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Mercer County

Selling a Business in Mercer County

Mercer County has 359 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 repair, personal care and other services and retail.

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Areas in Kentucky

AdairAllenAndersonBallardBarrenBathBellBooneBourbonBowling GreenBoydBoyleBrackenBreathittBreckinridgeBullittButlerCaldwellCallowayCampbellCarlisleCarrollCarterCaseyChristianClarkClarksvilleClayClintonCrittendenCumberlandDaviessEdmonsonElizabethtownElliottEstillFayetteFlemingFloydFranklinFultonGallatinGarrardGrantGravesGraysonGreater CincinnatiGreenGreenupHancockHardinHarlanHarrisonHartHendersonHenryHickmanHopkinsHuntingtonJacksonJefferson CountyJessamineJohnsonKentonKnottKnoxLarueLaurelLawrenceLeeLeslieLetcherLewisLexingtonLincolnLivingstonLoganLouisvilleLyonMadisonMagoffinMarionMarshallMartinMasonMcCrackenMcCrearyMcLeanMeadeMenifeeMercerMetcalfeMonroeMontgomeryMorganMuhlenbergNelsonNicholasOhioOldhamOwenOwensboroOwsleyPaducahPendletonPerryPikePowellPulaskiRobertsonRockcastleRowanRussellScottShelbySimpsonSpencerTaylorToddTriggTrimbleUnionWarrenWashingtonWayneWebsterWhitleyWolfeWoodford

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Mercer County by the numbers

359

359

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

91%

91%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,840

1,840

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

5,351

5,351

EMPLOYMENT

$288 million

$288 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

127

127

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 Mercer County compares

  • Mercer County ranks 52nd of 120 Kentucky counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 5.3% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Repair, personal care and other services makes up 16% of employer businesses in Mercer County, compared with 10% in Kentucky.

  • 127 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Mercer County ranks 52nd of 120 Kentucky counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 5.3% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Repair, personal care and other services makes up 16% of employer businesses in Mercer County, compared with 10% in Kentucky.

  • 127 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 58 employer businesses

  • Retail: 54 employer businesses

  • Construction: 44 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 38 employer businesses

  • Professional and technical services: 34 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 58 employer businesses

  • Retail: 54 employer businesses

  • Construction: 44 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 38 employer businesses

  • Professional and technical services: 34 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Mercer County

Repair, personal care and other services, retail, construction, health care and social assistance

Barber Shops

Beauty & Personal Care

Day Spas

Beauty & Personal Care

Auto Parts

Automotive & Boat

Auto Repair

Automotive & Boat

Electronics & Repair

Retail Stores

Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry

Retail Stores

Every kind of business we sell in Mercer County

These are the industries in Mercer 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

36 related employer businesses in Mercer County.

  • General Contracting: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Landscaping: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x 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.

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

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

  • Masonry: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

Financial & Professional Services

25 related employer businesses in Mercer County.

Restaurants & Food

25 related employer businesses in Mercer County.

Medical Practices

17 related employer businesses in Mercer County.

Automotive & Boat

14 related employer businesses in Mercer County.

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

  • Auto Parts: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

Logistics & Transportation

13 related employer businesses in Mercer County.

Retail Stores

13 related employer businesses in Mercer County.

Education & Childcare

8 related employer businesses in Mercer County.

  • Daycare Centers: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Gas Stations & Convenience

6 related employer businesses in Mercer County.

  • Gas Stations: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Hospitality & Travel

6 related employer businesses in Mercer 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.

Manufacturing

5 related employer businesses in Mercer County.

  • Metal Fabrication: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

5 related employer businesses in Mercer County.

Beauty & Personal Care

4 related employer businesses in Mercer County.

  • Hair Salons: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

These are the industries in Mercer 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

36 related employer businesses in Mercer County.

  • General Contracting: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Landscaping: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x 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.

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

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

  • Masonry: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

Financial & Professional Services

25 related employer businesses in Mercer County.

Restaurants & Food

25 related employer businesses in Mercer County.

Medical Practices

17 related employer businesses in Mercer County.

Automotive & Boat

14 related employer businesses in Mercer County.

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

  • Auto Parts: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

Logistics & Transportation

13 related employer businesses in Mercer County.

Retail Stores

13 related employer businesses in Mercer County.

Education & Childcare

8 related employer businesses in Mercer County.

  • Daycare Centers: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Gas Stations & Convenience

6 related employer businesses in Mercer County.

  • Gas Stations: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Hospitality & Travel

6 related employer businesses in Mercer 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.

Manufacturing

5 related employer businesses in Mercer County.

  • Metal Fabrication: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

5 related employer businesses in Mercer County.

Beauty & Personal Care

4 related employer businesses in Mercer County.

  • Hair Salons: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Working with owners in Mercer County

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

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Mercer County ask

How long does it take to sell a business in Mercer 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 Mercer 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 Mercer 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