Selling a Business in Putnam County
Putnam County has 747 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 construction.
Areas in Indiana
LOCAL SNAPSHOT
Putnam County by the numbers
747
747
EMPLOYER BUSINESSES
89%
89%
SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE
2,268
2,268
BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES
11,696
11,696
EMPLOYMENT
$530 million
$530 million
ANNUAL PAYROLL
291
291
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 Putnam County compares
Putnam County ranks 45th of 92 Indiana counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses grew 6.3% between 2018 and 2023.
Construction makes up 15% of employer businesses in Putnam County, compared with 10% in Indiana.
291 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Putnam County ranks 45th of 92 Indiana counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses grew 6.3% between 2018 and 2023.
Construction makes up 15% of employer businesses in Putnam County, compared with 10% in Indiana.
291 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Industry mix
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Retail: 113 employer businesses
Construction: 113 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 96 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 82 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 74 employer businesses
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Retail: 113 employer businesses
Construction: 113 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 96 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 82 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 74 employer businesses
INDUSTRIES
What sells in Putnam County
Retail, construction, repair, personal care and other services, accommodation and food service
Every kind of business we sell in Putnam County
These are the industries in Putnam 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
104 related employer businesses in Putnam County.
General Contracting: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Foundation & Site Prep: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Electrical: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Plumbing: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Interior Finishing: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Landscaping: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Roofing & Siding: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Civil Engineering: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Restaurants & Food
58 related employer businesses in Putnam County.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Full-Service Restaurants: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Liquor, Wine & Beer Stores: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Coffee Shops: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Financial & Professional Services
40 related employer businesses in Putnam County.
Insurance Agencies: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Real Estate Brokerages: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Wealth Management: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Retail Stores
33 related employer businesses in Putnam County.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Home Decor & Furniture: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Medical Practices
29 related employer businesses in Putnam County.
Dental Practices: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Primary & Family Care: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Veterinary Medicine: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Vision & Eye Care: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Mental & Behavioral Health: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Home Health & Hospice: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Logistics & Transportation
27 related employer businesses in Putnam County.
General Freight Trucking: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Freight Brokerage & 3PL: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Gas Stations & Convenience
24 related employer businesses in Putnam County.
Gas Stations: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Automotive & Boat
22 related employer businesses in Putnam County.
Auto Repair: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Collision Repair: 3 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.
Car Dealerships: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.
Manufacturing
12 related employer businesses in Putnam County.
Metal Fabrication: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Printing & Plastics: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.9x - 4.9x SDE.
Construction Materials Manufacturing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Energy & Utilities
7 related employer businesses in Putnam County.
Water & Wastewater Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Propane & Fuel Distribution: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Home Services
7 related employer businesses in Putnam County.
Residential Cleaning: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.
Hospitality & Travel
7 related employer businesses in Putnam 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.
Entertainment & Recreation
6 related employer businesses in Putnam 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.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
6 related employer businesses in Putnam County.
Compounding Pharmacies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Home Infusion: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Beauty & Personal Care
5 related employer businesses in Putnam County.
Hair Salons: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.
Education & Childcare
5 related employer businesses in Putnam County.
Daycare Centers: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Health & Fitness
3 related employer businesses in Putnam County.
Wellness & Recovery Centers: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 5.5x - 9.7x EBITDA.
Senior Care & Living
3 related employer businesses in Putnam County.
Non-Medical Home Care: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
These are the industries in Putnam 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
104 related employer businesses in Putnam County.
General Contracting: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Foundation & Site Prep: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Electrical: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Plumbing: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Interior Finishing: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Landscaping: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Roofing & Siding: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Civil Engineering: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Restaurants & Food
58 related employer businesses in Putnam County.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Full-Service Restaurants: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Liquor, Wine & Beer Stores: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Coffee Shops: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Financial & Professional Services
40 related employer businesses in Putnam County.
Insurance Agencies: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Real Estate Brokerages: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Wealth Management: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Retail Stores
33 related employer businesses in Putnam County.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Home Decor & Furniture: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Medical Practices
29 related employer businesses in Putnam County.
Dental Practices: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Primary & Family Care: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Veterinary Medicine: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Vision & Eye Care: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Mental & Behavioral Health: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Home Health & Hospice: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Logistics & Transportation
27 related employer businesses in Putnam County.
General Freight Trucking: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Freight Brokerage & 3PL: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Gas Stations & Convenience
24 related employer businesses in Putnam County.
Gas Stations: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Automotive & Boat
22 related employer businesses in Putnam County.
Auto Repair: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Collision Repair: 3 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.
Car Dealerships: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.
Manufacturing
12 related employer businesses in Putnam County.
Metal Fabrication: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Printing & Plastics: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.9x - 4.9x SDE.
Construction Materials Manufacturing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Energy & Utilities
7 related employer businesses in Putnam County.
Water & Wastewater Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Propane & Fuel Distribution: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Home Services
7 related employer businesses in Putnam County.
Residential Cleaning: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.
Hospitality & Travel
7 related employer businesses in Putnam 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.
Entertainment & Recreation
6 related employer businesses in Putnam 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.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
6 related employer businesses in Putnam County.
Compounding Pharmacies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Home Infusion: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Beauty & Personal Care
5 related employer businesses in Putnam County.
Hair Salons: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.
Education & Childcare
5 related employer businesses in Putnam County.
Daycare Centers: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Health & Fitness
3 related employer businesses in Putnam County.
Wellness & Recovery Centers: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 5.5x - 9.7x EBITDA.
Senior Care & Living
3 related employer businesses in Putnam County.
Non-Medical Home Care: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Working with owners in Putnam County
Business Advisors of America works with owners who are selling a business in Putnam County. Contact us to talk about a sale.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions owners in Putnam County ask
How long does it take to sell a business in Putnam County?
The time depends on the price, the quality of the records and the number of qualified buyers.
How is a business valued in Putnam 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 Putnam 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