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Isabella County

Selling a Business in Isabella County

Isabella County has 1,423 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.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Isabella County by the numbers

1,423

1,423

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

85%

85%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

4,243

4,243

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

25,575

25,575

EMPLOYMENT

$1.2 billion

$1.2 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

694

694

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 Isabella County compares

  • Isabella County ranks 27th of 83 Michigan counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 4.2% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Real estate and rental makes up 6% of employer businesses in Isabella County, compared with 4% in Michigan.

  • 694 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Isabella County ranks 27th of 83 Michigan counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 4.2% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Real estate and rental makes up 6% of employer businesses in Isabella County, compared with 4% in Michigan.

  • 694 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 221 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 214 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 165 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 135 employer businesses

  • Construction: 134 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 221 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 214 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 165 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 135 employer businesses

  • Construction: 134 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Isabella County

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

Every kind of business we sell in Isabella County

These are the industries in Isabella 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

130 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

Construction & Engineering

127 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

  • General Contracting: 32 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Electrical: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Civil Engineering: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Medical Practices

114 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

Retail Stores

73 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

Financial & Professional Services

64 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

Automotive & Boat

50 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

  • Auto Repair: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Collision Repair: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

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

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

  • Car Washes: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Gas Stations & Convenience

33 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

  • Gas Stations: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Manufacturing

32 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

Logistics & Transportation

31 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

Energy & Utilities

27 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

Entertainment & Recreation

24 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Wholesale & Distribution

23 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

Home Services

19 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

Beauty & Personal Care

18 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

  • Hair Salons: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • 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.

Senior Care & Living

18 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

16 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

Education & Childcare

15 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

  • Daycare Centers: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Hospitality & Travel

11 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

  • Hotels: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Health & Fitness

9 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

Pet Services

5 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

These are the industries in Isabella 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

130 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

Construction & Engineering

127 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

  • General Contracting: 32 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Electrical: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Civil Engineering: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Medical Practices

114 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

Retail Stores

73 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

Financial & Professional Services

64 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

Automotive & Boat

50 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

  • Auto Repair: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Collision Repair: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

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

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

  • Car Washes: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Gas Stations & Convenience

33 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

  • Gas Stations: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Manufacturing

32 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

Logistics & Transportation

31 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

Energy & Utilities

27 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

Entertainment & Recreation

24 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Wholesale & Distribution

23 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

Home Services

19 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

Beauty & Personal Care

18 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

  • Hair Salons: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • 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.

Senior Care & Living

18 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

16 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

Education & Childcare

15 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

  • Daycare Centers: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Hospitality & Travel

11 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

  • Hotels: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Health & Fitness

9 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

Pet Services

5 related employer businesses in Isabella County.

Working with owners in Isabella County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Isabella County ask

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

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

How is a business valued in Isabella 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 Isabella 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