Selling a Business in Lawrence

Owners in the Lawrence area sell to local buyers and to buyers from other markets. The area has 2,774 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

Lawrence by the numbers

2,774

2,774

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

84%

84%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

9,350

9,350

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

38,737

38,737

EMPLOYMENT

$1.7 billion

$1.7 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

1,225

1,225

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 Lawrence compares

  • The Lawrence area ranks 4th of 4 Kansas metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 1.2% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Accommodation and food service makes up 12% of employer businesses in Lawrence, compared with 9% in Kansas.

  • 1,225 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • The Lawrence area ranks 4th of 4 Kansas metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 1.2% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Accommodation and food service makes up 12% of employer businesses in Lawrence, compared with 9% in Kansas.

  • 1,225 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 348 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 345 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 326 employer businesses

  • Professional and technical services: 302 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 290 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 348 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 345 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 326 employer businesses

  • Professional and technical services: 302 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 290 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 Lawrence

Retail, accommodation and food service, health care and social assistance, professional and technical services

Every kind of business we sell in Lawrence

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

322 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

  • General Contracting: 99 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 45 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 39 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 37 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 37 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 30 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Civil Engineering: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Roofing & Siding: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

299 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

Medical Practices

184 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

Financial & Professional Services

176 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

Retail Stores

144 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

Beauty & Personal Care

75 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

  • Hair Salons: 44 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x 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.

  • Nail Salons: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Barber Shops: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.25x SDE.

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

Automotive & Boat

73 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

  • Auto Repair: 30 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Parts: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Collision Repair: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Home Services

60 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

Manufacturing

49 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

Entertainment & Recreation

45 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

  • Bars & Pubs: 32 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 32 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: 4 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.

Wholesale & Distribution

41 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

Logistics & Transportation

36 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

Technology & Media

33 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

31 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

Education & Childcare

28 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

  • Daycare Centers: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

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

Gas Stations & Convenience

28 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

Senior Care & Living

26 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

Health & Fitness

23 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

Hospitality & Travel

23 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

  • Hotels: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Pet Services

16 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

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

322 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

  • General Contracting: 99 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 45 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 39 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 37 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 37 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 30 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Civil Engineering: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Roofing & Siding: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

299 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

Medical Practices

184 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

Financial & Professional Services

176 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

Retail Stores

144 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

Beauty & Personal Care

75 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

  • Hair Salons: 44 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x 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.

  • Nail Salons: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Barber Shops: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.25x SDE.

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

Automotive & Boat

73 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

  • Auto Repair: 30 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Parts: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Collision Repair: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Home Services

60 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

Manufacturing

49 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

Entertainment & Recreation

45 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

  • Bars & Pubs: 32 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 32 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: 4 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.

Wholesale & Distribution

41 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

Logistics & Transportation

36 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

Technology & Media

33 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

31 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

Education & Childcare

28 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

  • Daycare Centers: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

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

Gas Stations & Convenience

28 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

Senior Care & Living

26 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

Health & Fitness

23 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

Hospitality & Travel

23 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

  • Hotels: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Pet Services

16 related employer businesses in Lawrence.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

Counties in this metro area

Working with owners in Lawrence

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Lawrence ask

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

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 Lawrence?

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 Lawrence

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