Selling a Business in Lakeland
Owners in the Lakeland area sell to local buyers and to buyers from other markets. The area has 13,992 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
Lakeland by the numbers
13,992
13,992
EMPLOYER BUSINESSES
86%
86%
SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE
88,219
88,219
BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES
232,278
232,278
EMPLOYMENT
$11.7 billion
$11.7 billion
ANNUAL PAYROLL
5,101
5,101
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 Lakeland compares
The Lakeland area ranks 10th of 22 Florida metro areas for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses grew 16.6% between 2018 and 2023.
Transportation and warehousing makes up 5% of employer businesses in Lakeland, compared with 3% in Florida.
5,101 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
The Lakeland area ranks 10th of 22 Florida metro areas for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses grew 16.6% between 2018 and 2023.
Transportation and warehousing makes up 5% of employer businesses in Lakeland, compared with 3% in Florida.
5,101 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Industry mix
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Retail: 1,916 employer businesses
Construction: 1,823 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 1,384 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 1,372 employer businesses
Professional and technical services: 1,271 employer businesses
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Retail: 1,916 employer businesses
Construction: 1,823 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 1,384 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 1,372 employer businesses
Professional and technical services: 1,271 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 Lakeland
Retail, construction, health care and social assistance, repair, personal care and other services
Every kind of business we sell in Lakeland
We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Lakeland. 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.
Construction & Engineering
2,013 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
General Contracting: 464 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Interior Finishing: 350 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Landscaping: 343 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Plumbing: 231 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 231 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Foundation & Site Prep: 162 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Electrical: 162 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Civil Engineering: 96 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Roofing & Siding: 92 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Masonry: 62 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.
Carpentry & Framing: 43 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Remediation & Restoration: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Restaurants & Food
1,002 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 482 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Full-Service Restaurants: 301 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 106 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Coffee Shops: 66 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Liquor, Wine & Beer Stores: 41 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Bakeries: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Ghost Kitchens. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Financial & Professional Services
863 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Real Estate Brokerages: 284 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Insurance Agencies: 260 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 209 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Wealth Management: 68 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Private Lending: 36 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Mortgage Brokerages: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Medical Practices
825 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Primary & Family Care: 304 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Dental Practices: 181 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Mental & Behavioral Health: 74 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Home Health & Hospice: 72 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Veterinary Medicine: 56 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 46 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Vision & Eye Care: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Medical Labs & Imaging: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Medicine: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 5.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Urgent Care Clinics: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.
Logistics & Transportation
659 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
General Freight Trucking: 486 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Warehousing & Fulfillment: 64 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Freight Brokerage & 3PL: 34 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Heavy Haul Transport: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Last-Mile & Courier: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.76x - 3.32x SDE.
Commercial Moving: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 3.0x SDE.
NEMT & Passenger Transport: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.1x - 3.1x SDE.
Port Drayage. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Retail Stores
617 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 156 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 156 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 115 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Home Decor & Furniture: 74 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Electronics & Repair: 47 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Sporting Goods & Firearms: 35 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.4x SDE.
Hobby, Toys & Gift Shops: 34 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE + Inventory.
Automotive & Boat
523 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Auto Repair: 177 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Auto Parts: 111 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Car Dealerships: 105 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.
Collision Repair: 47 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Car Washes: 47 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Towing & Repo: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Boat Dealerships: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.
Marinas: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Home Services
374 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Residential Cleaning: 152 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 152 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.
Property Management: 145 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Pest Control: 61 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.
Security Systems: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.9x EBITDA.
Audio Visual (AV). Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Junk Removal. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 3.0x SDE.
Pool & Spa Service. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA.
Manufacturing
349 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Metal Fabrication: 76 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Printing & Plastics: 67 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.9x - 4.9x SDE.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 60 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Medical & Chemical Manufacturing: 43 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 43 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Construction Materials Manufacturing: 38 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Electronics & Tech Manufacturing: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.5x EBITDA.
Textile & Apparel Manufacturing: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Gas Stations & Convenience
335 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Gas Stations: 237 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Convenience Stores: 98 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Truck Stops & Travel Centers. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Wholesale & Distribution
306 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Industrial & Construction Supply: 158 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Food & Beverage Distribution: 80 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Electronics, IT & Office Equipment Distribution: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Chemicals, Plastics & Raw Materials Distribution: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.
Packaging, Paper & JanSan Distribution: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Medical, Dental & Pharmaceutical Distribution: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 4.5x EBITDA.
