Selling a Business in Florence

Owners in the Florence area sell to local buyers and to buyers from other markets. The area has 4,403 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

Florence by the numbers

4,403

4,403

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

84%

84%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

15,155

15,155

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

83,945

83,945

EMPLOYMENT

$4.5 billion

$4.5 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

1,995

1,995

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 7th of 8 South Carolina metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 4.9% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 21% of employer businesses in Florence, compared with 15% in South Carolina.

  • 1,995 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • The Florence area ranks 7th of 8 South Carolina metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 4.9% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 21% of employer businesses in Florence, compared with 15% in South Carolina.

  • 1,995 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 912 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 568 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 496 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 469 employer businesses

  • Finance and insurance: 293 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 912 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 568 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 496 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 469 employer businesses

  • Finance and insurance: 293 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

430 related employer businesses in Florence.

Retail Stores

328 related employer businesses in Florence.

Medical Practices

302 related employer businesses in Florence.

Construction & Engineering

276 related employer businesses in Florence.

  • General Contracting: 63 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 57 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 46 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 46 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 35 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 32 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Civil Engineering: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Masonry: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

Financial & Professional Services

248 related employer businesses in Florence.

Gas Stations & Convenience

193 related employer businesses in Florence.

Automotive & Boat

188 related employer businesses in Florence.

  • Auto Repair: 61 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 45 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 45 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 10 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.

Logistics & Transportation

141 related employer businesses in Florence.

Manufacturing

99 related employer businesses in Florence.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

97 related employer businesses in Florence.

Wholesale & Distribution

90 related employer businesses in Florence.

Hospitality & Travel

74 related employer businesses in Florence.

  • Hotels: 62 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 62 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Home Services

63 related employer businesses in Florence.

Education & Childcare

55 related employer businesses in Florence.

  • Daycare Centers: 55 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

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

Beauty & Personal Care

51 related employer businesses in Florence.

  • Hair Salons: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

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

Senior Care & Living

36 related employer businesses in Florence.

Energy & Utilities

35 related employer businesses in Florence.

Entertainment & Recreation

26 related employer businesses in Florence.

  • Bars & Pubs: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 7 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.

Health & Fitness

25 related employer businesses in Florence.

Technology & Media

22 related employer businesses in Florence.

Pet Services

10 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

430 related employer businesses in Florence.

Retail Stores

328 related employer businesses in Florence.

Medical Practices

302 related employer businesses in Florence.

Construction & Engineering

276 related employer businesses in Florence.

  • General Contracting: 63 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 57 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 46 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 46 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 35 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 32 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Civil Engineering: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Masonry: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

Financial & Professional Services

248 related employer businesses in Florence.

Gas Stations & Convenience

193 related employer businesses in Florence.

Automotive & Boat

188 related employer businesses in Florence.

  • Auto Repair: 61 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 45 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 45 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 10 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.

Logistics & Transportation

141 related employer businesses in Florence.

Manufacturing

99 related employer businesses in Florence.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

97 related employer businesses in Florence.

Wholesale & Distribution

90 related employer businesses in Florence.

Hospitality & Travel

74 related employer businesses in Florence.

  • Hotels: 62 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 62 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Home Services

63 related employer businesses in Florence.

Education & Childcare

55 related employer businesses in Florence.

  • Daycare Centers: 55 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

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

Beauty & Personal Care

51 related employer businesses in Florence.

  • Hair Salons: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

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

Senior Care & Living

36 related employer businesses in Florence.

Energy & Utilities

35 related employer businesses in Florence.

Entertainment & Recreation

26 related employer businesses in Florence.

  • Bars & Pubs: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 7 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.

Health & Fitness

25 related employer businesses in Florence.

Technology & Media

22 related employer businesses in Florence.

Pet Services

10 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