Selling a Business in Pinehurst

Owners in the Pinehurst area sell to local buyers and to buyers from other markets. The area has 2,516 employer businesses, and 87% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows what is here and how a sale is handled.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Pinehurst by the numbers

2,516

2,516

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

87%

87%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

10,348

10,348

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

36,324

36,324

EMPLOYMENT

$1.9 billion

$1.9 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

1,030

1,030

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 Pinehurst compares

  • The Pinehurst area ranks 14th of 15 North Carolina metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 10.4% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Health care and social assistance makes up 13% of employer businesses in Pinehurst, compared with 11% in North Carolina.

  • 1,030 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • The Pinehurst area ranks 14th of 15 North Carolina metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 10.4% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Health care and social assistance makes up 13% of employer businesses in Pinehurst, compared with 11% in North Carolina.

  • 1,030 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 360 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 322 employer businesses

  • Construction: 274 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 262 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 261 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 360 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 322 employer businesses

  • Construction: 274 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 262 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 261 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

Every kind of business we sell in Pinehurst

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

321 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

  • General Contracting: 103 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 70 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x 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.

  • Electrical: 33 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

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

  • Civil Engineering: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

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

Restaurants & Food

241 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

Medical Practices

198 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

Financial & Professional Services

172 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

Retail Stores

160 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

Automotive & Boat

70 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

  • Auto Repair: 32 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: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

60 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

Home Services

53 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

Gas Stations & Convenience

46 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

Education & Childcare

42 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

  • Daycare Centers: 42 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

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

Entertainment & Recreation

40 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

  • Golf Courses: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Bars & Pubs: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 12 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.

  • 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.

Beauty & Personal Care

37 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

  • Hair Salons: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

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

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

32 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

Logistics & Transportation

31 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

Hospitality & Travel

28 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

  • Hotels: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

  • Travel Agencies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.2x SDE.

Pet Services

25 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

Health & Fitness

24 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

Technology & Media

23 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

Wholesale & Distribution

22 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

Senior Care & Living

20 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

Energy & Utilities

13 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

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

321 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

  • General Contracting: 103 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 70 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x 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.

  • Electrical: 33 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

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

  • Civil Engineering: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

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

Restaurants & Food

241 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

Medical Practices

198 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

Financial & Professional Services

172 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

Retail Stores

160 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

Automotive & Boat

70 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

  • Auto Repair: 32 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: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

60 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

Home Services

53 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

Gas Stations & Convenience

46 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

Education & Childcare

42 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

  • Daycare Centers: 42 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

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

Entertainment & Recreation

40 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

  • Golf Courses: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Bars & Pubs: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 12 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.

  • 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.

Beauty & Personal Care

37 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

  • Hair Salons: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

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

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

32 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

Logistics & Transportation

31 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

Hospitality & Travel

28 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

  • Hotels: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

  • Travel Agencies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.2x SDE.

Pet Services

25 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

Health & Fitness

24 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

Technology & Media

23 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

Wholesale & Distribution

22 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

Senior Care & Living

20 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

Energy & Utilities

13 related employer businesses in Pinehurst.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

Counties in this metro area

Working with owners in Pinehurst

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Pinehurst ask

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

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 Pinehurst?

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 Pinehurst

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