Selling a Business in Mecosta County

Mecosta County has 727 employer businesses, and 87% 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 repair, personal care and other services.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Mecosta County by the numbers

727

727

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

87%

87%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

2,634

2,634

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

9,425

9,425

EMPLOYMENT

$402 million

$402 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

336

336

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 Mecosta County compares

  • Mecosta County ranks 53rd of 83 Michigan counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 2.7% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 20% of employer businesses in Mecosta County, compared with 14% in Michigan.

  • 336 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Mecosta County ranks 53rd of 83 Michigan counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 2.7% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 20% of employer businesses in Mecosta County, compared with 14% in Michigan.

  • 336 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 146 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 101 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 96 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 79 employer businesses

  • Construction: 62 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 146 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 101 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 96 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 79 employer businesses

  • Construction: 62 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Mecosta County

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

Every kind of business we sell in Mecosta County

These are the industries in Mecosta 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

72 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

Financial & Professional Services

50 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

Construction & Engineering

49 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

  • General Contracting: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

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

  • Landscaping: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Medical Practices

47 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

Retail Stores

41 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

Automotive & Boat

27 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

  • Auto Repair: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Collision Repair: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Auto Parts: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

Gas Stations & Convenience

23 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

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

  • Convenience Stores: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Logistics & Transportation

14 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

Manufacturing

14 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

Beauty & Personal Care

13 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

  • Hair Salons: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

13 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

Senior Care & Living

13 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

Education & Childcare

9 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

  • Daycare Centers: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Entertainment & Recreation

7 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

Health & Fitness

6 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

Hospitality & Travel

6 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

  • Hotels: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Home Services

5 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

Wholesale & Distribution

4 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

Energy & Utilities

3 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

These are the industries in Mecosta 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

72 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

Financial & Professional Services

50 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

Construction & Engineering

49 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

  • General Contracting: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

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

  • Landscaping: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Medical Practices

47 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

Retail Stores

41 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

Automotive & Boat

27 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

  • Auto Repair: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Collision Repair: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Auto Parts: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

Gas Stations & Convenience

23 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

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

  • Convenience Stores: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Logistics & Transportation

14 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

Manufacturing

14 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

Beauty & Personal Care

13 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

  • Hair Salons: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

13 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

Senior Care & Living

13 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

Education & Childcare

9 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

  • Daycare Centers: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Entertainment & Recreation

7 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

Health & Fitness

6 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

Hospitality & Travel

6 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

  • Hotels: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Home Services

5 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

Wholesale & Distribution

4 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

Energy & Utilities

3 related employer businesses in Mecosta County.

Working with owners in Mecosta County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Mecosta County ask

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

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

How is a business valued in Mecosta 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 Mecosta 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