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Deer Lodge County

Selling a Business in Deer Lodge County

Deer Lodge County has 312 employer businesses, and 92% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows the local mix of industries and how a sale is handled here.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Deer Lodge County by the numbers

312

312

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

92%

92%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

604

604

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

2,957

2,957

EMPLOYMENT

$148 million

$148 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

133

133

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 Deer Lodge County compares

  • Deer Lodge County ranks 21st of 56 Montana counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 19.1% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Health care and social assistance makes up 29% of employer businesses in Deer Lodge County, compared with 11% in Montana.

  • 133 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Deer Lodge County ranks 21st of 56 Montana counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 19.1% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Health care and social assistance makes up 29% of employer businesses in Deer Lodge County, compared with 11% in Montana.

  • 133 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Health care and social assistance: 90 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 38 employer businesses

  • Construction: 38 employer businesses

  • Retail: 32 employer businesses

  • Professional and technical services: 28 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Health care and social assistance: 90 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 38 employer businesses

  • Construction: 38 employer businesses

  • Retail: 32 employer businesses

  • Professional and technical services: 28 employer businesses

Every kind of business we sell in Deer Lodge County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Deer Lodge 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.

Construction & Engineering

30 related employer businesses in Deer Lodge County.

  • General Contracting: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Restaurants & Food

18 related employer businesses in Deer Lodge County.

Financial & Professional Services

15 related employer businesses in Deer Lodge County.

Entertainment & Recreation

9 related employer businesses in Deer Lodge County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

Medical Practices

8 related employer businesses in Deer Lodge County.

Automotive & Boat

6 related employer businesses in Deer Lodge County.

  • Auto Repair: 3 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.

Retail Stores

6 related employer businesses in Deer Lodge County.

Education & Childcare

4 related employer businesses in Deer Lodge County.

  • Daycare Centers: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Gas Stations & Convenience

4 related employer businesses in Deer Lodge County.

  • Gas Stations: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Hospitality & Travel

4 related employer businesses in Deer Lodge County.

  • Hotels: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in Deer Lodge County.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Deer Lodge 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.

Construction & Engineering

30 related employer businesses in Deer Lodge County.

  • General Contracting: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Restaurants & Food

18 related employer businesses in Deer Lodge County.

Financial & Professional Services

15 related employer businesses in Deer Lodge County.

Entertainment & Recreation

9 related employer businesses in Deer Lodge County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

Medical Practices

8 related employer businesses in Deer Lodge County.

Automotive & Boat

6 related employer businesses in Deer Lodge County.

  • Auto Repair: 3 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.

Retail Stores

6 related employer businesses in Deer Lodge County.

Education & Childcare

4 related employer businesses in Deer Lodge County.

  • Daycare Centers: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Gas Stations & Convenience

4 related employer businesses in Deer Lodge County.

  • Gas Stations: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Hospitality & Travel

4 related employer businesses in Deer Lodge County.

  • Hotels: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in Deer Lodge County.

Working with owners in Deer Lodge County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Deer Lodge County ask

How long does it take to sell a business in Deer Lodge 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 Deer Lodge 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 Deer Lodge 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