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Christian County

Selling a Business in Christian County

Christian County has 709 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 retail and repair, personal care and other services.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Christian County by the numbers

709

709

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

90%

90%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,789

1,789

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

7,410

7,410

EMPLOYMENT

$389 million

$389 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

306

306

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 Christian County compares

  • Christian County ranks 42nd of 102 Illinois counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 1.7% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 16% of employer businesses in Christian County, compared with 11% in Illinois.

  • 306 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Christian County ranks 42nd of 102 Illinois counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 1.7% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 16% of employer businesses in Christian County, compared with 11% in Illinois.

  • 306 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 113 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 92 employer businesses

  • Construction: 85 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 84 employer businesses

  • Finance and insurance: 56 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 113 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 92 employer businesses

  • Construction: 85 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 84 employer businesses

  • Finance and insurance: 56 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Christian County

Retail, repair, personal care and other services, construction, accommodation and food service

Every kind of business we sell in Christian County

These are the industries in Christian 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

72 related employer businesses in Christian County.

  • General Contracting: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Plumbing: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

61 related employer businesses in Christian County.

Financial & Professional Services

45 related employer businesses in Christian County.

Logistics & Transportation

39 related employer businesses in Christian County.

Automotive & Boat

30 related employer businesses in Christian County.

  • Auto Repair: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Car Washes: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Retail Stores

29 related employer businesses in Christian County.

Entertainment & Recreation

24 related employer businesses in Christian County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

Gas Stations & Convenience

21 related employer businesses in Christian County.

  • Gas Stations: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Medical Practices

20 related employer businesses in Christian County.

Wholesale & Distribution

11 related employer businesses in Christian County.

Manufacturing

10 related employer businesses in Christian County.

Education & Childcare

5 related employer businesses in Christian County.

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

Energy & Utilities

4 related employer businesses in Christian County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

4 related employer businesses in Christian County.

Senior Care & Living

4 related employer businesses in Christian County.

Beauty & Personal Care

3 related employer businesses in Christian County.

  • Hair Salons: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in Christian County.

  • 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.

These are the industries in Christian 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

72 related employer businesses in Christian County.

  • General Contracting: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Plumbing: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

61 related employer businesses in Christian County.

Financial & Professional Services

45 related employer businesses in Christian County.

Logistics & Transportation

39 related employer businesses in Christian County.

Automotive & Boat

30 related employer businesses in Christian County.

  • Auto Repair: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Car Washes: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Retail Stores

29 related employer businesses in Christian County.

Entertainment & Recreation

24 related employer businesses in Christian County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

Gas Stations & Convenience

21 related employer businesses in Christian County.

  • Gas Stations: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Medical Practices

20 related employer businesses in Christian County.

Wholesale & Distribution

11 related employer businesses in Christian County.

Manufacturing

10 related employer businesses in Christian County.

Education & Childcare

5 related employer businesses in Christian County.

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

Energy & Utilities

4 related employer businesses in Christian County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

4 related employer businesses in Christian County.

Senior Care & Living

4 related employer businesses in Christian County.

Beauty & Personal Care

3 related employer businesses in Christian County.

  • Hair Salons: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in Christian County.

  • 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.

Working with owners in Christian County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Christian County ask

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

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

How is a business valued in Christian 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 Christian 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