Selling a Business in Freeborn County
Freeborn County has 755 employer businesses, and 86% 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 Minnesota
LOCAL SNAPSHOT
Freeborn County by the numbers
755
755
EMPLOYER BUSINESSES
86%
86%
SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE
1,961
1,961
BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES
10,861
10,861
EMPLOYMENT
$549 million
$549 million
ANNUAL PAYROLL
322
322
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 Freeborn County compares
Freeborn County ranks 35th of 87 Minnesota counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 3.8% between 2018 and 2023.
Transportation and warehousing makes up 5% of employer businesses in Freeborn County, compared with 3% in Minnesota.
322 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Freeborn County ranks 35th of 87 Minnesota counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 3.8% between 2018 and 2023.
Transportation and warehousing makes up 5% of employer businesses in Freeborn County, compared with 3% in Minnesota.
322 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Industry mix
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Retail: 130 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 93 employer businesses
Construction: 77 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 74 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 70 employer businesses
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Retail: 130 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 93 employer businesses
Construction: 77 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 74 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 70 employer businesses
INDUSTRIES
What sells in Freeborn County
Retail, repair, personal care and other services, construction, accommodation and food service
Every kind of business we sell in Freeborn County
These are the industries in Freeborn 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
64 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
General Contracting: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Plumbing: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Electrical: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Landscaping: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Foundation & Site Prep: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Interior Finishing: 7 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.
Restaurants & Food
62 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
Full-Service Restaurants: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Liquor, Wine & Beer Stores: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Financial & Professional Services
38 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
Insurance Agencies: 13 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.
Wealth Management: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Real Estate Brokerages: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Retail Stores
36 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Home Decor & Furniture: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Sporting Goods & Firearms: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.4x SDE.
Hobby, Toys & Gift Shops: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE + Inventory.
Automotive & Boat
35 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
Auto Repair: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Car Dealerships: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.
Auto Parts: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Collision Repair: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Manufacturing
34 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
Metal Fabrication: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Printing & Plastics: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.9x - 4.9x SDE.
Medical & Chemical Manufacturing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Logistics & Transportation
29 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
General Freight Trucking: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Warehousing & Fulfillment: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Entertainment & Recreation
19 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
Bars & Pubs: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.
Outdoor Recreation: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Golf Courses: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Gas Stations & Convenience
18 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
Gas Stations: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Medical Practices
14 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
Dental Practices: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Mental & Behavioral Health: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Veterinary Medicine: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Home Health & Hospice: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Hospitality & Travel
10 related employer businesses in Freeborn 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.
Transportation Services: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.
Beauty & Personal Care
8 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
Hair Salons: 5 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.
Education & Childcare
6 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
Daycare Centers: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Home Services
6 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
Property Management: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Residential Cleaning: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.
Wholesale & Distribution
5 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
Industrial & Construction Supply: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Energy & Utilities
4 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
Waste Management & Recycling: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
3 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
Home Infusion: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Senior Care & Living
3 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
Assisted Living Facilities: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Real Estate.
These are the industries in Freeborn 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
64 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
General Contracting: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Plumbing: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Electrical: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Landscaping: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Foundation & Site Prep: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Interior Finishing: 7 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.
Restaurants & Food
62 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
Full-Service Restaurants: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Liquor, Wine & Beer Stores: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Financial & Professional Services
38 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
Insurance Agencies: 13 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.
Wealth Management: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Real Estate Brokerages: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Retail Stores
36 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Home Decor & Furniture: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Sporting Goods & Firearms: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.4x SDE.
Hobby, Toys & Gift Shops: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE + Inventory.
Automotive & Boat
35 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
Auto Repair: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Car Dealerships: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.
Auto Parts: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Collision Repair: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Manufacturing
34 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
Metal Fabrication: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Printing & Plastics: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.9x - 4.9x SDE.
Medical & Chemical Manufacturing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Logistics & Transportation
29 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
General Freight Trucking: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Warehousing & Fulfillment: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Entertainment & Recreation
19 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
Bars & Pubs: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.
Outdoor Recreation: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Golf Courses: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Gas Stations & Convenience
18 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
Gas Stations: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Medical Practices
14 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
Dental Practices: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Mental & Behavioral Health: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Veterinary Medicine: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Home Health & Hospice: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Hospitality & Travel
10 related employer businesses in Freeborn 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.
Transportation Services: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.
Beauty & Personal Care
8 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
Hair Salons: 5 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.
Education & Childcare
6 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
Daycare Centers: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Home Services
6 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
Property Management: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Residential Cleaning: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.
Wholesale & Distribution
5 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
Industrial & Construction Supply: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Energy & Utilities
4 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
Waste Management & Recycling: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
3 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
Home Infusion: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Senior Care & Living
3 related employer businesses in Freeborn County.
Assisted Living Facilities: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Working with owners in Freeborn County
Business Advisors of America works with owners who are selling a business in Freeborn County. Contact us to talk about a sale.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions owners in Freeborn County ask
How long does it take to sell a business in Freeborn County?
The time depends on the price, the quality of the records and the number of qualified buyers.
How is a business valued in Freeborn 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 Freeborn 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