Selling a Business in Columbus

Owners in the Columbus area sell to local buyers and to buyers from other markets. The area has 1,950 employer businesses, and 79% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows what is here and how a sale is handled.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Columbus by the numbers

1,950

1,950

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

79%

79%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

5,156

5,156

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

47,016

47,016

EMPLOYMENT

$3.1 billion

$3.1 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

922

922

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 Columbus compares

  • The Columbus area ranks 11th of 12 Indiana metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 3.6% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 7% of employer businesses in Columbus, compared with 5% in Indiana.

  • 922 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • The Columbus area ranks 11th of 12 Indiana metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 3.6% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 7% of employer businesses in Columbus, compared with 5% in Indiana.

  • 922 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 286 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 266 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 185 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 175 employer businesses

  • Construction: 173 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 286 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 266 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 185 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 175 employer businesses

  • Construction: 173 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 Columbus

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

Every kind of business we sell in Columbus

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

202 related employer businesses in Columbus.

  • General Contracting: 61 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

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

  • Interior Finishing: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

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

Restaurants & Food

158 related employer businesses in Columbus.

Medical Practices

155 related employer businesses in Columbus.

Retail Stores

128 related employer businesses in Columbus.

Financial & Professional Services

118 related employer businesses in Columbus.

Manufacturing

76 related employer businesses in Columbus.

Automotive & Boat

69 related employer businesses in Columbus.

  • Auto Repair: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Logistics & Transportation

52 related employer businesses in Columbus.

Wholesale & Distribution

37 related employer businesses in Columbus.

Gas Stations & Convenience

34 related employer businesses in Columbus.

Home Services

32 related employer businesses in Columbus.

Hospitality & Travel

23 related employer businesses in Columbus.

  • Hotels: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Health & Fitness

22 related employer businesses in Columbus.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

22 related employer businesses in Columbus.

Education & Childcare

17 related employer businesses in Columbus.

  • Daycare Centers: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

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

Senior Care & Living

16 related employer businesses in Columbus.

Beauty & Personal Care

14 related employer businesses in Columbus.

  • Hair Salons: 8 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.

Entertainment & Recreation

10 related employer businesses in Columbus.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Bars & Pubs: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • 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.

Pet Services

10 related employer businesses in Columbus.

Technology & Media

10 related employer businesses in Columbus.

Energy & Utilities

4 related employer businesses in Columbus.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

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

202 related employer businesses in Columbus.

  • General Contracting: 61 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

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

  • Interior Finishing: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

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

Restaurants & Food

158 related employer businesses in Columbus.

Medical Practices

155 related employer businesses in Columbus.

Retail Stores

128 related employer businesses in Columbus.

Financial & Professional Services

118 related employer businesses in Columbus.

Manufacturing

76 related employer businesses in Columbus.

Automotive & Boat

69 related employer businesses in Columbus.

  • Auto Repair: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Logistics & Transportation

52 related employer businesses in Columbus.

Wholesale & Distribution

37 related employer businesses in Columbus.

Gas Stations & Convenience

34 related employer businesses in Columbus.

Home Services

32 related employer businesses in Columbus.

Hospitality & Travel

23 related employer businesses in Columbus.

  • Hotels: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Health & Fitness

22 related employer businesses in Columbus.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

22 related employer businesses in Columbus.

Education & Childcare

17 related employer businesses in Columbus.

  • Daycare Centers: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

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

Senior Care & Living

16 related employer businesses in Columbus.

Beauty & Personal Care

14 related employer businesses in Columbus.

  • Hair Salons: 8 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.

Entertainment & Recreation

10 related employer businesses in Columbus.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Bars & Pubs: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • 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.

Pet Services

10 related employer businesses in Columbus.

Technology & Media

10 related employer businesses in Columbus.

Energy & Utilities

4 related employer businesses in Columbus.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

Counties in this metro area

Working with owners in Columbus

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Columbus ask

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

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 Columbus?

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 Columbus

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