Selling a Business in Arenac County

Arenac County has 355 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.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Arenac County by the numbers

355

355

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

88%

88%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

910

910

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

3,619

3,619

EMPLOYMENT

$169 million

$169 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

133

133

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 Arenac County compares

  • Arenac County ranks 69th of 83 Michigan counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 10.2% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 8% of employer businesses in Arenac County, compared with 5% in Michigan.

  • 133 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Arenac County ranks 69th of 83 Michigan counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 10.2% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 8% of employer businesses in Arenac County, compared with 5% in Michigan.

  • 133 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 72 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 46 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 46 employer businesses

  • Construction: 36 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 35 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 72 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 46 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 46 employer businesses

  • Construction: 36 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 35 employer businesses

Every kind of business we sell in Arenac County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Arenac County. 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

33 related employer businesses in Arenac County.

  • General Contracting: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Plumbing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 4 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.

Restaurants & Food

31 related employer businesses in Arenac County.

Automotive & Boat

21 related employer businesses in Arenac County.

  • Auto Repair: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

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

  • Collision Repair: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Boat Dealerships: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.

Retail Stores

18 related employer businesses in Arenac County.

Medical Practices

17 related employer businesses in Arenac County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

11 related employer businesses in Arenac County.

  • Gas Stations: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Hospitality & Travel

11 related employer businesses in Arenac County.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • 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.

Financial & Professional Services

10 related employer businesses in Arenac County.

Logistics & Transportation

10 related employer businesses in Arenac County.

Manufacturing

8 related employer businesses in Arenac County.

  • Metal Fabrication: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.

Entertainment & Recreation

7 related employer businesses in Arenac County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Education & Childcare

4 related employer businesses in Arenac County.

  • Daycare Centers: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

4 related employer businesses in Arenac County.

Energy & Utilities

3 related employer businesses in Arenac County.

Home Services

3 related employer businesses in Arenac County.

Senior Care & Living

3 related employer businesses in Arenac County.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Arenac County. 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

33 related employer businesses in Arenac County.

  • General Contracting: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Plumbing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 4 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.

Restaurants & Food

31 related employer businesses in Arenac County.

Automotive & Boat

21 related employer businesses in Arenac County.

  • Auto Repair: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

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

  • Collision Repair: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Boat Dealerships: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.

Retail Stores

18 related employer businesses in Arenac County.

Medical Practices

17 related employer businesses in Arenac County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

11 related employer businesses in Arenac County.

  • Gas Stations: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Hospitality & Travel

11 related employer businesses in Arenac County.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • 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.

Financial & Professional Services

10 related employer businesses in Arenac County.

Logistics & Transportation

10 related employer businesses in Arenac County.

Manufacturing

8 related employer businesses in Arenac County.

  • Metal Fabrication: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.

Entertainment & Recreation

7 related employer businesses in Arenac County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Education & Childcare

4 related employer businesses in Arenac County.

  • Daycare Centers: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

4 related employer businesses in Arenac County.

Energy & Utilities

3 related employer businesses in Arenac County.

Home Services

3 related employer businesses in Arenac County.

Senior Care & Living

3 related employer businesses in Arenac County.

Working with owners in Arenac County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Arenac County ask

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

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 Arenac 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 Arenac 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