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Hancock County

Selling a Business in Hancock County

Hancock County has 365 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.

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LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Hancock County by the numbers

365

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

92%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,247

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

2,706

EMPLOYMENT

$124 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

147

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 Hancock County compares

Hancock County ranks 62nd of 102 Illinois counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 3.9% between 2018 and 2023.
Wholesale makes up 8% of employer businesses in Hancock County, compared with 5% in Illinois.
147 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Hancock County ranks 62nd of 102 Illinois counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 3.9% between 2018 and 2023.
Wholesale makes up 8% of employer businesses in Hancock County, compared with 5% in Illinois.
147 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

Repair, personal care and other services: 59 employer businesses
Retail: 57 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 35 employer businesses
Wholesale: 31 employer businesses
Finance and insurance: 30 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

Repair, personal care and other services: 59 employer businesses
Retail: 57 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 35 employer businesses
Wholesale: 31 employer businesses
Finance and insurance: 30 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Hancock County

Repair, personal care and other services, retail, accommodation and food service, wholesale

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 Hancock County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Hancock 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

29 related employer businesses in Hancock County.

General Contracting: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Landscaping: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Plumbing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
Foundation & Site Prep: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
HVAC Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Electrical: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Financial & Professional Services

25 related employer businesses in Hancock County.

Insurance Agencies: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 6 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.

Restaurants & Food

20 related employer businesses in Hancock County.

Full-Service Restaurants: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.

Logistics & Transportation

15 related employer businesses in Hancock County.

General Freight Trucking: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.

Gas Stations & Convenience

14 related employer businesses in Hancock County.

Gas Stations: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Manufacturing

12 related employer businesses in Hancock County.

Metal Fabrication: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.

Retail Stores

12 related employer businesses in Hancock County.

Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Entertainment & Recreation

11 related employer businesses in Hancock County.

Bars & Pubs: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 8 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.

Medical Practices

8 related employer businesses in Hancock County.

Primary & Family Care: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Veterinary Medicine: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.

Automotive & Boat

4 related employer businesses in Hancock County.

Collision Repair: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

Education & Childcare

4 related employer businesses in Hancock County.

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

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in Hancock 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.

Senior Care & Living

3 related employer businesses in Hancock County.

Assisted Living Facilities: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Wholesale & Distribution

3 related employer businesses in Hancock County.

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

Construction & Engineering

29 related employer businesses in Hancock County.

General Contracting: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Landscaping: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Plumbing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
Foundation & Site Prep: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
HVAC Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Electrical: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Financial & Professional Services

25 related employer businesses in Hancock County.

Insurance Agencies: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 6 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.

Restaurants & Food

20 related employer businesses in Hancock County.

Full-Service Restaurants: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.

Logistics & Transportation

15 related employer businesses in Hancock County.

General Freight Trucking: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.

Gas Stations & Convenience

14 related employer businesses in Hancock County.

Gas Stations: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Manufacturing

12 related employer businesses in Hancock County.

Metal Fabrication: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.

Retail Stores

12 related employer businesses in Hancock County.

Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Entertainment & Recreation

11 related employer businesses in Hancock County.

Bars & Pubs: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 8 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.

Medical Practices

8 related employer businesses in Hancock County.

Primary & Family Care: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Veterinary Medicine: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.

Automotive & Boat

4 related employer businesses in Hancock County.

Collision Repair: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

Education & Childcare

4 related employer businesses in Hancock County.

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

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in Hancock 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.

Senior Care & Living

3 related employer businesses in Hancock County.

Assisted Living Facilities: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Wholesale & Distribution

3 related employer businesses in Hancock County.

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

Working with owners in Hancock County

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

Get a Free Valuation

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Hancock County ask

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