Selling a Business in Wheeling

Owners in the Wheeling area sell to local buyers and to buyers from other markets. The area has 3,180 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

Wheeling by the numbers

3,180

3,180

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

84%

84%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

7,232

7,232

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

51,417

51,417

EMPLOYMENT

$2.7 billion

$2.7 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

1,581

1,581

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 Wheeling compares

  • The Wheeling area ranks 3rd of 7 West Virginia metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 1.9% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Health care and social assistance makes up 16% of employer businesses in Wheeling, compared with 14% in West Virginia.

  • 1,581 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • The Wheeling area ranks 3rd of 7 West Virginia metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 1.9% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Health care and social assistance makes up 16% of employer businesses in Wheeling, compared with 14% in West Virginia.

  • 1,581 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 522 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 505 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 409 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 335 employer businesses

  • Professional and technical services: 253 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 522 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 505 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 409 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 335 employer businesses

  • Professional and technical services: 253 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 Wheeling

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

Every kind of business we sell in Wheeling

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

278 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

Medical Practices

242 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

Construction & Engineering

210 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

  • General Contracting: 63 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 39 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Plumbing: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Masonry: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

Retail Stores

177 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

Financial & Professional Services

147 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

Automotive & Boat

114 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

  • Auto Repair: 43 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 36 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Parts: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

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

  • Car Washes: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Gas Stations & Convenience

89 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

Logistics & Transportation

77 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

Manufacturing

74 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

Beauty & Personal Care

54 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

  • Hair Salons: 41 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

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

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

Wholesale & Distribution

52 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

Entertainment & Recreation

50 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

  • Bars & Pubs: 37 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 37 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Golf Courses: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Bowling Alleys: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Arcades & FECs: 3 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.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

37 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

Energy & Utilities

36 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

Hospitality & Travel

31 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

  • Hotels: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Education & Childcare

30 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

  • Daycare Centers: 30 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

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

Health & Fitness

30 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

Technology & Media

30 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

Senior Care & Living

28 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

Home Services

24 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

Pet Services

7 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

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

278 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

Medical Practices

242 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

Construction & Engineering

210 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

  • General Contracting: 63 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 39 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Plumbing: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Masonry: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

Retail Stores

177 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

Financial & Professional Services

147 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

Automotive & Boat

114 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

  • Auto Repair: 43 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 36 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Parts: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

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

  • Car Washes: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Gas Stations & Convenience

89 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

Logistics & Transportation

77 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

Manufacturing

74 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

Beauty & Personal Care

54 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

  • Hair Salons: 41 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

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

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

Wholesale & Distribution

52 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

Entertainment & Recreation

50 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

  • Bars & Pubs: 37 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 37 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Golf Courses: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Bowling Alleys: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Arcades & FECs: 3 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.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

37 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

Energy & Utilities

36 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

Hospitality & Travel

31 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

  • Hotels: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Education & Childcare

30 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

  • Daycare Centers: 30 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

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

Health & Fitness

30 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

Technology & Media

30 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

Senior Care & Living

28 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

Home Services

24 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

Pet Services

7 related employer businesses in Wheeling.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

Counties in this metro area

Working with owners in Wheeling

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Wheeling ask

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

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 Wheeling?

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 Wheeling

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