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Marion County

Selling a Business in Marion County

Marion County has 353 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

Marion County by the numbers

353

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

85%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,354

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

8,162

EMPLOYMENT

$381 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

150

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 Marion County compares

Marion County ranks 53rd of 120 Kentucky counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses grew 5.7% between 2018 and 2023.
Manufacturing makes up 10% of employer businesses in Marion County, compared with 4% in Kentucky.
150 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Marion County ranks 53rd of 120 Kentucky counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses grew 5.7% between 2018 and 2023.
Manufacturing makes up 10% of employer businesses in Marion County, compared with 4% in Kentucky.
150 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

Retail: 60 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 48 employer businesses
Construction: 37 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 34 employer businesses
Manufacturing: 34 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

Retail: 60 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 48 employer businesses
Construction: 37 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 34 employer businesses
Manufacturing: 34 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Marion County

Retail, health care and social assistance, construction, repair, personal care and other services

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 Marion County

These are the industries in Marion 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

34 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Full-Service Restaurants: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Liquor, Wine & Beer Stores: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.

Construction & Engineering

29 related employer businesses in Marion County.

General Contracting: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Plumbing: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Foundation & Site Prep: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Electrical: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Medical Practices

26 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Primary & Family Care: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Mental & Behavioral Health: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Veterinary Medicine: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Dental Practices: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Vision & Eye Care: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

20 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Metal Fabrication: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Printing & Plastics: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.9x - 4.9x SDE.

Financial & Professional Services

18 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Insurance Agencies: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Real Estate Brokerages: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.

Retail Stores

16 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Hardware, Garden & Building: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.

Automotive & Boat

12 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Auto Repair: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Auto Parts: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Collision Repair: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

Logistics & Transportation

10 related employer businesses in Marion County.

General Freight Trucking: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.

Gas Stations & Convenience

7 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Gas Stations: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Health & Fitness

5 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Wellness & Recovery Centers: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 5.5x - 9.7x EBITDA.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

4 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Compounding Pharmacies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.

Education & Childcare

3 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Daycare Centers: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

34 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Full-Service Restaurants: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Liquor, Wine & Beer Stores: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.

Construction & Engineering

29 related employer businesses in Marion County.

General Contracting: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Plumbing: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Foundation & Site Prep: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Electrical: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Medical Practices

26 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Primary & Family Care: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Mental & Behavioral Health: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Veterinary Medicine: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Dental Practices: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Vision & Eye Care: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

20 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Metal Fabrication: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Printing & Plastics: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.9x - 4.9x SDE.

Financial & Professional Services

18 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Insurance Agencies: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Real Estate Brokerages: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.

Retail Stores

16 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Hardware, Garden & Building: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.

Automotive & Boat

12 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Auto Repair: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Auto Parts: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Collision Repair: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

Logistics & Transportation

10 related employer businesses in Marion County.

General Freight Trucking: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.

Gas Stations & Convenience

7 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Gas Stations: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Health & Fitness

5 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Wellness & Recovery Centers: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 5.5x - 9.7x EBITDA.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

4 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Compounding Pharmacies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.

Education & Childcare

3 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Daycare Centers: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Working with owners in Marion County

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

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Marion County ask

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

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

How is a business valued in Marion 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 Marion 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