Selling a Business in Morgan County

Morgan County has 759 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 repair, personal care and other services.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Morgan County by the numbers

759

759

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

85%

85%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

2,044

2,044

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

12,835

12,835

EMPLOYMENT

$694 million

$694 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

370

370

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 Morgan County compares

  • Morgan County ranks 41st of 102 Illinois counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 7.1% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 16% of employer businesses in Morgan County, compared with 11% in Illinois.

  • 370 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Morgan County ranks 41st of 102 Illinois counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 7.1% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 16% of employer businesses in Morgan County, compared with 11% in Illinois.

  • 370 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 123 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 94 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 91 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 85 employer businesses

  • Construction: 62 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 123 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 94 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 91 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 85 employer businesses

  • Construction: 62 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Morgan County

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

Every kind of business we sell in Morgan County

These are the industries in Morgan 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

56 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

  • General Contracting: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

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

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Civil Engineering: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Logistics & Transportation

56 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

Restaurants & Food

56 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

Financial & Professional Services

35 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

Retail Stores

33 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

Medical Practices

29 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

24 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

  • Gas Stations: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Automotive & Boat

20 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

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

  • Collision Repair: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

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

Manufacturing

15 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

Entertainment & Recreation

12 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

Home Services

9 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

Education & Childcare

7 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

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

Hospitality & Travel

7 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

  • Hotels: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Beauty & Personal Care

5 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

  • Hair Salons: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

5 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

Health & Fitness

3 related employer businesses in Morgan 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.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

Wholesale & Distribution

3 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

These are the industries in Morgan 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

56 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

  • General Contracting: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

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

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Civil Engineering: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Logistics & Transportation

56 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

Restaurants & Food

56 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

Financial & Professional Services

35 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

Retail Stores

33 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

Medical Practices

29 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

24 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

  • Gas Stations: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Automotive & Boat

20 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

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

  • Collision Repair: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

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

Manufacturing

15 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

Entertainment & Recreation

12 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

Home Services

9 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

Education & Childcare

7 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

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

Hospitality & Travel

7 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

  • Hotels: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Beauty & Personal Care

5 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

  • Hair Salons: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

5 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

Health & Fitness

3 related employer businesses in Morgan 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.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

Wholesale & Distribution

3 related employer businesses in Morgan County.

Working with owners in Morgan County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Morgan County ask

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

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

How is a business valued in Morgan 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 Morgan 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