Selling a Business in Flint

Owners in the Flint area sell to local buyers and to buyers from other markets. The area has 7,733 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

Flint by the numbers

7,733

7,733

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

84%

84%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

31,433

31,433

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

121,033

121,033

EMPLOYMENT

$6.1 billion

$6.1 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

3,476

3,476

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 Flint compares

  • The Flint area ranks 5th of 15 Michigan metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 0.6% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Health care and social assistance makes up 17% of employer businesses in Flint, compared with 13% in Michigan.

  • 3,476 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • The Flint area ranks 5th of 15 Michigan metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 0.6% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Health care and social assistance makes up 17% of employer businesses in Flint, compared with 13% in Michigan.

  • 3,476 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Health care and social assistance: 1,353 employer businesses

  • Retail: 1,276 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 813 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 746 employer businesses

  • Professional and technical services: 627 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Health care and social assistance: 1,353 employer businesses

  • Retail: 1,276 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 813 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 746 employer businesses

  • Professional and technical services: 627 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 Flint

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

862 related employer businesses in Flint.

Restaurants & Food

765 related employer businesses in Flint.

Construction & Engineering

690 related employer businesses in Flint.

  • General Contracting: 189 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 133 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 84 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 84 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 70 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Electrical: 64 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 57 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 41 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Masonry: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Remediation & Restoration: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Retail Stores

454 related employer businesses in Flint.

Financial & Professional Services

432 related employer businesses in Flint.

Automotive & Boat

356 related employer businesses in Flint.

  • Auto Repair: 133 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 77 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 59 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 46 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 9 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.

Gas Stations & Convenience

181 related employer businesses in Flint.

Manufacturing

179 related employer businesses in Flint.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

170 related employer businesses in Flint.

Logistics & Transportation

166 related employer businesses in Flint.

Wholesale & Distribution

131 related employer businesses in Flint.

Senior Care & Living

124 related employer businesses in Flint.

Home Services

123 related employer businesses in Flint.

Beauty & Personal Care

104 related employer businesses in Flint.

  • Hair Salons: 63 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 33 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 33 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 33 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

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

Entertainment & Recreation

94 related employer businesses in Flint.

  • Bars & Pubs: 49 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 49 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Bowling Alleys: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x 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.

Education & Childcare

83 related employer businesses in Flint.

  • Daycare Centers: 76 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

  • Tutoring Centers: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.

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

Health & Fitness

60 related employer businesses in Flint.

Technology & Media

52 related employer businesses in Flint.

Hospitality & Travel

47 related employer businesses in Flint.

  • Hotels: 36 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 36 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.

  • Travel Agencies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.2x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

38 related employer businesses in Flint.

Pet Services

32 related employer businesses in Flint.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

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

862 related employer businesses in Flint.

Restaurants & Food

765 related employer businesses in Flint.

Construction & Engineering

690 related employer businesses in Flint.

  • General Contracting: 189 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 133 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 84 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 84 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 70 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Electrical: 64 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 57 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 41 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Masonry: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Remediation & Restoration: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Retail Stores

454 related employer businesses in Flint.

Financial & Professional Services

432 related employer businesses in Flint.

Automotive & Boat

356 related employer businesses in Flint.

  • Auto Repair: 133 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 77 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 59 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 46 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 9 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.

Gas Stations & Convenience

181 related employer businesses in Flint.

Manufacturing

179 related employer businesses in Flint.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

170 related employer businesses in Flint.

Logistics & Transportation

166 related employer businesses in Flint.

Wholesale & Distribution

131 related employer businesses in Flint.

Senior Care & Living

124 related employer businesses in Flint.

Home Services

123 related employer businesses in Flint.

Beauty & Personal Care

104 related employer businesses in Flint.

  • Hair Salons: 63 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 33 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 33 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 33 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

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

Entertainment & Recreation

94 related employer businesses in Flint.

  • Bars & Pubs: 49 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 49 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Bowling Alleys: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x 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.

Education & Childcare

83 related employer businesses in Flint.

  • Daycare Centers: 76 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

  • Tutoring Centers: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.

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

Health & Fitness

60 related employer businesses in Flint.

Technology & Media

52 related employer businesses in Flint.

Hospitality & Travel

47 related employer businesses in Flint.

  • Hotels: 36 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 36 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.

  • Travel Agencies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.2x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

38 related employer businesses in Flint.

Pet Services

32 related employer businesses in Flint.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

Counties in this metro area

Working with owners in Flint

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Flint ask

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

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 Flint?

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 Flint

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