Selling a Business in Independence County
Independence County has 810 employer businesses, and 84% 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.
Areas in Arkansas
LOCAL SNAPSHOT
Independence County by the numbers
810
810
EMPLOYER BUSINESSES
84%
84%
SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE
2,600
2,600
BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES
16,206
16,206
EMPLOYMENT
$833 million
$833 million
ANNUAL PAYROLL
364
364
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 Independence County compares
Independence County ranks 19th of 75 Arkansas counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses grew 1.1% between 2018 and 2023.
Manufacturing makes up 5% of employer businesses in Independence County, compared with 4% in Arkansas.
364 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Independence County ranks 19th of 75 Arkansas counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses grew 1.1% between 2018 and 2023.
Manufacturing makes up 5% of employer businesses in Independence County, compared with 4% in Arkansas.
364 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Industry mix
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Retail: 157 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 111 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 94 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 73 employer businesses
Construction: 60 employer businesses
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Retail: 157 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 111 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 94 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 73 employer businesses
Construction: 60 employer businesses
INDUSTRIES
What sells in Independence County
Retail, health care and social assistance, repair, personal care and other services, accommodation and food service
Every kind of business we sell in Independence County
These are the industries in Independence 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.
Restaurants & Food
69 related employer businesses in Independence County.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 31 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: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Coffee Shops: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Retail Stores
62 related employer businesses in Independence County.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Home Decor & Furniture: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Sporting Goods & Firearms: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.4x SDE.
Electronics & Repair: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Medical Practices
59 related employer businesses in Independence County.
Primary & Family Care: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Dental Practices: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Mental & Behavioral Health: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Home Health & Hospice: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Veterinary Medicine: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Medical Labs & Imaging: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Vision & Eye Care: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Construction & Engineering
54 related employer businesses in Independence County.
General Contracting: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Plumbing: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Foundation & Site Prep: 6 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.
Interior Finishing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Landscaping: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Civil Engineering: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Financial & Professional Services
41 related employer businesses in Independence County.
Insurance Agencies: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Real Estate Brokerages: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Wealth Management: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Manufacturing
31 related employer businesses in Independence County.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Metal Fabrication: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Printing & Plastics: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.9x - 4.9x SDE.
Construction Materials Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Automotive & Boat
29 related employer businesses in Independence County.
Auto Repair: 13 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: 5 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.
Logistics & Transportation
26 related employer businesses in Independence County.
General Freight Trucking: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Gas Stations & Convenience
20 related employer businesses in Independence County.
Gas Stations: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
12 related employer businesses in Independence County.
Compounding Pharmacies: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Home Infusion: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Home Services
11 related employer businesses in Independence County.
Pest Control: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.
Residential Cleaning: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.
Wholesale & Distribution
8 related employer businesses in Independence County.
Industrial & Construction Supply: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Hospitality & Travel
7 related employer businesses in Independence 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.
Senior Care & Living
6 related employer businesses in Independence County.
Non-Medical Home Care: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Education & Childcare
5 related employer businesses in Independence County.
Daycare Centers: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Health & Fitness
5 related employer businesses in Independence County.
Wellness & Recovery Centers: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 5.5x - 9.7x EBITDA.
Beauty & Personal Care
4 related employer businesses in Independence County.
Hair Salons: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.
These are the industries in Independence 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.
Restaurants & Food
69 related employer businesses in Independence County.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 31 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: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Coffee Shops: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Retail Stores
62 related employer businesses in Independence County.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Home Decor & Furniture: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Sporting Goods & Firearms: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.4x SDE.
Electronics & Repair: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Medical Practices
59 related employer businesses in Independence County.
Primary & Family Care: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Dental Practices: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Mental & Behavioral Health: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Home Health & Hospice: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Veterinary Medicine: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Medical Labs & Imaging: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Vision & Eye Care: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Construction & Engineering
54 related employer businesses in Independence County.
General Contracting: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Plumbing: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Foundation & Site Prep: 6 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.
Interior Finishing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Landscaping: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Civil Engineering: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Financial & Professional Services
41 related employer businesses in Independence County.
Insurance Agencies: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Real Estate Brokerages: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Wealth Management: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Manufacturing
31 related employer businesses in Independence County.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Metal Fabrication: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Printing & Plastics: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.9x - 4.9x SDE.
Construction Materials Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Automotive & Boat
29 related employer businesses in Independence County.
Auto Repair: 13 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: 5 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.
Logistics & Transportation
26 related employer businesses in Independence County.
General Freight Trucking: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Gas Stations & Convenience
20 related employer businesses in Independence County.
Gas Stations: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
12 related employer businesses in Independence County.
Compounding Pharmacies: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Home Infusion: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Home Services
11 related employer businesses in Independence County.
Pest Control: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.
Residential Cleaning: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.
Wholesale & Distribution
8 related employer businesses in Independence County.
Industrial & Construction Supply: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Hospitality & Travel
7 related employer businesses in Independence 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.
Senior Care & Living
6 related employer businesses in Independence County.
Non-Medical Home Care: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Education & Childcare
5 related employer businesses in Independence County.
Daycare Centers: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Health & Fitness
5 related employer businesses in Independence County.
Wellness & Recovery Centers: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 5.5x - 9.7x EBITDA.
Beauty & Personal Care
4 related employer businesses in Independence County.
Hair Salons: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.
Working with owners in Independence County
Business Advisors of America works with owners who are selling a business in Independence County. Contact us to talk about a sale.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions owners in Independence County ask
How long does it take to sell a business in Independence County?
The time depends on the price, the quality of the records and the number of qualified buyers.
How is a business valued in Independence 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 Independence 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