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Cedar County

Selling a Business in Cedar County

Cedar County has 460 employer businesses, and 90% 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 construction and repair, personal care and other services.

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LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Cedar County by the numbers

460

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

90%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,281

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

4,355

EMPLOYMENT

$199 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

167

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 Cedar County compares

Cedar County ranks 46th of 99 Iowa counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 1.7% between 2018 and 2023.
Transportation and warehousing makes up 9% of employer businesses in Cedar County, compared with 5% in Iowa.
167 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Cedar County ranks 46th of 99 Iowa counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 1.7% between 2018 and 2023.
Transportation and warehousing makes up 9% of employer businesses in Cedar County, compared with 5% in Iowa.
167 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

Construction: 72 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 66 employer businesses
Retail: 55 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 40 employer businesses
Transportation and warehousing: 40 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

Construction: 72 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 66 employer businesses
Retail: 55 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 40 employer businesses
Transportation and warehousing: 40 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Cedar County

Construction, repair, personal care and other services, retail, health care and social assistance

Carpentry & Framing

Construction & Engineering

Civil Engineering

Construction & Engineering

Audio Visual (AV)

Home Services

Commercial Cleaning

Home Services

Barber Shops

Beauty & Personal Care

Day Spas

Beauty & Personal Care

Every kind of business we sell in Cedar County

These are the industries in Cedar 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

70 related employer businesses in Cedar County.

General Contracting: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Interior Finishing: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Foundation & Site Prep: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Plumbing: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Electrical: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Landscaping: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Masonry: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.
Carpentry & Framing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Logistics & Transportation

42 related employer businesses in Cedar County.

General Freight Trucking: 38 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Heavy Haul Transport: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 4.5x SDE.

Automotive & Boat

29 related employer businesses in Cedar County.

Auto Repair: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Car Dealerships: 6 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.
Car Washes: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Financial & Professional Services

22 related employer businesses in Cedar County.

Insurance Agencies: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

21 related employer businesses in Cedar County.

Full-Service Restaurants: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.

Medical Practices

20 related employer businesses in Cedar County.

Primary & Family Care: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Dental Practices: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Veterinary Medicine: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Vision & Eye Care: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

15 related employer businesses in Cedar County.

Metal Fabrication: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Medical & Chemical Manufacturing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.

Gas Stations & Convenience

13 related employer businesses in Cedar County.

Gas Stations: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Entertainment & Recreation

9 related employer businesses in Cedar 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: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Wholesale & Distribution

9 related employer businesses in Cedar County.

Industrial & Construction Supply: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Retail Stores

8 related employer businesses in Cedar County.

Hardware, Garden & Building: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Hobby, Toys & Gift Shops: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE + Inventory.

Education & Childcare

5 related employer businesses in Cedar County.

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

Pet Services

4 related employer businesses in Cedar County.

Pet Grooming & Spas: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Boarding, Daycare & Training: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.

Construction & Engineering

70 related employer businesses in Cedar County.

General Contracting: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Interior Finishing: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Foundation & Site Prep: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Plumbing: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Electrical: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Landscaping: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Masonry: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.
Carpentry & Framing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Logistics & Transportation

42 related employer businesses in Cedar County.

General Freight Trucking: 38 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Heavy Haul Transport: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 4.5x SDE.

Automotive & Boat

29 related employer businesses in Cedar County.

Auto Repair: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Car Dealerships: 6 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.
Car Washes: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Financial & Professional Services

22 related employer businesses in Cedar County.

Insurance Agencies: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

21 related employer businesses in Cedar County.

Full-Service Restaurants: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.

Medical Practices

20 related employer businesses in Cedar County.

Primary & Family Care: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Dental Practices: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Veterinary Medicine: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Vision & Eye Care: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

15 related employer businesses in Cedar County.

Metal Fabrication: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Medical & Chemical Manufacturing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.

Gas Stations & Convenience

13 related employer businesses in Cedar County.

Gas Stations: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Entertainment & Recreation

9 related employer businesses in Cedar 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: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Wholesale & Distribution

9 related employer businesses in Cedar County.

Industrial & Construction Supply: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Retail Stores

8 related employer businesses in Cedar County.

Hardware, Garden & Building: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Hobby, Toys & Gift Shops: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE + Inventory.

Education & Childcare

5 related employer businesses in Cedar County.

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

Pet Services

4 related employer businesses in Cedar County.

Pet Grooming & Spas: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Boarding, Daycare & Training: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.

Working with owners in Cedar County

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

Get a Free Valuation

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Cedar County ask

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

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

How is a business valued in Cedar 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 Cedar 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