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Marshall County

Selling a Business in Marshall County

Marshall County has 734 employer businesses, and 88% 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 construction.

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LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Marshall County by the numbers

734

734

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

88%

88%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

2,366

2,366

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

9,645

9,645

EMPLOYMENT

$601 million

$601 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

341

341

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 Marshall County compares

  • Marshall County ranks 29th of 120 Kentucky counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 5.8% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Construction makes up 13% of employer businesses in Marshall County, compared with 9% in Kentucky.

  • 341 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Marshall County ranks 29th of 120 Kentucky counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 5.8% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Construction makes up 13% of employer businesses in Marshall County, compared with 9% in Kentucky.

  • 341 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 127 employer businesses

  • Construction: 95 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 90 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 76 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 73 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 127 employer businesses

  • Construction: 95 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 90 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 76 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 73 employer businesses

Every kind of business we sell in Marshall County

These are the industries in Marshall 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.

Construction & Engineering

91 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

  • General Contracting: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Civil Engineering: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

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

Restaurants & Food

56 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

Retail Stores

35 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

Automotive & Boat

30 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

  • Auto Repair: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

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

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

  • Boat Dealerships: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.

  • Collision Repair: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

Financial & Professional Services

30 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

Manufacturing

29 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

Logistics & Transportation

25 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

Medical Practices

21 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

18 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

  • Gas Stations: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Hospitality & Travel

18 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

  • Hotels: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Wholesale & Distribution

11 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

9 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

Education & Childcare

7 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

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

Senior Care & Living

6 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

Pet Services

5 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

Home Services

4 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

Health & Fitness

3 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

  • Gyms & Health Clubs: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.

  • Yoga Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.

  • Pilates Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.

  • Personal Training Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.

These are the industries in Marshall 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.

Construction & Engineering

91 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

  • General Contracting: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Civil Engineering: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

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

Restaurants & Food

56 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

Retail Stores

35 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

Automotive & Boat

30 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

  • Auto Repair: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

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

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

  • Boat Dealerships: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.

  • Collision Repair: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

Financial & Professional Services

30 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

Manufacturing

29 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

Logistics & Transportation

25 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

Medical Practices

21 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

18 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

  • Gas Stations: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Hospitality & Travel

18 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

  • Hotels: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Wholesale & Distribution

11 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

9 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

Education & Childcare

7 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

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

Senior Care & Living

6 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

Pet Services

5 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

Home Services

4 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

Health & Fitness

3 related employer businesses in Marshall County.

  • Gyms & Health Clubs: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.

  • Yoga Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.

  • Pilates Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.

  • Personal Training Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.

Working with owners in Marshall County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Marshall County ask

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

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

How is a business valued in Marshall 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 Marshall 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