Selling a Business in Huntington

Owners in the Huntington area sell to local buyers and to buyers from other markets. The area has 7,018 employer businesses, and 83% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows what is here and how a sale is handled.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Huntington by the numbers

7,018

7,018

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

83%

83%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

20,324

20,324

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

116,763

116,763

EMPLOYMENT

$6.0 billion

$6.0 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

3,549

3,549

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 Huntington compares

  • The Huntington area ranks 1st of 7 West Virginia metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 2.0% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Wholesale makes up 4% of employer businesses in Huntington, compared with 4% in West Virginia.

  • 3,549 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • The Huntington area ranks 1st of 7 West Virginia metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 2.0% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Wholesale makes up 4% of employer businesses in Huntington, compared with 4% in West Virginia.

  • 3,549 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 1,261 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 980 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 764 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 741 employer businesses

  • Construction: 626 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 1,261 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 980 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 764 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 741 employer businesses

  • Construction: 626 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 Huntington

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

Every kind of business we sell in Huntington

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

688 related employer businesses in Huntington.

Construction & Engineering

641 related employer businesses in Huntington.

  • General Contracting: 183 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 96 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 96 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 86 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

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

  • Electrical: 62 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 54 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 32 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 30 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Masonry: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Remediation & Restoration: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Medical Practices

515 related employer businesses in Huntington.

Retail Stores

433 related employer businesses in Huntington.

Financial & Professional Services

316 related employer businesses in Huntington.

Automotive & Boat

276 related employer businesses in Huntington.

  • Auto Repair: 90 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 72 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 63 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Gas Stations & Convenience

215 related employer businesses in Huntington.

Logistics & Transportation

185 related employer businesses in Huntington.

Manufacturing

176 related employer businesses in Huntington.

Wholesale & Distribution

165 related employer businesses in Huntington.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

143 related employer businesses in Huntington.

Health & Fitness

110 related employer businesses in Huntington.

Home Services

103 related employer businesses in Huntington.

Energy & Utilities

88 related employer businesses in Huntington.

Beauty & Personal Care

79 related employer businesses in Huntington.

  • Hair Salons: 42 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Barber Shops: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.25x SDE.

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

Entertainment & Recreation

76 related employer businesses in Huntington.

  • Bars & Pubs: 46 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 46 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Arcades & FECs: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.1x - 3.6x SDE.

  • 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

58 related employer businesses in Huntington.

Education & Childcare

57 related employer businesses in Huntington.

  • Daycare Centers: 57 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

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

Hospitality & Travel

50 related employer businesses in Huntington.

  • Hotels: 40 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 40 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

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

Technology & Media

36 related employer businesses in Huntington.

Pet Services

25 related employer businesses in Huntington.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

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

688 related employer businesses in Huntington.

Construction & Engineering

641 related employer businesses in Huntington.

  • General Contracting: 183 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 96 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 96 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 86 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

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

  • Electrical: 62 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 54 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 32 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 30 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Masonry: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Remediation & Restoration: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Medical Practices

515 related employer businesses in Huntington.

Retail Stores

433 related employer businesses in Huntington.

Financial & Professional Services

316 related employer businesses in Huntington.

Automotive & Boat

276 related employer businesses in Huntington.

  • Auto Repair: 90 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 72 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 63 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Gas Stations & Convenience

215 related employer businesses in Huntington.

Logistics & Transportation

185 related employer businesses in Huntington.

Manufacturing

176 related employer businesses in Huntington.

Wholesale & Distribution

165 related employer businesses in Huntington.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

143 related employer businesses in Huntington.

Health & Fitness

110 related employer businesses in Huntington.

Home Services

103 related employer businesses in Huntington.

Energy & Utilities

88 related employer businesses in Huntington.

Beauty & Personal Care

79 related employer businesses in Huntington.

  • Hair Salons: 42 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Barber Shops: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.25x SDE.

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

Entertainment & Recreation

76 related employer businesses in Huntington.

  • Bars & Pubs: 46 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 46 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Arcades & FECs: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.1x - 3.6x SDE.

  • 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

58 related employer businesses in Huntington.

Education & Childcare

57 related employer businesses in Huntington.

  • Daycare Centers: 57 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

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

Hospitality & Travel

50 related employer businesses in Huntington.

  • Hotels: 40 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 40 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

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

Technology & Media

36 related employer businesses in Huntington.

Pet Services

25 related employer businesses in Huntington.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

Counties in this metro area

Working with owners in Huntington

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Huntington ask

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

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 Huntington?

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 Huntington

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