Moderate

opportunity score

Columbus, OH Market Report

Ohio State University anchor drives a diverse economy with growing tech, healthcare, and finance sectors.

2.1M

Metro Population

+1.4%

Annual Growth

580

Listed Businesses

$350K

Median Asking Price

🏙️ Market Overview

2.1M metro

Population · +1.4%/yr growth

Top Industries:
• Education & Research
• Healthcare
• Finance & Insurance

📊 Acquisition Activity

580

businesses listed for sale

Avg. time on market: 4.6 months

Median asking price: $350K

Price range: $140K – $2.4M

1,300 active buyers

🏦 SBA Lending Snapshot — Columbus

25%

7(a) Approval Rate

$465K

Avg. Loan Size

Top Lenders

Huntington Bank · Fifth Third Bank · Heartland Bank

SBA Performance: Good — stable metro with diverse economy; steady deal flow

📈 Business Valuation Multiples — Columbus

Industry	SDE Multiple	EBITDA Multiple	Notes
Restaurant (FSR)	1.9x–2.6x	4.2x–5.5x	Ohio State crowd drives dining; college-adjacent concepts popular
HVAC / Plumbing	2.3x–3.1x	5.1x–6.4x	Cold winters; suburban growth driving residential demand
Dental	2.7x–3.5x	5.8x–7.2x	Growing population; Ohio State hospital system creates referral network
E-Commerce	1.8x–2.5x	4.0x–5.4x	Growing logistics presence; Midwest distribution hub
Landscaping	1.9x–2.7x	4.8x–6.0x	Suburban expansion; commercial real estate development
Professional Services	2.3x–3.1x	5.0x–6.2x	Finance and insurance spillover; OSU creates diverse demand

SDE = Seller's Discretionary Earnings (cash flow to owner). EBITDA = Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation, Amortization. Multiples based on comparable transactions and market data.

🔍 Top Industries — Columbus

🏥 Healthcare Services Active

SDE 2.6x–3.4x SDE/EBITDA

Ohio State Wexner Medical Center is the regional anchor. Medical billing, home health, and specialty practices active. OSU affiliation creates premium for healthcare businesses.

🎓 Education & Tutoring Active

SDE 2.4x–3.2x SDE/EBITDA

OSU student population drives tutoring, test prep, and educational services. Tech bootcamps and professional training companies growing. Diverse student base creates demand variety.

💰 Finance & Insurance Moderate

SDE 2.5x–3.3x SDE/EBITDA

A.M. Best and other insurance companies create demand for insurance agencies and financial services. Smaller agencies changing hands as owners retire. Stable but not high-growth.

💼 Recent Notable Deals — Columbus

$320K

SBA 7(a)

Test Prep Company (OSU area)

2.7x SDE — $118K SDE; OSU student market · 2025

$480K

SBA 7(a)

Insurance Agency (Dublin)

3.0x SDE — commercial lines focus; $160K SDE · 2025

$340K

Conventional

Home Health Agency

2.8x SDE — Medicare certified; stable census · 2024

📈 Growth Signals

Intel $20B chip fab in New Albany — 3,000+ direct jobs
Ohio State University — 65,000 students + major research budget
Lower cost of living attracting companies from coastal markets
Most affordable big-city acquisition market in the Midwest

⚠️ Key Risks

Low absolute growth rate limits upside potential
Manufacturing sector in long-term structural decline
Smaller deal volume limits buyer competition

🎯 12-Month Acquisition Outlook — Columbus