Consumer Goods & Apparel Distribution: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Beauty & Personal Care
229 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Hair Salons: 127 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.
Day Spas: 51 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.
Tattoo Shops: 51 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Massage Parlors: 51 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Nail Salons: 34 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.
Barber Shops: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.25x SDE.
Medical Spas. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x EBITDA.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
173 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Compounding Pharmacies: 72 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 72 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Home Infusion: 72 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Medical Supply Retail: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE + Inventory.
Durable Medical Equipment (DME): 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Education & Childcare
154 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Daycare Centers: 141 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Tutoring Centers: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Preschools. Typical sale multiple: 3.12x - 4.0x SDE.
Technology & Media
145 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Creative Agencies: 45 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 3.0x SDE.
Digital Marketing Agencies: 44 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Media, Film & Studio Production: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.5x SDE.
Real Estate Media: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.8x SDE.
Software Companies (SaaS): 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x SDE.
E-commerce & Online Brands. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE + Inventory.
Hospitality & Travel
141 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Hotels: 88 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 88 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.
Transportation Services: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.
Campgrounds & RV Parks: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Travel Agencies: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.2x SDE.
Entertainment & Recreation
99 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Bars & Pubs: 55 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 55 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.
Outdoor Recreation: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Golf Courses: 16 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.
Energy & Utilities
93 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Water & Wastewater Services: 41 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Waste Management & Recycling: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Propane & Fuel Distribution: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Solar & Renewable Energy: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 6.0x EBITDA.
Health & Fitness
80 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Gyms & Health Clubs: 44 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.
Yoga Studios: 44 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.
Pilates Studios: 44 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.
Personal Training Studios: 44 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.
Wellness & Recovery Centers: 36 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 5.5x - 9.7x EBITDA.
Senior Care & Living
77 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Non-Medical Home Care: 50 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Assisted Living Facilities: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Senior Living Communities: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Adult Day Services. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Pet Services
59 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Pet Grooming & Spas: 41 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Boarding, Daycare & Training: 41 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.
Pet Retail & Specialty Supplies: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE + Inventory.
Mobile & In-Home Pet Care. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE + Fleet.
Land & Agriculture
7 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Agricultural Labor Contracting: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.4x - 6.09x EBITDA.
Crop Production. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 6.69x EBITDA.
Livestock & Ranching. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.76x EBITDA.
Agribusiness & Infrastructure. Typical sale multiple: 5.2x - 10.3x EBITDA.
AgTech & Precision Ag. Typical sale multiple: 8.3x - 12.1x EBITDA.
Agri-Tourism & Lifestyle. Typical sale multiple: 2.51x - 4.54x SDE.
E-commerce & Online Businesses
Amazon FBA Businesses. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE + Inventory.
Online Marketplaces. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 6.0x SDE.
We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Lakeland. 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.
Construction & Engineering
2,013 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
General Contracting: 464 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Interior Finishing: 350 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Landscaping: 343 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Plumbing: 231 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 231 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Foundation & Site Prep: 162 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Electrical: 162 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Civil Engineering: 96 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Roofing & Siding: 92 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Masonry: 62 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.
Carpentry & Framing: 43 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Remediation & Restoration: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Restaurants & Food
1,002 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 482 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Full-Service Restaurants: 301 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 106 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Coffee Shops: 66 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Liquor, Wine & Beer Stores: 41 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Bakeries: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Ghost Kitchens. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Financial & Professional Services
863 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Real Estate Brokerages: 284 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Insurance Agencies: 260 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 209 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Wealth Management: 68 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Private Lending: 36 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Mortgage Brokerages: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Medical Practices
825 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Primary & Family Care: 304 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Dental Practices: 181 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Mental & Behavioral Health: 74 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Home Health & Hospice: 72 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Veterinary Medicine: 56 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 46 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Vision & Eye Care: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Medical Labs & Imaging: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Medicine: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 5.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Urgent Care Clinics: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.
Logistics & Transportation
659 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
General Freight Trucking: 486 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Warehousing & Fulfillment: 64 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Freight Brokerage & 3PL: 34 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Heavy Haul Transport: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Last-Mile & Courier: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.76x - 3.32x SDE.
Commercial Moving: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 3.0x SDE.
NEMT & Passenger Transport: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.1x - 3.1x SDE.
Port Drayage. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Retail Stores
617 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 156 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 156 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 115 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Home Decor & Furniture: 74 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Electronics & Repair: 47 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Sporting Goods & Firearms: 35 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.4x SDE.
