Selling a Business in Adair County

Adair County has 331 employer businesses, and 88% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows the local mix of industries and how a sale is handled here. The largest industries here are retail and health care and social assistance.

Areas in Kentucky

AdairAllenAndersonBallardBarrenBathBellBooneBourbonBowling GreenBoydBoyleBrackenBreathittBreckinridgeBullittButlerCaldwellCallowayCampbellCarlisleCarrollCarterCaseyChristianClarkClarksvilleClayClintonCrittendenCumberlandDaviessEdmonsonElizabethtownElliottEstillFayetteFlemingFloydFranklinFultonGallatinGarrardGrantGravesGraysonGreater CincinnatiGreenGreenupHancockHardinHarlanHarrisonHartHendersonHenryHickmanHopkinsHuntingtonJacksonJefferson CountyJessamineJohnsonKentonKnottKnoxLarueLaurelLawrenceLeeLeslieLetcherLewisLexingtonLincolnLivingstonLoganLouisvilleLyonMadisonMagoffinMarionMarshallMartinMasonMcCrackenMcCrearyMcLeanMeadeMenifeeMercerMetcalfeMonroeMontgomeryMorganMuhlenbergNelsonNicholasOhioOldhamOwenOwensboroOwsleyPaducahPendletonPerryPikePowellPulaskiRobertsonRockcastleRowanRussellScottShelbySimpsonSpencerTaylorToddTriggTrimbleUnionWarrenWashingtonWayneWebsterWhitleyWolfeWoodford

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Adair County by the numbers

331

331

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

88%

88%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,850

1,850

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

4,066

4,066

EMPLOYMENT

$156 million

$156 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

166

166

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 Adair County compares

  • Adair County ranks 57th of 120 Kentucky counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 6.1% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Transportation and warehousing makes up 6% of employer businesses in Adair County, compared with 3% in Kentucky.

  • 166 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Adair County ranks 57th of 120 Kentucky counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 6.1% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Transportation and warehousing makes up 6% of employer businesses in Adair County, compared with 3% in Kentucky.

  • 166 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 63 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 47 employer businesses

  • Construction: 37 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 32 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 27 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 63 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 47 employer businesses

  • Construction: 37 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 32 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 27 employer businesses

Every kind of business we sell in Adair County

These are the industries in Adair County and the number of employer businesses in each. 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

29 related employer businesses in Adair County.

  • General Contracting: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Electrical: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Roofing & Siding: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Medical Practices

29 related employer businesses in Adair County.

Restaurants & Food

27 related employer businesses in Adair County.

Logistics & Transportation

20 related employer businesses in Adair County.

Retail Stores

16 related employer businesses in Adair County.

Financial & Professional Services

15 related employer businesses in Adair County.

Manufacturing

13 related employer businesses in Adair County.

Automotive & Boat

10 related employer businesses in Adair County.

  • Car Dealerships: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Repair: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

Gas Stations & Convenience

9 related employer businesses in Adair County.

  • Gas Stations: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

9 related employer businesses in Adair County.

Education & Childcare

5 related employer businesses in Adair County.

  • Daycare Centers: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

4 related employer businesses in Adair County.

Pet Services

4 related employer businesses in Adair County.

Health & Fitness

3 related employer businesses in Adair County.

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in Adair County.

  • Hotels: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

These are the industries in Adair County and the number of employer businesses in each. 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

29 related employer businesses in Adair County.

  • General Contracting: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Electrical: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Roofing & Siding: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Medical Practices

29 related employer businesses in Adair County.

Restaurants & Food

27 related employer businesses in Adair County.

Logistics & Transportation

20 related employer businesses in Adair County.

Retail Stores

16 related employer businesses in Adair County.

Financial & Professional Services

15 related employer businesses in Adair County.

Manufacturing

13 related employer businesses in Adair County.

Automotive & Boat

10 related employer businesses in Adair County.

  • Car Dealerships: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Repair: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

Gas Stations & Convenience

9 related employer businesses in Adair County.

  • Gas Stations: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

9 related employer businesses in Adair County.

Education & Childcare

5 related employer businesses in Adair County.

  • Daycare Centers: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

4 related employer businesses in Adair County.

Pet Services

4 related employer businesses in Adair County.

Health & Fitness

3 related employer businesses in Adair County.

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in Adair County.

  • Hotels: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Working with owners in Adair County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Adair County ask

How long does it take to sell a business in Adair County?

The time depends on the price, the quality of the records and the number of qualified buyers.

How is a business valued in Adair County?

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 Adair County

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