Selling a Business in Florence

Owners in the Florence area sell to local buyers and to buyers from other markets. The area has 3,321 employer businesses, and 86% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows what is here and how a sale is handled.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Florence by the numbers

3,321

3,321

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

86%

86%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

11,653

11,653

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

50,430

50,430

EMPLOYMENT

$2.2 billion

$2.2 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

1,521

1,521

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 Florence compares

  • The Florence area ranks 9th of 12 Alabama metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 4.3% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 5% of employer businesses in Florence, compared with 4% in Alabama.

  • 1,521 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • The Florence area ranks 9th of 12 Alabama metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 4.3% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 5% of employer businesses in Florence, compared with 4% in Alabama.

  • 1,521 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 616 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 403 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 393 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 330 employer businesses

  • Construction: 271 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 616 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 403 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 393 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 330 employer businesses

  • Construction: 271 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 Florence

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

Every kind of business we sell in Florence

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

320 related employer businesses in Florence.

Construction & Engineering

277 related employer businesses in Florence.

  • General Contracting: 64 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 52 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 52 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 44 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 33 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

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

  • Roofing & Siding: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

Medical Practices

249 related employer businesses in Florence.

Retail Stores

242 related employer businesses in Florence.

Financial & Professional Services

195 related employer businesses in Florence.

Automotive & Boat

149 related employer businesses in Florence.

  • Auto Repair: 36 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 35 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

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

  • Collision Repair: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Marinas: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

118 related employer businesses in Florence.

Gas Stations & Convenience

100 related employer businesses in Florence.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

73 related employer businesses in Florence.

Wholesale & Distribution

69 related employer businesses in Florence.

Logistics & Transportation

64 related employer businesses in Florence.

Home Services

43 related employer businesses in Florence.

Beauty & Personal Care

38 related employer businesses in Florence.

  • Hair Salons: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

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

Education & Childcare

34 related employer businesses in Florence.

  • Daycare Centers: 30 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

  • Tutoring Centers: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.

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

Hospitality & Travel

26 related employer businesses in Florence.

  • Hotels: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Technology & Media

23 related employer businesses in Florence.

Health & Fitness

21 related employer businesses in Florence.

Pet Services

17 related employer businesses in Florence.

Entertainment & Recreation

16 related employer businesses in Florence.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Bars & Pubs: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Golf Courses: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x 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.

Senior Care & Living

15 related employer businesses in Florence.

Energy & Utilities

7 related employer businesses in Florence.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

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

320 related employer businesses in Florence.

Construction & Engineering

277 related employer businesses in Florence.

  • General Contracting: 64 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 52 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 52 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 44 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 33 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

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

  • Roofing & Siding: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

Medical Practices

249 related employer businesses in Florence.

Retail Stores

242 related employer businesses in Florence.

Financial & Professional Services

195 related employer businesses in Florence.

Automotive & Boat

149 related employer businesses in Florence.

  • Auto Repair: 36 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 35 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

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

  • Collision Repair: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Marinas: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

118 related employer businesses in Florence.

Gas Stations & Convenience

100 related employer businesses in Florence.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

73 related employer businesses in Florence.

Wholesale & Distribution

69 related employer businesses in Florence.

Logistics & Transportation

64 related employer businesses in Florence.

Home Services

43 related employer businesses in Florence.

Beauty & Personal Care

38 related employer businesses in Florence.

  • Hair Salons: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

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

Education & Childcare

34 related employer businesses in Florence.

  • Daycare Centers: 30 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

  • Tutoring Centers: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.

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

Hospitality & Travel

26 related employer businesses in Florence.

  • Hotels: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Technology & Media

23 related employer businesses in Florence.

Health & Fitness

21 related employer businesses in Florence.

Pet Services

17 related employer businesses in Florence.

Entertainment & Recreation

16 related employer businesses in Florence.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Bars & Pubs: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Golf Courses: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x 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.

Senior Care & Living

15 related employer businesses in Florence.

Energy & Utilities

7 related employer businesses in Florence.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

Counties in this metro area

Working with owners in Florence

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Florence ask

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

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 Florence?

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 Florence

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