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O'Brien County

Selling a Business in O'Brien County

O'Brien County has 488 employer businesses, and 89% 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 Iowa

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

O'Brien County by the numbers

488

488

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

89%

89%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,020

1,020

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

5,332

5,332

EMPLOYMENT

$228 million

$228 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

195

195

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 O'Brien County compares

  • O'Brien County ranks 43rd of 99 Iowa counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 3.0% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Transportation and warehousing makes up 9% of employer businesses in O'Brien County, compared with 5% in Iowa.

  • 195 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • O'Brien County ranks 43rd of 99 Iowa counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 3.0% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Transportation and warehousing makes up 9% of employer businesses in O'Brien County, compared with 5% in Iowa.

  • 195 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 78 employer businesses

  • Retail: 75 employer businesses

  • Construction: 46 employer businesses

  • Transportation and warehousing: 45 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 43 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 78 employer businesses

  • Retail: 75 employer businesses

  • Construction: 46 employer businesses

  • Transportation and warehousing: 45 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 43 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in O'Brien County

Repair, personal care and other services, retail, construction, transportation and warehousing

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 O'Brien County

These are the industries in O'Brien 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

46 related employer businesses in O'Brien County.

  • General Contracting: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

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

  • Electrical: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Logistics & Transportation

46 related employer businesses in O'Brien County.

Restaurants & Food

27 related employer businesses in O'Brien County.

Automotive & Boat

24 related employer businesses in O'Brien County.

  • Auto Repair: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Collision Repair: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

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

Financial & Professional Services

19 related employer businesses in O'Brien County.

Retail Stores

17 related employer businesses in O'Brien County.

Manufacturing

16 related employer businesses in O'Brien County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

10 related employer businesses in O'Brien County.

  • Gas Stations: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Entertainment & Recreation

9 related employer businesses in O'Brien County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Golf Courses: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Medical Practices

9 related employer businesses in O'Brien County.

  • Dental Practices: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.

  • Vision & Eye Care: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

9 related employer businesses in O'Brien County.

Education & Childcare

7 related employer businesses in O'Brien County.

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

Beauty & Personal Care

5 related employer businesses in O'Brien County.

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

Energy & Utilities

3 related employer businesses in O'Brien County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in O'Brien County.

These are the industries in O'Brien 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

46 related employer businesses in O'Brien County.

  • General Contracting: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

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

  • Electrical: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Logistics & Transportation

46 related employer businesses in O'Brien County.

Restaurants & Food

27 related employer businesses in O'Brien County.

Automotive & Boat

24 related employer businesses in O'Brien County.

  • Auto Repair: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Collision Repair: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

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

Financial & Professional Services

19 related employer businesses in O'Brien County.

Retail Stores

17 related employer businesses in O'Brien County.

Manufacturing

16 related employer businesses in O'Brien County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

10 related employer businesses in O'Brien County.

  • Gas Stations: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Entertainment & Recreation

9 related employer businesses in O'Brien County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Golf Courses: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Medical Practices

9 related employer businesses in O'Brien County.

  • Dental Practices: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.

  • Vision & Eye Care: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

9 related employer businesses in O'Brien County.

Education & Childcare

7 related employer businesses in O'Brien County.

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

Beauty & Personal Care

5 related employer businesses in O'Brien County.

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

Energy & Utilities

3 related employer businesses in O'Brien County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in O'Brien County.

Working with owners in O'Brien County

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

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in O'Brien County ask

How long does it take to sell a business in O'Brien 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 O'Brien 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 O'Brien 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