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Calhoun County

Selling a Business in Calhoun County

Calhoun County has 280 employer businesses, and 94% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows the local mix of industries and how a sale is handled here.

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LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Calhoun County by the numbers

280

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

94%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

695

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

2,241

EMPLOYMENT

$109 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

109

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 Calhoun County compares

Calhoun County ranks 75th of 99 Iowa counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 2.1% between 2018 and 2023.
Transportation and warehousing makes up 10% of employer businesses in Calhoun County, compared with 5% in Iowa.
109 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Calhoun County ranks 75th of 99 Iowa counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 2.1% between 2018 and 2023.
Transportation and warehousing makes up 10% of employer businesses in Calhoun County, compared with 5% in Iowa.
109 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

Retail: 46 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 38 employer businesses
Construction: 33 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 31 employer businesses
Transportation and warehousing: 27 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

Retail: 46 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 38 employer businesses
Construction: 33 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 31 employer businesses
Transportation and warehousing: 27 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Calhoun County

Retail, repair, personal care and other services, construction, 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 Calhoun County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Calhoun 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.

Logistics & Transportation

32 related employer businesses in Calhoun County.

General Freight Trucking: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Heavy Haul Transport: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 4.5x SDE.

Construction & Engineering

25 related employer businesses in Calhoun County.

General Contracting: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Foundation & Site Prep: 7 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.

Retail Stores

13 related employer businesses in Calhoun County.

Hardware, Garden & Building: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.

Gas Stations & Convenience

10 related employer businesses in Calhoun County.

Gas Stations: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Automotive & Boat

9 related employer businesses in Calhoun County.

Auto Repair: 6 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.

Entertainment & Recreation

8 related employer businesses in Calhoun County.

Bars & Pubs: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.
Golf Courses: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Restaurants & Food

8 related employer businesses in Calhoun County.

Full-Service Restaurants: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.

Financial & Professional Services

7 related employer businesses in Calhoun County.

Insurance Agencies: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

7 related employer businesses in Calhoun County.

Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.

Medical Practices

4 related employer businesses in Calhoun County.

Dental Practices: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.

Wholesale & Distribution

4 related employer businesses in Calhoun County.

Industrial & Construction Supply: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

3 related employer businesses in Calhoun County.

Waste Management & Recycling: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in Calhoun County.

Compounding Pharmacies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.

Logistics & Transportation

32 related employer businesses in Calhoun County.

General Freight Trucking: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Heavy Haul Transport: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 4.5x SDE.

Construction & Engineering

25 related employer businesses in Calhoun County.

General Contracting: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Foundation & Site Prep: 7 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.

Retail Stores

13 related employer businesses in Calhoun County.

Hardware, Garden & Building: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.

Gas Stations & Convenience

10 related employer businesses in Calhoun County.

Gas Stations: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Automotive & Boat

9 related employer businesses in Calhoun County.

Auto Repair: 6 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.

Entertainment & Recreation

8 related employer businesses in Calhoun County.

Bars & Pubs: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.
Golf Courses: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Restaurants & Food

8 related employer businesses in Calhoun County.

Full-Service Restaurants: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.

Financial & Professional Services

7 related employer businesses in Calhoun County.

Insurance Agencies: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

7 related employer businesses in Calhoun County.

Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.

Medical Practices

4 related employer businesses in Calhoun County.

Dental Practices: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.

Wholesale & Distribution

4 related employer businesses in Calhoun County.

Industrial & Construction Supply: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

3 related employer businesses in Calhoun County.

Waste Management & Recycling: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in Calhoun County.

Compounding Pharmacies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.

Working with owners in Calhoun County

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

Get a Free Valuation

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Calhoun County ask

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