Selling a Business in Coles County
Coles County has 1,112 employer businesses, and 83% 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 health care and social assistance.
Areas in Illinois
LOCAL SNAPSHOT
Coles County by the numbers
1,112
1,112
EMPLOYER BUSINESSES
83%
83%
SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE
2,801
2,801
BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES
20,638
20,638
EMPLOYMENT
$991 million
$991 million
ANNUAL PAYROLL
545
545
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 Coles County compares
Coles County ranks 28th of 102 Illinois counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 3.3% between 2018 and 2023.
Retail makes up 16% of employer businesses in Coles County, compared with 11% in Illinois.
545 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Coles County ranks 28th of 102 Illinois counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 3.3% between 2018 and 2023.
Retail makes up 16% of employer businesses in Coles County, compared with 11% in Illinois.
545 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Industry mix
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Retail: 177 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 160 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 130 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 125 employer businesses
Construction: 107 employer businesses
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Retail: 177 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 160 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 130 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 125 employer businesses
Construction: 107 employer businesses
INDUSTRIES
What sells in Coles County
Retail, health care and social assistance, repair, personal care and other services, accommodation and food service
Every kind of business we sell in Coles County
These are the industries in Coles 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
105 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 52 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Full-Service Restaurants: 38 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Liquor, Wine & Beer Stores: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Coffee Shops: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Construction & Engineering
103 related employer businesses in Coles County.
General Contracting: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Landscaping: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Plumbing: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
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.
Electrical: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Carpentry & Framing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Roofing & Siding: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Civil Engineering: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Retail Stores
66 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Home Decor & Furniture: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Sporting Goods & Firearms: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.4x SDE.
Medical Practices
57 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Dental Practices: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Primary & Family Care: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Mental & Behavioral Health: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Vision & Eye Care: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Veterinary Medicine: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Home Health & Hospice: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Financial & Professional Services
53 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Insurance Agencies: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Wealth Management: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Private Lending: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Real Estate Brokerages: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Automotive & Boat
51 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Auto Repair: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Car Dealerships: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.
Collision Repair: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Auto Parts: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Car Washes: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Logistics & Transportation
27 related employer businesses in Coles County.
General Freight Trucking: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Warehousing & Fulfillment: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Freight Brokerage & 3PL: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Manufacturing
24 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Metal Fabrication: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Printing & Plastics: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.9x - 4.9x SDE.
Construction Materials Manufacturing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Entertainment & Recreation
23 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Bars & Pubs: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 19 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.
Health & Fitness
18 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Wellness & Recovery Centers: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 5.5x - 9.7x EBITDA.
Gyms & Health Clubs: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.
Yoga Studios: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.
Pilates Studios: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.
Personal Training Studios: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.
Gas Stations & Convenience
17 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Gas Stations: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Home Services
17 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Residential Cleaning: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.
Property Management: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Pest Control: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.
Security Systems: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.9x EBITDA.
Beauty & Personal Care
16 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Hair Salons: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.
Nail Salons: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.
Wholesale & Distribution
15 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Industrial & Construction Supply: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Food & Beverage Distribution: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
14 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Compounding Pharmacies: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Medical Supply Retail: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE + Inventory.
Home Infusion: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Education & Childcare
12 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Daycare Centers: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Senior Care & Living
8 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Assisted Living Facilities: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Non-Medical Home Care: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Energy & Utilities
7 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Waste Management & Recycling: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Propane & Fuel Distribution: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Hospitality & Travel
7 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Hotels: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.
Technology & Media
5 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Creative Agencies: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 3.0x SDE.
Pet Services
3 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Pet Grooming & Spas: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Boarding, Daycare & Training: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.
These are the industries in Coles 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
105 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 52 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Full-Service Restaurants: 38 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Liquor, Wine & Beer Stores: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Coffee Shops: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Construction & Engineering
103 related employer businesses in Coles County.
General Contracting: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Landscaping: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Plumbing: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
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.
Electrical: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Carpentry & Framing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Roofing & Siding: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Civil Engineering: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Retail Stores
66 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Home Decor & Furniture: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Sporting Goods & Firearms: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.4x SDE.
Medical Practices
57 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Dental Practices: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Primary & Family Care: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Mental & Behavioral Health: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Vision & Eye Care: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Veterinary Medicine: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Home Health & Hospice: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Financial & Professional Services
53 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Insurance Agencies: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Wealth Management: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Private Lending: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Real Estate Brokerages: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Automotive & Boat
51 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Auto Repair: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Car Dealerships: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.
Collision Repair: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Auto Parts: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Car Washes: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Logistics & Transportation
27 related employer businesses in Coles County.
General Freight Trucking: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Warehousing & Fulfillment: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Freight Brokerage & 3PL: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Manufacturing
24 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Metal Fabrication: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Printing & Plastics: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.9x - 4.9x SDE.
Construction Materials Manufacturing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Entertainment & Recreation
23 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Bars & Pubs: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 19 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.
Health & Fitness
18 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Wellness & Recovery Centers: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 5.5x - 9.7x EBITDA.
Gyms & Health Clubs: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.
Yoga Studios: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.
Pilates Studios: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.
Personal Training Studios: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.
Gas Stations & Convenience
17 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Gas Stations: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Home Services
17 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Residential Cleaning: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.
Property Management: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Pest Control: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.
Security Systems: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.9x EBITDA.
Beauty & Personal Care
16 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Hair Salons: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.
Nail Salons: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.
Wholesale & Distribution
15 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Industrial & Construction Supply: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Food & Beverage Distribution: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
14 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Compounding Pharmacies: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Medical Supply Retail: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE + Inventory.
Home Infusion: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Education & Childcare
12 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Daycare Centers: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Senior Care & Living
8 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Assisted Living Facilities: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Non-Medical Home Care: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Energy & Utilities
7 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Waste Management & Recycling: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Propane & Fuel Distribution: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Hospitality & Travel
7 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Hotels: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.
Technology & Media
5 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Creative Agencies: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 3.0x SDE.
Pet Services
3 related employer businesses in Coles County.
Pet Grooming & Spas: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Boarding, Daycare & Training: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.
Working with owners in Coles County
Business Advisors of America works with owners who are selling a business in Coles County. Contact us to talk about a sale.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions owners in Coles County ask
How long does it take to sell a business in Coles County?
The time depends on the price, the quality of the records and the number of qualified buyers.
How is a business valued in Coles 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 Coles 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