49 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 42 employer businesses

Every kind of business we sell in Upshur County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Upshur 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

47 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

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

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Landscaping: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

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

  • Interior Finishing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • 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.

Restaurants & Food

32 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

Retail Stores

22 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

Financial & Professional Services

20 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

Logistics & Transportation

18 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

Energy & Utilities

15 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

  • Oil & Gas Services: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

Education & Childcare

14 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

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

Gas Stations & Convenience

12 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

  • Gas Stations: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Medical Practices

12 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

Automotive & Boat

11 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

  • Auto Repair: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

Manufacturing

8 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

Home Services

7 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

Wholesale & Distribution

6 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

Hospitality & Travel

4 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

  • Hotels: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

4 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

Entertainment & Recreation

3 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

Senior Care & Living

3 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Upshur 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

47 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

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

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Landscaping: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

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

  • Interior Finishing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • 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.

Restaurants & Food

32 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

Retail Stores

22 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

Financial & Professional Services

20 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

Logistics & Transportation

18 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

Energy & Utilities

15 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

  • Oil & Gas Services: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

Education & Childcare

14 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

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

Gas Stations & Convenience

12 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

  • Gas Stations: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Medical Practices

12 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

Automotive & Boat

11 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

  • Auto Repair: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

Manufacturing

8 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

Home Services

7 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

Wholesale & Distribution

6 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

Hospitality & Travel

4 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

  • Hotels: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

4 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

Entertainment & Recreation

3 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

Senior Care & Living

3 related employer businesses in Upshur County.

Working with owners in Upshur County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Upshur County ask

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