Selling a Business in Powell County

Powell County has 212 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 retail and health care and social assistance.

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LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Powell County by the numbers

212

212

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

89%

89%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

755

755

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

1,878

1,878

EMPLOYMENT

$68 million

$68 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

87

87

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 Powell County compares

  • Powell County ranks 76th of 120 Kentucky counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 26.9% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Information and media makes up 5% of employer businesses in Powell County, compared with 2% in Kentucky.

  • 87 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Powell County ranks 76th of 120 Kentucky counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 26.9% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Information and media makes up 5% of employer businesses in Powell County, compared with 2% in Kentucky.

  • 87 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 49 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 36 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 24 employer businesses

  • Construction: 19 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 18 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 49 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 36 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 24 employer businesses

  • Construction: 19 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 18 employer businesses

Every kind of business we sell in Powell County

These are the industries in Powell 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.

Restaurants & Food

23 related employer businesses in Powell County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

13 related employer businesses in Powell County.

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

Retail Stores

11 related employer businesses in Powell County.

Medical Practices

9 related employer businesses in Powell County.

Construction & Engineering

7 related employer businesses in Powell County.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

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

Logistics & Transportation

6 related employer businesses in Powell County.

Financial & Professional Services

4 related employer businesses in Powell County.

  • Insurance Agencies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

4 related employer businesses in Powell County.

Senior Care & Living

4 related employer businesses in Powell County.

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in Powell County.

  • Hotels: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

These are the industries in Powell 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.

Restaurants & Food

23 related employer businesses in Powell County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

13 related employer businesses in Powell County.

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

Retail Stores

11 related employer businesses in Powell County.

Medical Practices

9 related employer businesses in Powell County.

Construction & Engineering

7 related employer businesses in Powell County.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

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

Logistics & Transportation

6 related employer businesses in Powell County.

Financial & Professional Services

4 related employer businesses in Powell County.

  • Insurance Agencies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

4 related employer businesses in Powell County.

Senior Care & Living

4 related employer businesses in Powell County.

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in Powell County.

  • Hotels: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Working with owners in Powell County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Powell County ask

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

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

How is a business valued in Powell 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 Powell 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