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Franklin County

Selling a Business in Franklin County

Franklin County has 285 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.

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LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Franklin County by the numbers

285

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

90%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

738

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

3,139

EMPLOYMENT

$159 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

105

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 Franklin County compares

Franklin County ranks 73rd of 99 Iowa counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 9.5% between 2018 and 2023.
Manufacturing makes up 7% of employer businesses in Franklin County, compared with 4% in Iowa.
105 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Franklin County ranks 73rd of 99 Iowa counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 9.5% between 2018 and 2023.
Manufacturing makes up 7% of employer businesses in Franklin County, compared with 4% in Iowa.
105 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

Repair, personal care and other services: 46 employer businesses
Retail: 32 employer businesses
Construction: 31 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 26 employer businesses
Wholesale: 26 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

Repair, personal care and other services: 46 employer businesses
Retail: 32 employer businesses
Construction: 31 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 26 employer businesses
Wholesale: 26 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Franklin County

Repair, personal care and other services, retail, construction, health care and social assistance

Barber Shops

Beauty & Personal Care

Day Spas

Beauty & Personal Care

Auto Parts

Automotive & Boat

Auto Repair

Automotive & Boat

Electronics & Repair

Retail Stores

Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry

Retail Stores

Every kind of business we sell in Franklin County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Franklin 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

26 related employer businesses in Franklin County.

General Contracting: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Foundation & Site Prep: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Electrical: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Landscaping: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Financial & Professional Services

16 related employer businesses in Franklin County.

Insurance Agencies: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

16 related employer businesses in Franklin County.

Full-Service Restaurants: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.

Logistics & Transportation

14 related employer businesses in Franklin County.

General Freight Trucking: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.

Automotive & Boat

12 related employer businesses in Franklin County.

Auto Repair: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Auto Parts: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

Gas Stations & Convenience

6 related employer businesses in Franklin County.

Gas Stations: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Manufacturing

6 related employer businesses in Franklin County.

Metal Fabrication: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.

Education & Childcare

5 related employer businesses in Franklin County.

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

Retail Stores

4 related employer businesses in Franklin County.

Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.

Entertainment & Recreation

3 related employer businesses in Franklin County.

Golf Courses: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Medical Practices

3 related employer businesses in Franklin County.

Dental Practices: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in Franklin County.

Compounding Pharmacies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.

Wholesale & Distribution

3 related employer businesses in Franklin County.

Industrial & Construction Supply: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Construction & Engineering

26 related employer businesses in Franklin County.

General Contracting: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Foundation & Site Prep: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Electrical: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Landscaping: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Financial & Professional Services

16 related employer businesses in Franklin County.

Insurance Agencies: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

16 related employer businesses in Franklin County.

Full-Service Restaurants: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.

Logistics & Transportation

14 related employer businesses in Franklin County.

General Freight Trucking: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.

Automotive & Boat

12 related employer businesses in Franklin County.

Auto Repair: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Auto Parts: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

Gas Stations & Convenience

6 related employer businesses in Franklin County.

Gas Stations: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Manufacturing

6 related employer businesses in Franklin County.

Metal Fabrication: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.

Education & Childcare

5 related employer businesses in Franklin County.

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

Retail Stores

4 related employer businesses in Franklin County.

Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.

Entertainment & Recreation

3 related employer businesses in Franklin County.

Golf Courses: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Medical Practices

3 related employer businesses in Franklin County.

Dental Practices: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in Franklin County.

Compounding Pharmacies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.

Wholesale & Distribution

3 related employer businesses in Franklin County.

Industrial & Construction Supply: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Working with owners in Franklin County

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

Get a Free Valuation

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Franklin County ask

How long does it take to sell a business in Franklin 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 Franklin 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 Franklin 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