Selling a Business in Gulfport

Owners in the Gulfport area sell to local buyers and to buyers from other markets. The area has 7,882 employer businesses, and 85% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows what is here and how a sale is handled.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Gulfport by the numbers

7,882

7,882

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

85%

85%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

35,586

35,586

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

131,721

131,721

EMPLOYMENT

$6.8 billion

$6.8 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

3,713

3,713

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 Gulfport compares

  • The Gulfport area ranks 2nd of 3 Mississippi metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 5.3% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Accommodation and food service makes up 13% of employer businesses in Gulfport, compared with 10% in Mississippi.

  • 3,713 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • The Gulfport area ranks 2nd of 3 Mississippi metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 5.3% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Accommodation and food service makes up 13% of employer businesses in Gulfport, compared with 10% in Mississippi.

  • 3,713 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 1,471 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 1,034 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 962 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 768 employer businesses

  • Professional and technical services: 695 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 1,471 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 1,034 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 962 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 768 employer businesses

  • Professional and technical services: 695 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 Gulfport

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

Every kind of business we sell in Gulfport

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

897 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

Construction & Engineering

635 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

  • General Contracting: 173 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 100 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 100 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 79 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 70 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 65 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 59 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 52 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Remediation & Restoration: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 10 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.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Medical Practices

602 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

Retail Stores

550 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

Financial & Professional Services

464 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

Automotive & Boat

341 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

  • Auto Repair: 106 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 79 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 57 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 45 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Boat Dealerships: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Marinas: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Gas Stations & Convenience

245 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

Logistics & Transportation

170 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

Manufacturing

157 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

Home Services

138 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

Hospitality & Travel

135 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

  • Hotels: 97 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 97 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Transportation Services: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

  • Travel Agencies: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Bed & Breakfasts / Inns: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

122 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

119 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

Education & Childcare

97 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

  • Daycare Centers: 93 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.

Beauty & Personal Care

85 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

  • Hair Salons: 45 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Barber Shops: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.25x SDE.

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

Entertainment & Recreation

83 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

  • Bars & Pubs: 54 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 54 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Bowling Alleys: 3 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.

Energy & Utilities

71 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

Health & Fitness

52 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

Senior Care & Living

41 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

Technology & Media

33 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

Pet Services

31 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

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

897 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

Construction & Engineering

635 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

  • General Contracting: 173 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 100 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 100 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 79 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 70 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 65 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 59 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 52 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Remediation & Restoration: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 10 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.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Medical Practices

602 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

Retail Stores

550 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

Financial & Professional Services

464 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

Automotive & Boat

341 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

  • Auto Repair: 106 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 79 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 57 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 45 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Boat Dealerships: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Marinas: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Gas Stations & Convenience

245 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

Logistics & Transportation

170 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

Manufacturing

157 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

Home Services

138 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

Hospitality & Travel

135 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

  • Hotels: 97 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 97 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Transportation Services: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

  • Travel Agencies: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Bed & Breakfasts / Inns: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

122 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

119 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

Education & Childcare

97 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

  • Daycare Centers: 93 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.

Beauty & Personal Care

85 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

  • Hair Salons: 45 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Barber Shops: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.25x SDE.

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

Entertainment & Recreation

83 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

  • Bars & Pubs: 54 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 54 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Bowling Alleys: 3 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.

Energy & Utilities

71 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

Health & Fitness

52 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

Senior Care & Living

41 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

Technology & Media

33 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

Pet Services

31 related employer businesses in Gulfport.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

Counties in this metro area

Working with owners in Gulfport

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Gulfport ask

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

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 Gulfport?

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 Gulfport

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