Selling a Business in Daphne

Owners in the Daphne area sell to local buyers and to buyers from other markets. The area has 6,409 employer businesses, and 88% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows what is here and how a sale is handled.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Daphne by the numbers

6,409

6,409

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

88%

88%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

25,088

25,088

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

72,022

72,022

EMPLOYMENT

$3.3 billion

$3.3 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

2,715

2,715

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 Daphne compares

  • The Daphne area ranks 5th of 12 Alabama metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 16.4% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Real estate and rental makes up 8% of employer businesses in Daphne, compared with 5% in Alabama.

  • 2,715 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • The Daphne area ranks 5th of 12 Alabama metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 16.4% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Real estate and rental makes up 8% of employer businesses in Daphne, compared with 5% in Alabama.

  • 2,715 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 1,062 employer businesses

  • Construction: 776 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 669 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 590 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 585 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 1,062 employer businesses

  • Construction: 776 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 669 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 590 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 585 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

Every kind of business we sell in Daphne

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

846 related employer businesses in Daphne.

  • General Contracting: 239 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 126 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 126 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 119 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 107 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 73 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 57 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Civil Engineering: 53 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 36 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Masonry: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Remediation & Restoration: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Restaurants & Food

601 related employer businesses in Daphne.

Financial & Professional Services

489 related employer businesses in Daphne.

Retail Stores

479 related employer businesses in Daphne.

Medical Practices

385 related employer businesses in Daphne.

Automotive & Boat

223 related employer businesses in Daphne.

  • Auto Repair: 55 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 46 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 38 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Boat Dealerships: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.

  • Marinas: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Home Services

173 related employer businesses in Daphne.

Gas Stations & Convenience

139 related employer businesses in Daphne.

Manufacturing

135 related employer businesses in Daphne.

Logistics & Transportation

124 related employer businesses in Daphne.

Wholesale & Distribution

113 related employer businesses in Daphne.

Beauty & Personal Care

100 related employer businesses in Daphne.

  • Hair Salons: 51 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x 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.

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

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

Hospitality & Travel

86 related employer businesses in Daphne.

  • Hotels: 66 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 66 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Transportation Services: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Entertainment & Recreation

73 related employer businesses in Daphne.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Bars & Pubs: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Golf Courses: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Arcades & FECs: 7 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.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

70 related employer businesses in Daphne.

Technology & Media

67 related employer businesses in Daphne.

Education & Childcare

47 related employer businesses in Daphne.

  • Daycare Centers: 41 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

  • Tutoring Centers: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.

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

Health & Fitness

40 related employer businesses in Daphne.

Pet Services

40 related employer businesses in Daphne.

Energy & Utilities

33 related employer businesses in Daphne.

Senior Care & Living

26 related employer businesses in Daphne.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

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

846 related employer businesses in Daphne.

  • General Contracting: 239 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 126 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 126 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 119 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 107 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 73 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 57 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Civil Engineering: 53 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 36 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Masonry: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Remediation & Restoration: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Restaurants & Food

601 related employer businesses in Daphne.

Financial & Professional Services

489 related employer businesses in Daphne.

Retail Stores

479 related employer businesses in Daphne.

Medical Practices

385 related employer businesses in Daphne.

Automotive & Boat

223 related employer businesses in Daphne.

  • Auto Repair: 55 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 46 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 38 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Boat Dealerships: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.

  • Marinas: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Home Services

173 related employer businesses in Daphne.

Gas Stations & Convenience

139 related employer businesses in Daphne.

Manufacturing

135 related employer businesses in Daphne.

Logistics & Transportation

124 related employer businesses in Daphne.

Wholesale & Distribution

113 related employer businesses in Daphne.

Beauty & Personal Care

100 related employer businesses in Daphne.

  • Hair Salons: 51 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x 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.

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

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

Hospitality & Travel

86 related employer businesses in Daphne.

  • Hotels: 66 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 66 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Transportation Services: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Entertainment & Recreation

73 related employer businesses in Daphne.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Bars & Pubs: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Golf Courses: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Arcades & FECs: 7 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.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

70 related employer businesses in Daphne.

Technology & Media

67 related employer businesses in Daphne.

Education & Childcare

47 related employer businesses in Daphne.

  • Daycare Centers: 41 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

  • Tutoring Centers: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.

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

Health & Fitness

40 related employer businesses in Daphne.

Pet Services

40 related employer businesses in Daphne.

Energy & Utilities

33 related employer businesses in Daphne.

Senior Care & Living

26 related employer businesses in Daphne.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

Counties in this metro area

Working with owners in Daphne

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Daphne ask

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

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 Daphne?

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 Daphne

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