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Caldwell County

Selling a Business in Caldwell County

Caldwell County has 266 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 repair, personal care and other services.

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Areas in Kentucky

AdairAllenAndersonBallardBarrenBathBellBooneBourbonBowling GreenBoydBoyleBrackenBreathittBreckinridgeBullittButlerCaldwellCallowayCampbellCarlisleCarrollCarterCaseyChristianClarkClarksvilleClayClintonCrittendenCumberlandDaviessEdmonsonElizabethtownElliottEstillFayetteFlemingFloydFranklinFultonGallatinGarrardGrantGravesGraysonGreater CincinnatiGreenGreenupHancockHardinHarlanHarrisonHartHendersonHenryHickmanHopkinsHuntingtonJacksonJefferson CountyJessamineJohnsonKentonKnottKnoxLarueLaurelLawrenceLeeLeslieLetcherLewisLexingtonLincolnLivingstonLoganLouisvilleLyonMadisonMagoffinMarionMarshallMartinMasonMcCrackenMcCrearyMcLeanMeadeMenifeeMercerMetcalfeMonroeMontgomeryMorganMuhlenbergNelsonNicholasOhioOldhamOwenOwensboroOwsleyPaducahPendletonPerryPikePowellPulaskiRobertsonRockcastleRowanRussellScottShelbySimpsonSpencerTaylorToddTriggTrimbleUnionWarrenWashingtonWayneWebsterWhitleyWolfeWoodford

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Caldwell County by the numbers

266

266

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

88%

88%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

788

788

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

3,557

3,557

EMPLOYMENT

$152 million

$152 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

125

125

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 Caldwell County compares

  • Caldwell County ranks 64th of 120 Kentucky counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 6.7% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Repair, personal care and other services makes up 14% of employer businesses in Caldwell County, compared with 10% in Kentucky.

  • 125 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Caldwell County ranks 64th of 120 Kentucky counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 6.7% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Repair, personal care and other services makes up 14% of employer businesses in Caldwell County, compared with 10% in Kentucky.

  • 125 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 54 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 37 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 29 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 28 employer businesses

  • Construction: 21 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 54 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 37 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 29 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 28 employer businesses

  • Construction: 21 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Caldwell County

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

Electronics & Repair

Retail Stores

Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry

Retail Stores

Barber Shops

Beauty & Personal Care

Day Spas

Beauty & Personal Care

Auto Parts

Automotive & Boat

Auto Repair

Automotive & Boat

Every kind of business we sell in Caldwell County

These are the industries in Caldwell 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.

Restaurants & Food

26 related employer businesses in Caldwell County.

Retail Stores

22 related employer businesses in Caldwell County.

Construction & Engineering

11 related employer businesses in Caldwell County.

  • Electrical: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

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

  • Plumbing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Automotive & Boat

9 related employer businesses in Caldwell County.

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

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

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

Financial & Professional Services

9 related employer businesses in Caldwell County.

  • Insurance Agencies: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Private Lending: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Logistics & Transportation

7 related employer businesses in Caldwell County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

5 related employer businesses in Caldwell County.

  • Gas Stations: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Education & Childcare

3 related employer businesses in Caldwell County.

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

Home Services

3 related employer businesses in Caldwell County.

Manufacturing

3 related employer businesses in Caldwell County.

Medical Practices

3 related employer businesses in Caldwell County.

Senior Care & Living

3 related employer businesses in Caldwell County.

Wholesale & Distribution

3 related employer businesses in Caldwell County.

These are the industries in Caldwell 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.

Restaurants & Food

26 related employer businesses in Caldwell County.

Retail Stores

22 related employer businesses in Caldwell County.

Construction & Engineering

11 related employer businesses in Caldwell County.

  • Electrical: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

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

  • Plumbing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Automotive & Boat

9 related employer businesses in Caldwell County.

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

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

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

Financial & Professional Services

9 related employer businesses in Caldwell County.

  • Insurance Agencies: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Private Lending: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Logistics & Transportation

7 related employer businesses in Caldwell County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

5 related employer businesses in Caldwell County.

  • Gas Stations: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Education & Childcare

3 related employer businesses in Caldwell County.

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

Home Services

3 related employer businesses in Caldwell County.

Manufacturing

3 related employer businesses in Caldwell County.

Medical Practices

3 related employer businesses in Caldwell County.

Senior Care & Living

3 related employer businesses in Caldwell County.

Wholesale & Distribution

3 related employer businesses in Caldwell County.

Working with owners in Caldwell County

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

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Caldwell County ask

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

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

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How is a business valued in Caldwell 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.

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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.

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FROM OUR BLOG

Guides for owners in Caldwell 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