Selling a Business in Parkersburg

Owners in the Parkersburg area sell to local buyers and to buyers from other markets. The area has 1,953 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

Parkersburg by the numbers

1,953

1,953

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

83%

83%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

4,510

4,510

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

30,258

30,258

EMPLOYMENT

$1.4 billion

$1.4 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

1,007

1,007

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 Parkersburg compares

  • The Parkersburg area ranks 7th of 7 West Virginia metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 2.4% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 18% of employer businesses in Parkersburg, compared with 16% in West Virginia.

  • 1,007 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • The Parkersburg area ranks 7th of 7 West Virginia metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 2.4% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 18% of employer businesses in Parkersburg, compared with 16% in West Virginia.

  • 1,007 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 345 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 300 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 256 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 205 employer businesses

  • Construction: 132 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 345 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 300 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 256 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 205 employer businesses

  • Construction: 132 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 Parkersburg

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

Every kind of business we sell in Parkersburg

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

181 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

Retail Stores

151 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

Medical Practices

150 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

Construction & Engineering

133 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

  • General Contracting: 50 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Plumbing: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Roofing & Siding: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

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

Financial & Professional Services

91 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

Automotive & Boat

75 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

  • Auto Repair: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Parts: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Washes: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Collision Repair: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Gas Stations & Convenience

41 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

Logistics & Transportation

41 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

38 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

Manufacturing

37 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

Wholesale & Distribution

36 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

Beauty & Personal Care

34 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

  • Hair Salons: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

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

Health & Fitness

25 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

Education & Childcare

24 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

  • Daycare Centers: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

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

Home Services

21 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

Entertainment & Recreation

19 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

  • Bars & Pubs: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • 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.

Senior Care & Living

19 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

Hospitality & Travel

16 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

  • Hotels: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

15 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

Pet Services

8 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

Technology & Media

8 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

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

181 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

Retail Stores

151 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

Medical Practices

150 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

Construction & Engineering

133 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

  • General Contracting: 50 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Plumbing: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Roofing & Siding: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

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

Financial & Professional Services

91 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

Automotive & Boat

75 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

  • Auto Repair: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Parts: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Washes: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Collision Repair: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Gas Stations & Convenience

41 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

Logistics & Transportation

41 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

38 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

Manufacturing

37 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

Wholesale & Distribution

36 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

Beauty & Personal Care

34 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

  • Hair Salons: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

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

Health & Fitness

25 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

Education & Childcare

24 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

  • Daycare Centers: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

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

Home Services

21 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

Entertainment & Recreation

19 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

  • Bars & Pubs: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • 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.

Senior Care & Living

19 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

Hospitality & Travel

16 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

  • Hotels: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

15 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

Pet Services

8 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

Technology & Media

8 related employer businesses in Parkersburg.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

Counties in this metro area

Working with owners in Parkersburg

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Parkersburg ask

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

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 Parkersburg?

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 Parkersburg

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