Selling a Business in Rice County

Rice County has 1,600 employer businesses, and 87% 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 construction and repair, personal care and other services.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Rice County by the numbers

1,600

1,600

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

87%

87%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

4,692

4,692

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

25,126

25,126

EMPLOYMENT

$1.2 billion

$1.2 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

635

635

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 Rice County compares

  • Rice County ranks 16th of 87 Minnesota counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 5.1% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Construction makes up 16% of employer businesses in Rice County, compared with 11% in Minnesota.

  • 635 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Rice County ranks 16th of 87 Minnesota counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 5.1% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Construction makes up 16% of employer businesses in Rice County, compared with 11% in Minnesota.

  • 635 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Construction: 262 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 192 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 187 employer businesses

  • Retail: 182 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 136 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Construction: 262 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 192 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 187 employer businesses

  • Retail: 182 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 136 employer businesses

Every kind of business we sell in Rice County

These are the industries in Rice 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

248 related employer businesses in Rice County.

  • General Contracting: 78 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 42 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Roofing & Siding: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Masonry: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Civil Engineering: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Financial & Professional Services

104 related employer businesses in Rice County.

Restaurants & Food

101 related employer businesses in Rice County.

Automotive & Boat

57 related employer businesses in Rice County.

  • Auto Repair: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Collision Repair: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Dealerships: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

Medical Practices

57 related employer businesses in Rice County.

Manufacturing

55 related employer businesses in Rice County.

Retail Stores

55 related employer businesses in Rice County.

Logistics & Transportation

52 related employer businesses in Rice County.

Hospitality & Travel

24 related employer businesses in Rice County.

  • Hotels: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Gas Stations & Convenience

22 related employer businesses in Rice County.

  • Gas Stations: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Senior Care & Living

19 related employer businesses in Rice County.

Beauty & Personal Care

18 related employer businesses in Rice County.

  • Hair Salons: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

Entertainment & Recreation

18 related employer businesses in Rice 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.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Home Services

18 related employer businesses in Rice County.

Health & Fitness

15 related employer businesses in Rice County.

Technology & Media

15 related employer businesses in Rice County.

Education & Childcare

13 related employer businesses in Rice County.

  • Daycare Centers: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Pet Services

13 related employer businesses in Rice County.

Wholesale & Distribution

12 related employer businesses in Rice County.

Energy & Utilities

9 related employer businesses in Rice County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

5 related employer businesses in Rice County.

These are the industries in Rice 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

248 related employer businesses in Rice County.

  • General Contracting: 78 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 42 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Roofing & Siding: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Masonry: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Civil Engineering: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Financial & Professional Services

104 related employer businesses in Rice County.

Restaurants & Food

101 related employer businesses in Rice County.

Automotive & Boat

57 related employer businesses in Rice County.

  • Auto Repair: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Collision Repair: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Dealerships: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

Medical Practices

57 related employer businesses in Rice County.

Manufacturing

55 related employer businesses in Rice County.

Retail Stores

55 related employer businesses in Rice County.

Logistics & Transportation

52 related employer businesses in Rice County.

Hospitality & Travel

24 related employer businesses in Rice County.

  • Hotels: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Gas Stations & Convenience

22 related employer businesses in Rice County.

  • Gas Stations: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Senior Care & Living

19 related employer businesses in Rice County.

Beauty & Personal Care

18 related employer businesses in Rice County.

  • Hair Salons: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

Entertainment & Recreation

18 related employer businesses in Rice 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.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Home Services

18 related employer businesses in Rice County.

Health & Fitness

15 related employer businesses in Rice County.

Technology & Media

15 related employer businesses in Rice County.

Education & Childcare

13 related employer businesses in Rice County.

  • Daycare Centers: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Pet Services

13 related employer businesses in Rice County.

Wholesale & Distribution

12 related employer businesses in Rice County.

Energy & Utilities

9 related employer businesses in Rice County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

5 related employer businesses in Rice County.

Working with owners in Rice County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Rice County ask

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

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

How is a business valued in Rice 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 Rice 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