Selling a Business in Valdosta

Owners in the Valdosta area sell to local buyers and to buyers from other markets. The area has 3,243 employer businesses, and 85% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows what is here and how a sale is handled.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Valdosta by the numbers

3,243

3,243

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

85%

85%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

11,948

11,948

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

45,400

45,400

EMPLOYMENT

$1.9 billion

$1.9 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

1,367

1,367

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 Valdosta compares

  • The Valdosta area ranks 9th of 14 Georgia metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 3.4% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Health care and social assistance makes up 15% of employer businesses in Valdosta, compared with 11% in Georgia.

  • 1,367 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • The Valdosta area ranks 9th of 14 Georgia metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 3.4% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Health care and social assistance makes up 15% of employer businesses in Valdosta, compared with 11% in Georgia.

  • 1,367 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 577 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 502 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 308 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 308 employer businesses

  • Construction: 269 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 577 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 502 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 308 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 308 employer businesses

  • Construction: 269 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 Valdosta

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

Every kind of business we sell in Valdosta

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

296 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

Construction & Engineering

273 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

  • General Contracting: 79 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Electrical: 45 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 42 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 36 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 36 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Civil Engineering: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

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

  • Carpentry & Framing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

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

Medical Practices

251 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

Financial & Professional Services

214 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

Retail Stores

198 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

Automotive & Boat

124 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

  • Car Dealerships: 33 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Repair: 32 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Collision Repair: 18 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: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Gas Stations & Convenience

120 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

Logistics & Transportation

95 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

Manufacturing

92 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

Wholesale & Distribution

63 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

Home Services

60 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

Beauty & Personal Care

47 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

  • Hair Salons: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Barber Shops: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.25x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

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

Education & Childcare

37 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

  • Daycare Centers: 33 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

  • Tutoring Centers: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.

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

Hospitality & Travel

37 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

  • Hotels: 37 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 37 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

37 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

Energy & Utilities

26 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

Health & Fitness

18 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

Technology & Media

18 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

Entertainment & Recreation

17 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

  • Bars & Pubs: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 5 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

12 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

Pet Services

7 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

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

296 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

Construction & Engineering

273 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

  • General Contracting: 79 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Electrical: 45 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 42 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 36 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 36 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Civil Engineering: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

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

  • Carpentry & Framing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

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

Medical Practices

251 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

Financial & Professional Services

214 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

Retail Stores

198 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

Automotive & Boat

124 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

  • Car Dealerships: 33 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Repair: 32 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Collision Repair: 18 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: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Gas Stations & Convenience

120 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

Logistics & Transportation

95 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

Manufacturing

92 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

Wholesale & Distribution

63 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

Home Services

60 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

Beauty & Personal Care

47 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

  • Hair Salons: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Barber Shops: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.25x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

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

Education & Childcare

37 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

  • Daycare Centers: 33 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

  • Tutoring Centers: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.

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

Hospitality & Travel

37 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

  • Hotels: 37 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 37 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

37 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

Energy & Utilities

26 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

Health & Fitness

18 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

Technology & Media

18 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

Entertainment & Recreation

17 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

  • Bars & Pubs: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 5 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

12 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

Pet Services

7 related employer businesses in Valdosta.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

Counties in this metro area

Working with owners in Valdosta

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Valdosta ask

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

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 Valdosta?

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 Valdosta

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