Selling a Business in Perry County

Perry County has 378 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.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Perry County by the numbers

378

378

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

89%

89%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

987

987

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

4,302

4,302

EMPLOYMENT

$201 million

$201 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

148

148

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 Perry County compares

  • Perry County ranks 60th of 102 Illinois counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

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

  • Repair, personal care and other services makes up 21% of employer businesses in Perry County, compared with 10% in Illinois.

  • 148 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Perry County ranks 60th of 102 Illinois counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

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

  • Repair, personal care and other services makes up 21% of employer businesses in Perry County, compared with 10% in Illinois.

  • 148 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 80 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 53 employer businesses

  • Retail: 48 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 41 employer businesses

  • Construction: 28 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 80 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 53 employer businesses

  • Retail: 48 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 41 employer businesses

  • Construction: 28 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Perry County

Repair, personal care and other services, health care and social assistance, retail, accommodation and food service

Every kind of business we sell in Perry County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Perry County. 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

27 related employer businesses in Perry County.

Automotive & Boat

24 related employer businesses in Perry County.

  • Auto Repair: 10 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: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Washes: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Construction & Engineering

22 related employer businesses in Perry County.

  • Plumbing: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • General Contracting: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Landscaping: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Financial & Professional Services

22 related employer businesses in Perry County.

Medical Practices

11 related employer businesses in Perry County.

Logistics & Transportation

10 related employer businesses in Perry County.

Entertainment & Recreation

8 related employer businesses in Perry County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

Gas Stations & Convenience

7 related employer businesses in Perry County.

  • Gas Stations: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Retail Stores

7 related employer businesses in Perry County.

Manufacturing

6 related employer businesses in Perry County.

  • Metal Fabrication: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.

Education & Childcare

5 related employer businesses in Perry County.

  • Daycare Centers: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Hospitality & Travel

4 related employer businesses in Perry 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.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Perry County. 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

27 related employer businesses in Perry County.

Automotive & Boat

24 related employer businesses in Perry County.

  • Auto Repair: 10 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: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Washes: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Construction & Engineering

22 related employer businesses in Perry County.

  • Plumbing: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • General Contracting: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Landscaping: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Financial & Professional Services

22 related employer businesses in Perry County.

Medical Practices

11 related employer businesses in Perry County.

Logistics & Transportation

10 related employer businesses in Perry County.

Entertainment & Recreation

8 related employer businesses in Perry County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

Gas Stations & Convenience

7 related employer businesses in Perry County.

  • Gas Stations: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Retail Stores

7 related employer businesses in Perry County.

Manufacturing

6 related employer businesses in Perry County.

  • Metal Fabrication: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.

Education & Childcare

5 related employer businesses in Perry County.

  • Daycare Centers: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Hospitality & Travel

4 related employer businesses in Perry 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.

Working with owners in Perry County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Perry County ask

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

The time depends on the price, the quality of the records and the number of qualified buyers. Many sales take six months or longer from the start of the process to closing.

How is a business valued in Perry 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 Perry 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