Selling a Business in Wilson County

Wilson County has 1,818 employer businesses, and 82% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows the local mix of industries and how a sale is handled here.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Wilson County by the numbers

1,818

1,818

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

82%

82%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

5,927

5,927

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

32,253

32,253

EMPLOYMENT

$1.6 billion

$1.6 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

806

806

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 Wilson County compares

  • Wilson County ranks 33rd of 100 North Carolina counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 3.8% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Wholesale makes up 6% of employer businesses in Wilson County, compared with 4% in North Carolina.

  • 806 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Wilson County ranks 33rd of 100 North Carolina counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 3.8% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Wholesale makes up 6% of employer businesses in Wilson County, compared with 4% in North Carolina.

  • 806 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 320 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 208 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 200 employer businesses

  • Construction: 199 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 171 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 320 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 208 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 200 employer businesses

  • Construction: 199 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 171 employer businesses

Every kind of business we sell in Wilson County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Wilson 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

216 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

  • General Contracting: 44 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 41 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 41 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 40 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 34 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Roofing & Siding: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

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

  • Carpentry & Framing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

156 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

Financial & Professional Services

108 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

Retail Stores

108 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

Medical Practices

97 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

Automotive & Boat

85 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

  • Auto Repair: 32 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: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 12 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

61 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

Logistics & Transportation

58 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

Wholesale & Distribution

57 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

55 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

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

  • Convenience Stores: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

27 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

Hospitality & Travel

23 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

  • Hotels: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

23 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

Home Services

22 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

  • Property Management: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Residential Cleaning: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.

  • Commercial Cleaning: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.

  • Pest Control: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.

Education & Childcare

19 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

  • Daycare Centers: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Beauty & Personal Care

16 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

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

  • Nail Salons: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

Health & Fitness

14 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

Technology & Media

14 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

Energy & Utilities

13 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

Entertainment & Recreation

9 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

  • 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.

  • Arcades & FECs: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.1x - 3.6x SDE.

Pet Services

3 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Wilson 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

216 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

  • General Contracting: 44 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 41 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 41 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 40 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 34 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Roofing & Siding: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

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

  • Carpentry & Framing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

156 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

Financial & Professional Services

108 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

Retail Stores

108 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

Medical Practices

97 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

Automotive & Boat

85 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

  • Auto Repair: 32 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: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 12 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

61 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

Logistics & Transportation

58 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

Wholesale & Distribution

57 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

55 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

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

  • Convenience Stores: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

27 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

Hospitality & Travel

23 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

  • Hotels: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

23 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

Home Services

22 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

  • Property Management: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Residential Cleaning: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.

  • Commercial Cleaning: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.

  • Pest Control: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.

Education & Childcare

19 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

  • Daycare Centers: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Beauty & Personal Care

16 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

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

  • Nail Salons: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

Health & Fitness

14 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

Technology & Media

14 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

Energy & Utilities

13 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

Entertainment & Recreation

9 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

  • 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.

  • Arcades & FECs: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.1x - 3.6x SDE.

Pet Services

3 related employer businesses in Wilson County.

Working with owners in Wilson County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Wilson County ask

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