Selling a Business in Benton County

Benton County has 383 employer businesses, and 95% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows the local mix of industries and how a sale is handled here.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Benton County by the numbers

383

383

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

95%

95%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,696

1,696

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

2,399

2,399

EMPLOYMENT

$76 million

$76 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

136

136

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 Benton County compares

  • Benton County ranks 60th of 115 Missouri counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 3.0% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Repair, personal care and other services makes up 16% of employer businesses in Benton County, compared with 11% in Missouri.

  • 136 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Benton County ranks 60th of 115 Missouri counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 3.0% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Repair, personal care and other services makes up 16% of employer businesses in Benton County, compared with 11% in Missouri.

  • 136 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 62 employer businesses

  • Retail: 53 employer businesses

  • Construction: 50 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 43 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 42 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 62 employer businesses

  • Retail: 53 employer businesses

  • Construction: 50 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 43 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 42 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Benton County

Repair, personal care and other services, retail, construction, accommodation and food service

Every kind of business we sell in Benton County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Benton 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

37 related employer businesses in Benton County.

  • Plumbing: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

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

  • General Contracting: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 5 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.

Financial & Professional Services

28 related employer businesses in Benton County.

Restaurants & Food

28 related employer businesses in Benton County.

Automotive & Boat

25 related employer businesses in Benton County.

  • Auto Repair: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Collision Repair: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Marinas: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Gas Stations & Convenience

14 related employer businesses in Benton County.

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

  • Convenience Stores: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Senior Care & Living

11 related employer businesses in Benton County.

Retail Stores

8 related employer businesses in Benton County.

Logistics & Transportation

7 related employer businesses in Benton County.

Energy & Utilities

6 related employer businesses in Benton County.

Hospitality & Travel

6 related employer businesses in Benton County.

  • Hotels: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Manufacturing

6 related employer businesses in Benton County.

Medical Practices

5 related employer businesses in Benton County.

Education & Childcare

3 related employer businesses in Benton County.

  • Daycare Centers: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Entertainment & Recreation

3 related employer businesses in Benton County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in Benton County.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Benton 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

37 related employer businesses in Benton County.

  • Plumbing: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

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

  • General Contracting: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 5 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.

Financial & Professional Services

28 related employer businesses in Benton County.

Restaurants & Food

28 related employer businesses in Benton County.

Automotive & Boat

25 related employer businesses in Benton County.

  • Auto Repair: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Collision Repair: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Marinas: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Gas Stations & Convenience

14 related employer businesses in Benton County.

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

  • Convenience Stores: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Senior Care & Living

11 related employer businesses in Benton County.

Retail Stores

8 related employer businesses in Benton County.

Logistics & Transportation

7 related employer businesses in Benton County.

Energy & Utilities

6 related employer businesses in Benton County.

Hospitality & Travel

6 related employer businesses in Benton County.

  • Hotels: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Manufacturing

6 related employer businesses in Benton County.

Medical Practices

5 related employer businesses in Benton County.

Education & Childcare

3 related employer businesses in Benton County.

  • Daycare Centers: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Entertainment & Recreation

3 related employer businesses in Benton County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in Benton County.

Working with owners in Benton County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Benton County ask

How long does it take to sell a business in Benton 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 Benton 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 Benton 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