Selling a Business in Dawson County
Dawson County has 672 employer businesses, and 89% 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.
Areas in Nebraska
LOCAL SNAPSHOT
Dawson County by the numbers
672
672
EMPLOYER BUSINESSES
89%
89%
SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE
1,907
1,907
BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES
9,577
9,577
EMPLOYMENT
$457 million
$457 million
ANNUAL PAYROLL
280
280
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 Dawson County compares
Dawson County ranks 12th of 93 Nebraska counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 2.2% between 2018 and 2023.
Transportation and warehousing makes up 7% of employer businesses in Dawson County, compared with 5% in Nebraska.
280 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Dawson County ranks 12th of 93 Nebraska counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 2.2% between 2018 and 2023.
Transportation and warehousing makes up 7% of employer businesses in Dawson County, compared with 5% in Nebraska.
280 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Industry mix
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Retail: 103 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 86 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 69 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 67 employer businesses
Professional and technical services: 63 employer businesses
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Retail: 103 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 86 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 69 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 67 employer businesses
Professional and technical services: 63 employer businesses
INDUSTRIES
What sells in Dawson County
Retail, repair, personal care and other services, accommodation and food service, health care and social assistance
Every kind of business we sell in Dawson County
These are the industries in Dawson 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
52 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Full-Service Restaurants: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Coffee Shops: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Liquor, Wine & Beer Stores: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Logistics & Transportation
50 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
General Freight Trucking: 39 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Heavy Haul Transport: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Construction & Engineering
48 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
General Contracting: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Landscaping: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Electrical: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Plumbing: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Interior Finishing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Foundation & Site Prep: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Financial & Professional Services
36 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Insurance Agencies: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Real Estate Brokerages: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Wealth Management: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Medical Practices
32 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Veterinary Medicine: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Dental Practices: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Primary & Family Care: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
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.
Retail Stores
30 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Home Decor & Furniture: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Automotive & Boat
25 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Auto Repair: 9 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: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Auto Parts: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Gas Stations & Convenience
23 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Gas Stations: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Hospitality & Travel
13 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Hotels: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.
Manufacturing
12 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Printing & Plastics: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.9x - 4.9x SDE.
Medical & Chemical Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Wholesale & Distribution
10 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Industrial & Construction Supply: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Entertainment & Recreation
7 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Bars & Pubs: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 4 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.
Beauty & Personal Care
6 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Hair Salons: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.
Energy & Utilities
5 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Water & Wastewater Services: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
5 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Compounding Pharmacies: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Education & Childcare
4 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Daycare Centers: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Health & Fitness
4 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Gyms & Health Clubs: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.
Yoga Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.
Pilates Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.
Personal Training Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.
Home Services
4 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Residential Cleaning: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.
Senior Care & Living
4 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Non-Medical Home Care: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
These are the industries in Dawson 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
52 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Full-Service Restaurants: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Coffee Shops: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Liquor, Wine & Beer Stores: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Logistics & Transportation
50 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
General Freight Trucking: 39 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Heavy Haul Transport: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Construction & Engineering
48 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
General Contracting: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Landscaping: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Electrical: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Plumbing: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Interior Finishing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Foundation & Site Prep: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Financial & Professional Services
36 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Insurance Agencies: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Real Estate Brokerages: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Wealth Management: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Medical Practices
32 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Veterinary Medicine: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Dental Practices: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Primary & Family Care: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
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.
Retail Stores
30 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Home Decor & Furniture: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Automotive & Boat
25 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Auto Repair: 9 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: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Auto Parts: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Gas Stations & Convenience
23 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Gas Stations: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Hospitality & Travel
13 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Hotels: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.
Manufacturing
12 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Printing & Plastics: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.9x - 4.9x SDE.
Medical & Chemical Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Wholesale & Distribution
10 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Industrial & Construction Supply: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Entertainment & Recreation
7 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Bars & Pubs: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 4 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.
Beauty & Personal Care
6 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Hair Salons: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.
Energy & Utilities
5 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Water & Wastewater Services: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
5 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Compounding Pharmacies: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Education & Childcare
4 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Daycare Centers: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Health & Fitness
4 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Gyms & Health Clubs: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.
Yoga Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.
Pilates Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.
Personal Training Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.
Home Services
4 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Residential Cleaning: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.
Senior Care & Living
4 related employer businesses in Dawson County.
Non-Medical Home Care: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Working with owners in Dawson County
Business Advisors of America works with owners who are selling a business in Dawson County. Contact us to talk about a sale.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions owners in Dawson County ask
How long does it take to sell a business in Dawson County?
The time depends on the price, the quality of the records and the number of qualified buyers.
How is a business valued in Dawson 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 Dawson 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