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Rusk County

Selling a Business in Rusk County

Rusk County has 321 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 retail and accommodation and food service.

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LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Rusk County by the numbers

321

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

87%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,018

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

4,275

EMPLOYMENT

$184 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

127

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 Rusk County compares

Rusk County ranks 65th of 72 Wisconsin counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses grew 4.2% between 2018 and 2023.
Retail makes up 17% of employer businesses in Rusk County, compared with 12% in Wisconsin.
127 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Rusk County ranks 65th of 72 Wisconsin counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses grew 4.2% between 2018 and 2023.
Retail makes up 17% of employer businesses in Rusk County, compared with 12% in Wisconsin.
127 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

Retail: 56 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 38 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 37 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 36 employer businesses
Construction: 29 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

Retail: 56 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 38 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 37 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 36 employer businesses
Construction: 29 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Rusk County

Retail, accommodation and food service, repair, personal care and other services, health care and social assistance

Electronics & Repair

Retail Stores

Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry

Retail Stores

Bakeries

Restaurants & Food

Coffee Shops

Restaurants & Food

Bed & Breakfasts / Inns

Hospitality & Travel

Campgrounds & RV Parks

Hospitality & Travel

Every kind of business we sell in Rusk County

These are the industries in Rusk 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

25 related employer businesses in Rusk County.

Full-Service Restaurants: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Coffee Shops: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.

Construction & Engineering

21 related employer businesses in Rusk County.

Foundation & Site Prep: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
General Contracting: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Landscaping: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Plumbing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Interior Finishing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Gas Stations & Convenience

14 related employer businesses in Rusk County.

Gas Stations: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Manufacturing

12 related employer businesses in Rusk County.

Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Metal Fabrication: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.

Automotive & Boat

11 related employer businesses in Rusk County.

Collision Repair: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Auto Parts: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Auto Repair: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

Logistics & Transportation

11 related employer businesses in Rusk County.

General Freight Trucking: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.

Financial & Professional Services

10 related employer businesses in Rusk County.

Insurance Agencies: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

9 related employer businesses in Rusk County.

Propane & Fuel Distribution: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Water & Wastewater Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Retail Stores

9 related employer businesses in Rusk County.

Hardware, Garden & Building: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.

Entertainment & Recreation

8 related employer businesses in Rusk 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.

Hospitality & Travel

7 related employer businesses in Rusk County.

Campgrounds & RV Parks: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
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.

Medical Practices

7 related employer businesses in Rusk County.

Primary & Family Care: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.

Beauty & Personal Care

5 related employer businesses in Rusk County.

Hair Salons: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Education & Childcare

3 related employer businesses in Rusk County.

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

Senior Care & Living

3 related employer businesses in Rusk County.

Assisted Living Facilities: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Restaurants & Food

25 related employer businesses in Rusk County.

Full-Service Restaurants: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Coffee Shops: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.

Construction & Engineering

21 related employer businesses in Rusk County.

Foundation & Site Prep: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
General Contracting: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Landscaping: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Plumbing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Interior Finishing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Gas Stations & Convenience

14 related employer businesses in Rusk County.

Gas Stations: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Manufacturing

12 related employer businesses in Rusk County.

Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Metal Fabrication: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.

Automotive & Boat

11 related employer businesses in Rusk County.

Collision Repair: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Auto Parts: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Auto Repair: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

Logistics & Transportation

11 related employer businesses in Rusk County.

General Freight Trucking: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.

Financial & Professional Services

10 related employer businesses in Rusk County.

Insurance Agencies: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

9 related employer businesses in Rusk County.

Propane & Fuel Distribution: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Water & Wastewater Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Retail Stores

9 related employer businesses in Rusk County.

Hardware, Garden & Building: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.

Entertainment & Recreation

8 related employer businesses in Rusk 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.

Hospitality & Travel

7 related employer businesses in Rusk County.

Campgrounds & RV Parks: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
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.

Medical Practices

7 related employer businesses in Rusk County.

Primary & Family Care: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.

Beauty & Personal Care

5 related employer businesses in Rusk County.

Hair Salons: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Education & Childcare

3 related employer businesses in Rusk County.

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

Senior Care & Living

3 related employer businesses in Rusk County.

Assisted Living Facilities: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Working with owners in Rusk County

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

Get a Free Valuation

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Rusk County ask

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

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

How is a business valued in Rusk 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 Rusk 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