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Washington County

Selling a Business in Washington County

Washington County has 1,378 employer businesses, and 83% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows the local mix of industries and how a sale is handled here.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Washington County by the numbers

1,378

1,378

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

83%

83%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

3,947

3,947

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

23,113

23,113

EMPLOYMENT

$1.3 billion

$1.3 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

714

714

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 Washington County compares

  • Washington County ranks 36th of 88 Ohio counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 0.4% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Transportation and warehousing makes up 5% of employer businesses in Washington County, compared with 4% in Ohio.

  • 714 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Washington County ranks 36th of 88 Ohio counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 0.4% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Transportation and warehousing makes up 5% of employer businesses in Washington County, compared with 4% in Ohio.

  • 714 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 218 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 166 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 147 employer businesses

  • Construction: 142 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 130 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 218 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 166 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 147 employer businesses

  • Construction: 142 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 130 employer businesses

Every kind of business we sell in Washington County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Washington 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

146 related employer businesses in Washington County.

  • General Contracting: 43 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Electrical: 16 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.

  • Masonry: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

Restaurants & Food

118 related employer businesses in Washington County.

Medical Practices

92 related employer businesses in Washington County.

Logistics & Transportation

62 related employer businesses in Washington County.

Automotive & Boat

61 related employer businesses in Washington County.

  • Auto Repair: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Parts: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Washes: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Collision Repair: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

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

Retail Stores

60 related employer businesses in Washington County.

Manufacturing

57 related employer businesses in Washington County.

Financial & Professional Services

53 related employer businesses in Washington County.

Wholesale & Distribution

34 related employer businesses in Washington County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

33 related employer businesses in Washington County.

  • Gas Stations: 33 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Energy & Utilities

29 related employer businesses in Washington County.

Home Services

21 related employer businesses in Washington County.

  • 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.

  • Property Management: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Pest Control: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

19 related employer businesses in Washington County.

Beauty & Personal Care

14 related employer businesses in Washington County.

  • Hair Salons: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

14 related employer businesses in Washington County.

Health & Fitness

12 related employer businesses in Washington County.

Hospitality & Travel

10 related employer businesses in Washington County.

  • Hotels: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Entertainment & Recreation

7 related employer businesses in Washington County.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • 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.

Education & Childcare

6 related employer businesses in Washington County.

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

Pet Services

5 related employer businesses in Washington County.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Washington 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

146 related employer businesses in Washington County.

  • General Contracting: 43 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Electrical: 16 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.

  • Masonry: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

Restaurants & Food

118 related employer businesses in Washington County.

Medical Practices

92 related employer businesses in Washington County.

Logistics & Transportation

62 related employer businesses in Washington County.

Automotive & Boat

61 related employer businesses in Washington County.

  • Auto Repair: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Parts: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Washes: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Collision Repair: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

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

Retail Stores

60 related employer businesses in Washington County.

Manufacturing

57 related employer businesses in Washington County.

Financial & Professional Services

53 related employer businesses in Washington County.

Wholesale & Distribution

34 related employer businesses in Washington County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

33 related employer businesses in Washington County.

  • Gas Stations: 33 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Energy & Utilities

29 related employer businesses in Washington County.

Home Services

21 related employer businesses in Washington County.

  • 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.

  • Property Management: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Pest Control: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

19 related employer businesses in Washington County.

Beauty & Personal Care

14 related employer businesses in Washington County.

  • Hair Salons: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

14 related employer businesses in Washington County.

Health & Fitness

12 related employer businesses in Washington County.

Hospitality & Travel

10 related employer businesses in Washington County.

  • Hotels: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Entertainment & Recreation

7 related employer businesses in Washington County.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • 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.

Education & Childcare

6 related employer businesses in Washington County.

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

Pet Services

5 related employer businesses in Washington County.

Working with owners in Washington County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Washington County ask

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