Selling a Business in Otoe County

Otoe County has 470 employer businesses, and 92% 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

Otoe County by the numbers

470

470

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

92%

92%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,291

1,291

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

5,041

5,041

EMPLOYMENT

$223 million

$223 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

169

169

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 Otoe County compares

  • Otoe County ranks 19th of 93 Nebraska counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 1.3% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Repair, personal care and other services makes up 13% of employer businesses in Otoe County, compared with 11% in Nebraska.

  • 169 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Otoe County ranks 19th of 93 Nebraska counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 1.3% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Repair, personal care and other services makes up 13% of employer businesses in Otoe County, compared with 11% in Nebraska.

  • 169 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 70 employer businesses

  • Construction: 67 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 63 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 44 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 40 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 70 employer businesses

  • Construction: 67 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 63 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 44 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 40 employer businesses

Every kind of business we sell in Otoe County

These are the industries in Otoe 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

55 related employer businesses in Otoe County.

  • General Contracting: 15 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.

  • Plumbing: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

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

  • Interior Finishing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

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

Financial & Professional Services

30 related employer businesses in Otoe County.

Restaurants & Food

27 related employer businesses in Otoe County.

Retail Stores

21 related employer businesses in Otoe County.

Medical Practices

19 related employer businesses in Otoe County.

Automotive & Boat

17 related employer businesses in Otoe County.

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

  • Auto Parts: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

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

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

Logistics & Transportation

15 related employer businesses in Otoe County.

Entertainment & Recreation

13 related employer businesses in Otoe County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Golf Courses: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Gas Stations & Convenience

13 related employer businesses in Otoe County.

  • Gas Stations: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Manufacturing

12 related employer businesses in Otoe County.

Beauty & Personal Care

7 related employer businesses in Otoe County.

  • Hair Salons: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

7 related employer businesses in Otoe County.

Home Services

5 related employer businesses in Otoe County.

Hospitality & Travel

4 related employer businesses in Otoe County.

  • Hotels: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Education & Childcare

3 related employer businesses in Otoe County.

  • Daycare Centers: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in Otoe County.

These are the industries in Otoe 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

55 related employer businesses in Otoe County.

  • General Contracting: 15 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.

  • Plumbing: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

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

  • Interior Finishing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

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

Financial & Professional Services

30 related employer businesses in Otoe County.

Restaurants & Food

27 related employer businesses in Otoe County.

Retail Stores

21 related employer businesses in Otoe County.

Medical Practices

19 related employer businesses in Otoe County.

Automotive & Boat

17 related employer businesses in Otoe County.

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

  • Auto Parts: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

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

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

Logistics & Transportation

15 related employer businesses in Otoe County.

Entertainment & Recreation

13 related employer businesses in Otoe County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Golf Courses: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Gas Stations & Convenience

13 related employer businesses in Otoe County.

  • Gas Stations: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Manufacturing

12 related employer businesses in Otoe County.

Beauty & Personal Care

7 related employer businesses in Otoe County.

  • Hair Salons: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

7 related employer businesses in Otoe County.

Home Services

5 related employer businesses in Otoe County.

Hospitality & Travel

4 related employer businesses in Otoe County.

  • Hotels: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Education & Childcare

3 related employer businesses in Otoe County.

  • Daycare Centers: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in Otoe County.

Working with owners in Otoe County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Otoe County ask

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

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

How is a business valued in Otoe 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 Otoe 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