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Graves County

Selling a Business in Graves County

Graves County has 668 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 health care and social assistance.

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LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Graves County by the numbers

668

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

86%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

2,802

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

9,905

EMPLOYMENT

$441 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

329

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 Graves County compares

Graves County ranks 31st of 120 Kentucky counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses grew 0.1% between 2018 and 2023.
Manufacturing makes up 6% of employer businesses in Graves County, compared with 4% in Kentucky.
329 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Graves County ranks 31st of 120 Kentucky counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses grew 0.1% between 2018 and 2023.
Manufacturing makes up 6% of employer businesses in Graves County, compared with 4% in Kentucky.
329 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

Retail: 130 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 77 employer businesses
Construction: 76 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 71 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 48 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

Retail: 130 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 77 employer businesses
Construction: 76 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 71 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 48 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Graves County

Retail, health care and social assistance, construction, repair, personal care and other services

Electronics & Repair

Retail Stores

Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry

Retail Stores

Dental Practices

Medical Practices

Home Health & Hospice

Medical Practices

Gyms & Health Clubs

Health & Fitness

Personal Training Studios

Health & Fitness

Every kind of business we sell in Graves County

These are the industries in Graves 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 Graves County.

General Contracting: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Electrical: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Plumbing: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Foundation & Site Prep: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Landscaping: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Interior Finishing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

49 related employer businesses in Graves County.

Quick-Service & Fast Food: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Full-Service Restaurants: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Coffee Shops: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.

Financial & Professional Services

30 related employer businesses in Graves County.

Accounting & Tax Practices: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Insurance Agencies: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Real Estate Brokerages: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Wealth Management: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.

Retail Stores

30 related employer businesses in Graves County.

Hardware, Garden & Building: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Home Decor & Furniture: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

Manufacturing

29 related employer businesses in Graves County.

Metal Fabrication: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Construction Materials Manufacturing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

Automotive & Boat

27 related employer businesses in Graves County.

Car Dealerships: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.
Auto Repair: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Auto Parts: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Car Washes: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Gas Stations & Convenience

21 related employer businesses in Graves County.

Gas Stations: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Convenience Stores: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Logistics & Transportation

17 related employer businesses in Graves County.

General Freight Trucking: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

16 related employer businesses in Graves County.

Industrial & Construction Supply: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Medical Practices

14 related employer businesses in Graves County.

Primary & Family Care: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Dental Practices: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
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.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

9 related employer businesses in Graves 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.
Home Infusion: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.

Education & Childcare

8 related employer businesses in Graves County.

Daycare Centers: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Home Services

7 related employer businesses in Graves 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.
Pest Control: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

7 related employer businesses in Graves County.

Non-Medical Home Care: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Beauty & Personal Care

3 related employer businesses in Graves County.

Day Spas: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.
Tattoo Shops: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Massage Parlors: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

3 related employer businesses in Graves County.

Waste Management & Recycling: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.

Health & Fitness

3 related employer businesses in Graves County.

Gyms & Health Clubs: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.
Yoga Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.
Pilates Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.
Personal Training Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in Graves County.

Hotels: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Construction & Engineering

64 related employer businesses in Graves County.

General Contracting: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Electrical: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Plumbing: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Foundation & Site Prep: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Landscaping: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Interior Finishing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

49 related employer businesses in Graves County.

Quick-Service & Fast Food: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Full-Service Restaurants: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Coffee Shops: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.

Financial & Professional Services

30 related employer businesses in Graves County.

Accounting & Tax Practices: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Insurance Agencies: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Real Estate Brokerages: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Wealth Management: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.

Retail Stores

30 related employer businesses in Graves County.

Hardware, Garden & Building: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Home Decor & Furniture: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

Manufacturing

29 related employer businesses in Graves County.

Metal Fabrication: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Construction Materials Manufacturing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

Automotive & Boat

27 related employer businesses in Graves County.

Car Dealerships: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.
Auto Repair: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Auto Parts: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Car Washes: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Gas Stations & Convenience

21 related employer businesses in Graves County.

Gas Stations: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Convenience Stores: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Logistics & Transportation

17 related employer businesses in Graves County.

General Freight Trucking: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

16 related employer businesses in Graves County.

Industrial & Construction Supply: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Medical Practices

14 related employer businesses in Graves County.

Primary & Family Care: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Dental Practices: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
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.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

9 related employer businesses in Graves 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.
Home Infusion: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.

Education & Childcare

8 related employer businesses in Graves County.

Daycare Centers: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Home Services

7 related employer businesses in Graves 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.
Pest Control: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

7 related employer businesses in Graves County.

Non-Medical Home Care: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Beauty & Personal Care

3 related employer businesses in Graves County.

Day Spas: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.
Tattoo Shops: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Massage Parlors: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

3 related employer businesses in Graves County.

Waste Management & Recycling: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.

Health & Fitness

3 related employer businesses in Graves County.

Gyms & Health Clubs: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.
Yoga Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.
Pilates Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.
Personal Training Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in Graves County.

Hotels: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Working with owners in Graves County

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

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Graves County ask

How long does it take to sell a business in Graves County?

The time depends on the price, the quality of the records and the number of qualified buyers.

How is a business valued in Graves 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 Graves 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