Selling a Business in Brownsville

Owners in the Brownsville area sell to local buyers and to buyers from other markets. The area has 6,732 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

Brownsville by the numbers

6,732

6,732

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

84%

84%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

40,580

40,580

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

123,749

123,749

EMPLOYMENT

$4.5 billion

$4.5 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

3,016

3,016

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 Brownsville compares

  • The Brownsville area ranks 12th of 26 Texas metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 4.4% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Health care and social assistance makes up 17% of employer businesses in Brownsville, compared with 12% in Texas.

  • 3,016 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • The Brownsville area ranks 12th of 26 Texas metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 4.4% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Health care and social assistance makes up 17% of employer businesses in Brownsville, compared with 12% in Texas.

  • 3,016 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Health care and social assistance: 1,124 employer businesses

  • Retail: 1,037 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 851 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 554 employer businesses

  • Professional and technical services: 511 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Health care and social assistance: 1,124 employer businesses

  • Retail: 1,037 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 851 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 554 employer businesses

  • Professional and technical services: 511 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 Brownsville

Health care and social assistance, retail, accommodation and food service, repair, personal care and other services

Every kind of business we sell in Brownsville

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Brownsville. 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.

Restaurants & Food

752 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

Medical Practices

641 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

Financial & Professional Services

468 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

Retail Stores

428 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

Construction & Engineering

389 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

  • General Contracting: 164 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 71 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 71 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 38 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Civil Engineering: 35 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Roofing & Siding: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Logistics & Transportation

289 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

Automotive & Boat

274 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

  • Car Dealerships: 90 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Parts: 70 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Auto Repair: 65 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Washes: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Collision Repair: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Boat Dealerships: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

181 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

Wholesale & Distribution

166 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

Education & Childcare

160 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

  • Daycare Centers: 157 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

  • Tutoring Centers: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.

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

Gas Stations & Convenience

140 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

Manufacturing

136 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

Senior Care & Living

104 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

Home Services

103 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

Hospitality & Travel

96 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

  • Hotels: 85 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 85 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.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Entertainment & Recreation

72 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

  • Bars & Pubs: 44 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 44 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Arcades & FECs: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.1x - 3.6x 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.

Beauty & Personal Care

67 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

  • Hair Salons: 34 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Barber Shops: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.25x SDE.

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

Energy & Utilities

42 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

Health & Fitness

31 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

Technology & Media

30 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

Pet Services

14 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Brownsville. 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.

Restaurants & Food

752 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

Medical Practices

641 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

Financial & Professional Services

468 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

Retail Stores

428 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

Construction & Engineering

389 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

  • General Contracting: 164 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 71 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 71 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 38 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Civil Engineering: 35 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Roofing & Siding: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Logistics & Transportation

289 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

Automotive & Boat

274 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

  • Car Dealerships: 90 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Parts: 70 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Auto Repair: 65 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Washes: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Collision Repair: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Boat Dealerships: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

181 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

Wholesale & Distribution

166 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

Education & Childcare

160 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

  • Daycare Centers: 157 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

  • Tutoring Centers: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.

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

Gas Stations & Convenience

140 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

Manufacturing

136 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

Senior Care & Living

104 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

Home Services

103 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

Hospitality & Travel

96 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

  • Hotels: 85 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 85 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.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Entertainment & Recreation

72 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

  • Bars & Pubs: 44 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 44 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Arcades & FECs: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.1x - 3.6x 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.

Beauty & Personal Care

67 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

  • Hair Salons: 34 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Barber Shops: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.25x SDE.

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

Energy & Utilities

42 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

Health & Fitness

31 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

Technology & Media

30 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

Pet Services

14 related employer businesses in Brownsville.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

Counties in this metro area

Working with owners in Brownsville

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Brownsville ask

How long does it take to sell a business in Brownsville?

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 Brownsville?

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 Brownsville

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