Selling a Business in Decatur

Owners in the Decatur area sell to local buyers and to buyers from other markets. The area has 3,092 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

Decatur by the numbers

3,092

3,092

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

84%

84%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

10,985

10,985

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

51,514

51,514

EMPLOYMENT

$2.9 billion

$2.9 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

1,443

1,443

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 Decatur compares

  • The Decatur area ranks 10th of 12 Alabama metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 3.3% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 6% of employer businesses in Decatur, compared with 4% in Alabama.

  • 1,443 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • The Decatur area ranks 10th of 12 Alabama metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 3.3% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 6% of employer businesses in Decatur, compared with 4% in Alabama.

  • 1,443 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 547 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 389 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 332 employer businesses

  • Construction: 324 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 263 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 547 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 389 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 332 employer businesses

  • Construction: 324 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 263 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 Decatur

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

324 related employer businesses in Decatur.

  • General Contracting: 71 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: 46 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 34 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Landscaping: 30 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Roofing & Siding: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

260 related employer businesses in Decatur.

Medical Practices

210 related employer businesses in Decatur.

Retail Stores

188 related employer businesses in Decatur.

Financial & Professional Services

176 related employer businesses in Decatur.

Manufacturing

138 related employer businesses in Decatur.

Gas Stations & Convenience

125 related employer businesses in Decatur.

Automotive & Boat

113 related employer businesses in Decatur.

  • Auto Repair: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

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

  • Car Dealerships: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

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

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

  • Boat Dealerships: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.

Logistics & Transportation

95 related employer businesses in Decatur.

Wholesale & Distribution

71 related employer businesses in Decatur.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

56 related employer businesses in Decatur.

Education & Childcare

40 related employer businesses in Decatur.

  • Daycare Centers: 40 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

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

Home Services

35 related employer businesses in Decatur.

Beauty & Personal Care

29 related employer businesses in Decatur.

  • Hair Salons: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

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

Hospitality & Travel

27 related employer businesses in Decatur.

  • Hotels: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

25 related employer businesses in Decatur.

Health & Fitness

17 related employer businesses in Decatur.

Technology & Media

16 related employer businesses in Decatur.

Energy & Utilities

11 related employer businesses in Decatur.

Pet Services

10 related employer businesses in Decatur.

Entertainment & Recreation

7 related employer businesses in Decatur.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

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

324 related employer businesses in Decatur.

  • General Contracting: 71 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: 46 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 34 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Landscaping: 30 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Roofing & Siding: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

260 related employer businesses in Decatur.

Medical Practices

210 related employer businesses in Decatur.

Retail Stores

188 related employer businesses in Decatur.

Financial & Professional Services

176 related employer businesses in Decatur.

Manufacturing

138 related employer businesses in Decatur.

Gas Stations & Convenience

125 related employer businesses in Decatur.

Automotive & Boat

113 related employer businesses in Decatur.

  • Auto Repair: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

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

  • Car Dealerships: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

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

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

  • Boat Dealerships: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.

Logistics & Transportation

95 related employer businesses in Decatur.

Wholesale & Distribution

71 related employer businesses in Decatur.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

56 related employer businesses in Decatur.

Education & Childcare

40 related employer businesses in Decatur.

  • Daycare Centers: 40 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

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

Home Services

35 related employer businesses in Decatur.

Beauty & Personal Care

29 related employer businesses in Decatur.

  • Hair Salons: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

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

Hospitality & Travel

27 related employer businesses in Decatur.

  • Hotels: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

25 related employer businesses in Decatur.

Health & Fitness

17 related employer businesses in Decatur.

Technology & Media

16 related employer businesses in Decatur.

Energy & Utilities

11 related employer businesses in Decatur.

Pet Services

10 related employer businesses in Decatur.

Entertainment & Recreation

7 related employer businesses in Decatur.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

Counties in this metro area

Working with owners in Decatur

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Decatur ask

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

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 Decatur?

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 Decatur

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