Selling a Business in Bay City

Owners in the Bay City area sell to local buyers and to buyers from other markets. The area has 2,044 employer businesses, and 84% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows what is here and how a sale is handled.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Bay City by the numbers

2,044

2,044

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

84%

84%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

6,090

6,090

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

29,377

29,377

EMPLOYMENT

$1.4 billion

$1.4 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

1,030

1,030

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 Bay City compares

  • The Bay City area ranks 14th of 15 Michigan metro areas for employer businesses.

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

  • Health care and social assistance makes up 16% of employer businesses in Bay City, compared with 13% in Michigan.

  • 1,030 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • The Bay City area ranks 14th of 15 Michigan metro areas for employer businesses.

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

  • Health care and social assistance makes up 16% of employer businesses in Bay City, compared with 13% in Michigan.

  • 1,030 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 356 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 327 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 235 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 215 employer businesses

  • Construction: 169 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 356 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 327 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 235 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 215 employer businesses

  • Construction: 169 employer businesses

What buyers look for

Buyers look first at profit that holds up under review. Three years of tax returns and profit and loss statements that match each other carry more weight than a high number that cannot be shown.

  • How much of the business depends on the owner

  • How concentrated sales are among a few customers

  • The lease, its remaining term and the landlord's consent to a sale

  • The condition of equipment and the contracts that transfer

Buyers look first at profit that holds up under review. Three years of tax returns and profit and loss statements that match each other carry more weight than a high number that cannot be shown.

  • How much of the business depends on the owner

  • How concentrated sales are among a few customers

  • The lease, its remaining term and the landlord's consent to a sale

  • The condition of equipment and the contracts that transfer

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Bay City

Retail, health care and social assistance, repair, personal care and other services, accommodation and food service

Every kind of business we sell in Bay City

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Bay City. 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.

Medical Practices

193 related employer businesses in Bay City.

Restaurants & Food

189 related employer businesses in Bay City.

Construction & Engineering

167 related employer businesses in Bay City.

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

  • Landscaping: 36 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

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

  • Electrical: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

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

Retail Stores

114 related employer businesses in Bay City.

Automotive & Boat

106 related employer businesses in Bay City.

  • Auto Repair: 38 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 24 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: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Marinas: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Financial & Professional Services

95 related employer businesses in Bay City.

Manufacturing

68 related employer businesses in Bay City.

Gas Stations & Convenience

50 related employer businesses in Bay City.

Entertainment & Recreation

49 related employer businesses in Bay City.

  • Bars & Pubs: 34 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 34 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Golf Courses: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Bowling Alleys: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Event Venues. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 3.5x Earnings.

  • Banquet Halls. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 4.5x Earnings.

  • Escape Rooms. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 3.5x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

44 related employer businesses in Bay City.

Logistics & Transportation

37 related employer businesses in Bay City.

Wholesale & Distribution

35 related employer businesses in Bay City.

Senior Care & Living

32 related employer businesses in Bay City.

Beauty & Personal Care

27 related employer businesses in Bay City.

  • Hair Salons: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Medical Spas. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x EBITDA.

Hospitality & Travel

25 related employer businesses in Bay City.

  • Hotels: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Home Services

20 related employer businesses in Bay City.

Education & Childcare

18 related employer businesses in Bay City.

  • Daycare Centers: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

  • Preschools. Typical sale multiple: 3.12x - 4.0x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

12 related employer businesses in Bay City.

Health & Fitness

12 related employer businesses in Bay City.

Pet Services

11 related employer businesses in Bay City.

Technology & Media

10 related employer businesses in Bay City.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Bay City. 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.

Medical Practices

193 related employer businesses in Bay City.

Restaurants & Food

189 related employer businesses in Bay City.

Construction & Engineering

167 related employer businesses in Bay City.

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

  • Landscaping: 36 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

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

  • Electrical: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

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

Retail Stores

114 related employer businesses in Bay City.

Automotive & Boat

106 related employer businesses in Bay City.

  • Auto Repair: 38 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 24 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: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Marinas: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Financial & Professional Services

95 related employer businesses in Bay City.

Manufacturing

68 related employer businesses in Bay City.

Gas Stations & Convenience

50 related employer businesses in Bay City.

Entertainment & Recreation

49 related employer businesses in Bay City.

  • Bars & Pubs: 34 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 34 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Golf Courses: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Bowling Alleys: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Event Venues. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 3.5x Earnings.

  • Banquet Halls. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 4.5x Earnings.

  • Escape Rooms. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 3.5x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

44 related employer businesses in Bay City.

Logistics & Transportation

37 related employer businesses in Bay City.

Wholesale & Distribution

35 related employer businesses in Bay City.

Senior Care & Living

32 related employer businesses in Bay City.

Beauty & Personal Care

27 related employer businesses in Bay City.

  • Hair Salons: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Medical Spas. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x EBITDA.

Hospitality & Travel

25 related employer businesses in Bay City.

  • Hotels: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Home Services

20 related employer businesses in Bay City.

Education & Childcare

18 related employer businesses in Bay City.

  • Daycare Centers: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

  • Preschools. Typical sale multiple: 3.12x - 4.0x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

12 related employer businesses in Bay City.

Health & Fitness

12 related employer businesses in Bay City.

Pet Services

11 related employer businesses in Bay City.

Technology & Media

10 related employer businesses in Bay City.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

Counties in this metro area

Working with owners in Bay City

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Bay City ask

How long does it take to sell a business in Bay City?

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 Bay City?

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 Bay City

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