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Union County

Selling a Business in Union County

Union County has 352 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.

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LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Union County by the numbers

352

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

89%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,035

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

3,489

EMPLOYMENT

$128 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

150

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 Union County compares

Union County ranks 65th of 102 Illinois counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 4.1% between 2018 and 2023.
Health care and social assistance makes up 17% of employer businesses in Union County, compared with 12% in Illinois.
150 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Union County ranks 65th of 102 Illinois counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 4.1% between 2018 and 2023.
Health care and social assistance makes up 17% of employer businesses in Union County, compared with 12% in Illinois.
150 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

Health care and social assistance: 61 employer businesses
Retail: 57 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 47 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 41 employer businesses
Construction: 32 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

Health care and social assistance: 61 employer businesses
Retail: 57 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 47 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 41 employer businesses
Construction: 32 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Union County

Health care and social assistance, retail, repair, personal care and other services, accommodation and food service

Dental Practices

Medical Practices

Home Health & Hospice

Medical Practices

Gyms & Health Clubs

Health & Fitness

Personal Training Studios

Health & Fitness

Electronics & Repair

Retail Stores

Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry

Retail Stores

Every kind of business we sell in Union County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Union County. 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

37 related employer businesses in Union County.

Quick-Service & Fast Food: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Full-Service Restaurants: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 5 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.
Bakeries: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.

Construction & Engineering

27 related employer businesses in Union County.

Interior Finishing: 11 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.
General Contracting: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Landscaping: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Financial & Professional Services

18 related employer businesses in Union County.

Accounting & Tax Practices: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Insurance Agencies: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Wealth Management: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.

Medical Practices

17 related employer businesses in Union County.

Primary & Family Care: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Vision & Eye Care: 4 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.
Veterinary Medicine: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.

Automotive & Boat

10 related employer businesses in Union County.

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

Gas Stations & Convenience

9 related employer businesses in Union County.

Gas Stations: 6 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.

Entertainment & Recreation

7 related employer businesses in Union County.

Bars & Pubs: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

Logistics & Transportation

6 related employer businesses in Union County.

General Freight Trucking: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.

Manufacturing

6 related employer businesses in Union County.

Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.

Retail Stores

5 related employer businesses in Union County.

Hardware, Garden & Building: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.

Home Services

4 related employer businesses in Union County.

Residential Cleaning: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.

Health & Fitness

3 related employer businesses in Union County.

Wellness & Recovery Centers: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 5.5x - 9.7x EBITDA.

Restaurants & Food

37 related employer businesses in Union County.

Quick-Service & Fast Food: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Full-Service Restaurants: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 5 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.
Bakeries: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.

Construction & Engineering

27 related employer businesses in Union County.

Interior Finishing: 11 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.
General Contracting: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Landscaping: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Financial & Professional Services

18 related employer businesses in Union County.

Accounting & Tax Practices: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Insurance Agencies: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Wealth Management: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.

Medical Practices

17 related employer businesses in Union County.

Primary & Family Care: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Vision & Eye Care: 4 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.
Veterinary Medicine: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.

Automotive & Boat

10 related employer businesses in Union County.

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

Gas Stations & Convenience

9 related employer businesses in Union County.

Gas Stations: 6 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.

Entertainment & Recreation

7 related employer businesses in Union County.

Bars & Pubs: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

Logistics & Transportation

6 related employer businesses in Union County.

General Freight Trucking: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.

Manufacturing

6 related employer businesses in Union County.

Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.

Retail Stores

5 related employer businesses in Union County.

Hardware, Garden & Building: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.

Home Services

4 related employer businesses in Union County.

Residential Cleaning: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.

Health & Fitness

3 related employer businesses in Union County.

Wellness & Recovery Centers: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 5.5x - 9.7x EBITDA.

Working with owners in Union County

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

Get a Free Valuation

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Union County ask

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

The time depends on the price, the quality of the records and the number of qualified buyers. Many sales take six months or longer from the start of the process to closing.

How is a business valued in Union 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 Union 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