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Russell County

Selling a Business in Russell County

Russell County has 353 employer businesses, and 90% 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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Areas in Kentucky

AdairAllenAndersonBallardBarrenBathBellBooneBourbonBowling GreenBoydBoyleBrackenBreathittBreckinridgeBullittButlerCaldwellCallowayCampbellCarlisleCarrollCarterCaseyChristianClarkClarksvilleClayClintonCrittendenCumberlandDaviessEdmonsonElizabethtownElliottEstillFayetteFlemingFloydFranklinFultonGallatinGarrardGrantGravesGraysonGreater CincinnatiGreenGreenupHancockHardinHarlanHarrisonHartHendersonHenryHickmanHopkinsHuntingtonJacksonJefferson CountyJessamineJohnsonKentonKnottKnoxLarueLaurelLawrenceLeeLeslieLetcherLewisLexingtonLincolnLivingstonLoganLouisvilleLyonMadisonMagoffinMarionMarshallMartinMasonMcCrackenMcCrearyMcLeanMeadeMenifeeMercerMetcalfeMonroeMontgomeryMorganMuhlenbergNelsonNicholasOhioOldhamOwenOwensboroOwsleyPaducahPendletonPerryPikePowellPulaskiRobertsonRockcastleRowanRussellScottShelbySimpsonSpencerTaylorToddTriggTrimbleUnionWarrenWashingtonWayneWebsterWhitleyWolfeWoodford

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Russell County by the numbers

353

353

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

90%

90%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,471

1,471

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

5,047

5,047

EMPLOYMENT

$205 million

$205 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

152

152

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 Russell County compares

  • Russell County ranks 53rd of 120 Kentucky counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 2.3% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 24% of employer businesses in Russell County, compared with 16% in Kentucky.

  • 152 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Russell County ranks 53rd of 120 Kentucky counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 2.3% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 24% of employer businesses in Russell County, compared with 16% in Kentucky.

  • 152 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 85 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 43 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 41 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 37 employer businesses

  • Construction: 31 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 85 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 43 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 41 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 37 employer businesses

  • Construction: 31 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Russell 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 Russell County

These are the industries in Russell 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

42 related employer businesses in Russell County.

Construction & Engineering

29 related employer businesses in Russell County.

  • Landscaping: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

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

  • General Contracting: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

Automotive & Boat

24 related employer businesses in Russell County.

  • Car Dealerships: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Parts: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

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

  • Marinas: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Retail Stores

20 related employer businesses in Russell County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

15 related employer businesses in Russell County.

  • Gas Stations: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Financial & Professional Services

11 related employer businesses in Russell County.

Medical Practices

10 related employer businesses in Russell County.

Education & Childcare

7 related employer businesses in Russell County.

  • Daycare Centers: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Manufacturing

7 related employer businesses in Russell County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

6 related employer businesses in Russell County.

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in Russell County.

These are the industries in Russell 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

42 related employer businesses in Russell County.

Construction & Engineering

29 related employer businesses in Russell County.

  • Landscaping: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

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

  • General Contracting: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

Automotive & Boat

24 related employer businesses in Russell County.

  • Car Dealerships: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Parts: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

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

  • Marinas: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Retail Stores

20 related employer businesses in Russell County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

15 related employer businesses in Russell County.

  • Gas Stations: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Financial & Professional Services

11 related employer businesses in Russell County.

Medical Practices

10 related employer businesses in Russell County.

Education & Childcare

7 related employer businesses in Russell County.

  • Daycare Centers: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Manufacturing

7 related employer businesses in Russell County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

6 related employer businesses in Russell County.

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in Russell County.

Working with owners in Russell County

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

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Russell County ask

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

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

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How is a business valued in Russell 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.

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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.

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FROM OUR BLOG

Guides for owners in Russell 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