Hobby, Toys & Gift Shops: 34 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE + Inventory.
Automotive & Boat
523 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Auto Repair: 177 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Auto Parts: 111 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Car Dealerships: 105 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.
Collision Repair: 47 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Car Washes: 47 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Towing & Repo: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Boat Dealerships: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.
Marinas: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Home Services
374 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Residential Cleaning: 152 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 152 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.
Property Management: 145 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Pest Control: 61 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.
Security Systems: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.9x EBITDA.
Audio Visual (AV). Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Junk Removal. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 3.0x SDE.
Pool & Spa Service. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA.
Manufacturing
349 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Metal Fabrication: 76 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Printing & Plastics: 67 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.9x - 4.9x SDE.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 60 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Medical & Chemical Manufacturing: 43 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 43 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Construction Materials Manufacturing: 38 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Electronics & Tech Manufacturing: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.5x EBITDA.
Textile & Apparel Manufacturing: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Gas Stations & Convenience
335 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Gas Stations: 237 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Convenience Stores: 98 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Truck Stops & Travel Centers. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Wholesale & Distribution
306 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Industrial & Construction Supply: 158 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Food & Beverage Distribution: 80 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Electronics, IT & Office Equipment Distribution: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Chemicals, Plastics & Raw Materials Distribution: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.
Packaging, Paper & JanSan Distribution: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Medical, Dental & Pharmaceutical Distribution: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 4.5x EBITDA.
Consumer Goods & Apparel Distribution: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Beauty & Personal Care
229 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Hair Salons: 127 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.
Day Spas: 51 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.
Tattoo Shops: 51 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Massage Parlors: 51 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Nail Salons: 34 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.
Barber Shops: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.25x SDE.
Medical Spas. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x EBITDA.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
173 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Compounding Pharmacies: 72 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 72 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Home Infusion: 72 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Medical Supply Retail: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE + Inventory.
Durable Medical Equipment (DME): 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Education & Childcare
154 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Daycare Centers: 141 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Tutoring Centers: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Preschools. Typical sale multiple: 3.12x - 4.0x SDE.
Technology & Media
145 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Creative Agencies: 45 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 3.0x SDE.
Digital Marketing Agencies: 44 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Media, Film & Studio Production: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.5x SDE.
Real Estate Media: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.8x SDE.
Software Companies (SaaS): 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x SDE.
E-commerce & Online Brands. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE + Inventory.
Hospitality & Travel
141 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Hotels: 88 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 88 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.
Transportation Services: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.
Campgrounds & RV Parks: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Travel Agencies: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.2x SDE.
Entertainment & Recreation
99 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Bars & Pubs: 55 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 55 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.
Outdoor Recreation: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Golf Courses: 16 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.
Energy & Utilities
93 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Water & Wastewater Services: 41 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Waste Management & Recycling: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Propane & Fuel Distribution: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Solar & Renewable Energy: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 6.0x EBITDA.
Health & Fitness
80 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Gyms & Health Clubs: 44 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.
Yoga Studios: 44 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.
Pilates Studios: 44 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.
Personal Training Studios: 44 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.
Wellness & Recovery Centers: 36 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 5.5x - 9.7x EBITDA.
Senior Care & Living
77 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Non-Medical Home Care: 50 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Assisted Living Facilities: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Senior Living Communities: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Adult Day Services. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Pet Services
59 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Pet Grooming & Spas: 41 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Boarding, Daycare & Training: 41 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.
Pet Retail & Specialty Supplies: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE + Inventory.
Mobile & In-Home Pet Care. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE + Fleet.
Land & Agriculture
7 related employer businesses in Lakeland.
Agricultural Labor Contracting: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.4x - 6.09x EBITDA.
Crop Production. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 6.69x EBITDA.
Livestock & Ranching. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.76x EBITDA.
Agribusiness & Infrastructure. Typical sale multiple: 5.2x - 10.3x EBITDA.
AgTech & Precision Ag. Typical sale multiple: 8.3x - 12.1x EBITDA.
Agri-Tourism & Lifestyle. Typical sale multiple: 2.51x - 4.54x SDE.
E-commerce & Online Businesses
Amazon FBA Businesses. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE + Inventory.
Online Marketplaces. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 6.0x SDE.
Counties in this metro area
Working with owners in Lakeland
Business Advisors of America works with owners who are selling a business in Lakeland. Contact us to talk about a sale.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions owners in Lakeland ask
How long does it take to sell a business in Lakeland?
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 Lakeland?
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 Lakeland
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