Selling a Business in Hopkins County

Hopkins County has 882 employer businesses, and 85% 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

Hopkins County by the numbers

882

882

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

85%

85%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

2,569

2,569

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

14,582

14,582

EMPLOYMENT

$742 million

$742 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

426

426

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 Hopkins County compares

  • Hopkins County ranks 25th of 120 Kentucky counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 8.0% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Repair, personal care and other services makes up 15% of employer businesses in Hopkins County, compared with 10% in Kentucky.

  • 426 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Hopkins County ranks 25th of 120 Kentucky counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 8.0% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Repair, personal care and other services makes up 15% of employer businesses in Hopkins County, compared with 10% in Kentucky.

  • 426 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 162 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 134 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 129 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 71 employer businesses

  • Finance and insurance: 60 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 162 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 134 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 129 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 71 employer businesses

  • Finance and insurance: 60 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Hopkins County

Retail, health care and social assistance, repair, personal care and other services, accommodation and food service

Every kind of business we sell in Hopkins County

These are the industries in Hopkins 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.

Medical Practices

77 related employer businesses in Hopkins County.

Restaurants & Food

74 related employer businesses in Hopkins County.

Construction & Engineering

55 related employer businesses in Hopkins County.

  • General Contracting: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 8 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.

  • Electrical: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Civil Engineering: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Retail Stores

54 related employer businesses in Hopkins County.

Financial & Professional Services

50 related employer businesses in Hopkins County.

Automotive & Boat

29 related employer businesses in Hopkins County.

  • Auto Repair: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

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

Gas Stations & Convenience

28 related employer businesses in Hopkins County.

  • Gas Stations: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Manufacturing

26 related employer businesses in Hopkins County.

Logistics & Transportation

17 related employer businesses in Hopkins County.

Wholesale & Distribution

16 related employer businesses in Hopkins County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

14 related employer businesses in Hopkins County.

Home Services

9 related employer businesses in Hopkins County.

Education & Childcare

7 related employer businesses in Hopkins County.

  • Daycare Centers: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Hospitality & Travel

7 related employer businesses in Hopkins 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.

Beauty & Personal Care

6 related employer businesses in Hopkins County.

  • Hair Salons: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Health & Fitness

3 related employer businesses in Hopkins County.

These are the industries in Hopkins 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.

Medical Practices

77 related employer businesses in Hopkins County.

Restaurants & Food

74 related employer businesses in Hopkins County.

Construction & Engineering

55 related employer businesses in Hopkins County.

  • General Contracting: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 8 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.

  • Electrical: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Civil Engineering: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Retail Stores

54 related employer businesses in Hopkins County.

Financial & Professional Services

50 related employer businesses in Hopkins County.

Automotive & Boat

29 related employer businesses in Hopkins County.

  • Auto Repair: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

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

Gas Stations & Convenience

28 related employer businesses in Hopkins County.

  • Gas Stations: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Manufacturing

26 related employer businesses in Hopkins County.

Logistics & Transportation

17 related employer businesses in Hopkins County.

Wholesale & Distribution

16 related employer businesses in Hopkins County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

14 related employer businesses in Hopkins County.

Home Services

9 related employer businesses in Hopkins County.

Education & Childcare

7 related employer businesses in Hopkins County.

  • Daycare Centers: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Hospitality & Travel

7 related employer businesses in Hopkins 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.

Beauty & Personal Care

6 related employer businesses in Hopkins County.

  • Hair Salons: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Health & Fitness

3 related employer businesses in Hopkins County.

Working with owners in Hopkins County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Hopkins County ask

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

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

How is a business valued in Hopkins 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 Hopkins 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