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Johnson County

Selling a Business in Johnson County

Johnson County has 351 employer businesses, and 91% 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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Areas in Kentucky

AdairAllenAndersonBallardBarrenBathBellBooneBourbonBowling GreenBoydBoyleBrackenBreathittBreckinridgeBullittButlerCaldwellCallowayCampbellCarlisleCarrollCarterCaseyChristianClarkClarksvilleClayClintonCrittendenCumberlandDaviessEdmonsonElizabethtownElliottEstillFayetteFlemingFloydFranklinFultonGallatinGarrardGrantGravesGraysonGreater CincinnatiGreenGreenupHancockHardinHarlanHarrisonHartHendersonHenryHickmanHopkinsHuntingtonJacksonJefferson CountyJessamineJohnsonKentonKnottKnoxLarueLaurelLawrenceLeeLeslieLetcherLewisLexingtonLincolnLivingstonLoganLouisvilleLyonMadisonMagoffinMarionMarshallMartinMasonMcCrackenMcCrearyMcLeanMeadeMenifeeMercerMetcalfeMonroeMontgomeryMorganMuhlenbergNelsonNicholasOhioOldhamOwenOwensboroOwsleyPaducahPendletonPerryPikePowellPulaskiRobertsonRockcastleRowanRussellScottShelbySimpsonSpencerTaylorToddTriggTrimbleUnionWarrenWashingtonWayneWebsterWhitleyWolfeWoodford

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Johnson County by the numbers

351

351

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

91%

91%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,333

1,333

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

3,592

3,592

EMPLOYMENT

$135 million

$135 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

174

174

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 Johnson County compares

  • Johnson County ranks 56th of 120 Kentucky counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 4.9% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 26% of employer businesses in Johnson County, compared with 16% in Kentucky.

  • 174 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Johnson County ranks 56th of 120 Kentucky counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 4.9% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 26% of employer businesses in Johnson County, compared with 16% in Kentucky.

  • 174 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 90 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 46 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 34 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 34 employer businesses

  • Finance and insurance: 24 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 90 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 46 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 34 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 34 employer businesses

  • Finance and insurance: 24 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Johnson County

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

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 Johnson County

These are the industries in Johnson 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

32 related employer businesses in Johnson County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

21 related employer businesses in Johnson County.

  • Gas Stations: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Medical Practices

21 related employer businesses in Johnson County.

Retail Stores

20 related employer businesses in Johnson County.

Financial & Professional Services

18 related employer businesses in Johnson County.

Construction & Engineering

15 related employer businesses in Johnson County.

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

  • Landscaping: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Automotive & Boat

9 related employer businesses in Johnson County.

  • Auto Parts: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

Logistics & Transportation

8 related employer businesses in Johnson County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

6 related employer businesses in Johnson County.

Home Services

3 related employer businesses in Johnson County.

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in Johnson 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.

Wholesale & Distribution

3 related employer businesses in Johnson County.

These are the industries in Johnson 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

32 related employer businesses in Johnson County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

21 related employer businesses in Johnson County.

  • Gas Stations: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Medical Practices

21 related employer businesses in Johnson County.

Retail Stores

20 related employer businesses in Johnson County.

Financial & Professional Services

18 related employer businesses in Johnson County.

Construction & Engineering

15 related employer businesses in Johnson County.

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

  • Landscaping: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Automotive & Boat

9 related employer businesses in Johnson County.

  • Auto Parts: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

Logistics & Transportation

8 related employer businesses in Johnson County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

6 related employer businesses in Johnson County.

Home Services

3 related employer businesses in Johnson County.

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in Johnson 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.

Wholesale & Distribution

3 related employer businesses in Johnson County.

Working with owners in Johnson County

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

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Johnson County ask

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

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

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How is a business valued in Johnson 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.

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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.

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FROM OUR BLOG

Guides for owners in Johnson 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