Selling a Business in Shreveport

Owners in the Shreveport area sell to local buyers and to buyers from other markets. The area has 9,193 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

Shreveport by the numbers

9,193

9,193

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

84%

84%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

38,123

38,123

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

138,991

138,991

EMPLOYMENT

$7.2 billion

$7.2 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

4,123

4,123

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 Shreveport compares

  • The Shreveport area ranks 4th of 10 Louisiana metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 0.4% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Health care and social assistance makes up 14% of employer businesses in Shreveport, compared with 12% in Louisiana.

  • 4,123 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • The Shreveport area ranks 4th of 10 Louisiana metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 0.4% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Health care and social assistance makes up 14% of employer businesses in Shreveport, compared with 12% in Louisiana.

  • 4,123 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 1,310 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 1,245 employer businesses

  • Professional and technical services: 893 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 890 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 835 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 1,310 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 1,245 employer businesses

  • Professional and technical services: 893 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 890 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 835 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 Shreveport

Retail, health care and social assistance, professional and technical services, repair, personal care and other services

Every kind of business we sell in Shreveport

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

803 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

  • General Contracting: 189 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 149 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 149 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 104 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 102 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 77 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Civil Engineering: 69 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 57 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Roofing & Siding: 36 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Masonry: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Remediation & Restoration: 7 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.

Restaurants & Food

768 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

Medical Practices

765 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

Financial & Professional Services

578 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

Retail Stores

500 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

Automotive & Boat

333 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

  • Auto Parts: 94 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Auto Repair: 89 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 61 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 42 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Boat Dealerships: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.

Wholesale & Distribution

251 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

Logistics & Transportation

236 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

Gas Stations & Convenience

198 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

Energy & Utilities

188 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

Manufacturing

177 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

Home Services

168 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

Beauty & Personal Care

121 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

  • Hair Salons: 57 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 38 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x 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.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

112 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

Education & Childcare

109 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

  • Daycare Centers: 102 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

  • Tutoring Centers: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.

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

Hospitality & Travel

96 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

  • Hotels: 78 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 78 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

  • Travel Agencies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Entertainment & Recreation

90 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

  • Bars & Pubs: 56 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 56 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Arcades & FECs: 4 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.

Health & Fitness

79 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

Senior Care & Living

64 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

Technology & Media

63 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

Pet Services

29 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

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

803 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

  • General Contracting: 189 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 149 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 149 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 104 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 102 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 77 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Civil Engineering: 69 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 57 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Roofing & Siding: 36 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Masonry: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Remediation & Restoration: 7 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.

Restaurants & Food

768 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

Medical Practices

765 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

Financial & Professional Services

578 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

Retail Stores

500 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

Automotive & Boat

333 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

  • Auto Parts: 94 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Auto Repair: 89 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 61 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 42 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Boat Dealerships: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.

Wholesale & Distribution

251 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

Logistics & Transportation

236 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

Gas Stations & Convenience

198 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

Energy & Utilities

188 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

Manufacturing

177 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

Home Services

168 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

Beauty & Personal Care

121 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

  • Hair Salons: 57 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 38 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x 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.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

112 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

Education & Childcare

109 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

  • Daycare Centers: 102 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

  • Tutoring Centers: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.

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

Hospitality & Travel

96 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

  • Hotels: 78 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 78 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

  • Travel Agencies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Entertainment & Recreation

90 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

  • Bars & Pubs: 56 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 56 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Arcades & FECs: 4 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.

Health & Fitness

79 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

Senior Care & Living

64 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

Technology & Media

63 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

Pet Services

29 related employer businesses in Shreveport.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

Counties in this metro area

Working with owners in Shreveport

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Shreveport ask

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

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 Shreveport?

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 Shreveport

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