Selling a Business in Vernon County

Vernon County has 436 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.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Vernon County by the numbers

436

436

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

89%

89%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,540

1,540

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

5,612

5,612

EMPLOYMENT

$240 million

$240 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

185

185

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 Vernon County compares

  • Vernon County ranks 52nd of 115 Missouri counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 10.1% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Transportation and warehousing makes up 6% of employer businesses in Vernon County, compared with 4% in Missouri.

  • 185 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Vernon County ranks 52nd of 115 Missouri counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 10.1% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Transportation and warehousing makes up 6% of employer businesses in Vernon County, compared with 4% in Missouri.

  • 185 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Health care and social assistance: 64 employer businesses

  • Retail: 64 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 51 employer businesses

  • Construction: 41 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 38 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Health care and social assistance: 64 employer businesses

  • Retail: 64 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 51 employer businesses

  • Construction: 41 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 38 employer businesses

Every kind of business we sell in Vernon County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Vernon 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.

Financial & Professional Services

32 related employer businesses in Vernon County.

Restaurants & Food

29 related employer businesses in Vernon County.

Logistics & Transportation

27 related employer businesses in Vernon County.

Senior Care & Living

26 related employer businesses in Vernon County.

Retail Stores

25 related employer businesses in Vernon County.

Construction & Engineering

23 related employer businesses in Vernon County.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

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

  • Landscaping: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Automotive & Boat

16 related employer businesses in Vernon County.

  • Auto Repair: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • 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.

Gas Stations & Convenience

12 related employer businesses in Vernon County.

  • Gas Stations: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Manufacturing

12 related employer businesses in Vernon County.

Wholesale & Distribution

10 related employer businesses in Vernon County.

Medical Practices

7 related employer businesses in Vernon County.

  • Dental Practices: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.

  • Veterinary Medicine: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

7 related employer businesses in Vernon County.

Energy & Utilities

4 related employer businesses in Vernon County.

Beauty & Personal Care

3 related employer businesses in Vernon County.

  • Hair Salons: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Education & Childcare

3 related employer businesses in Vernon County.

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

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in Vernon County.

  • 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.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Vernon 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.

Financial & Professional Services

32 related employer businesses in Vernon County.

Restaurants & Food

29 related employer businesses in Vernon County.

Logistics & Transportation

27 related employer businesses in Vernon County.

Senior Care & Living

26 related employer businesses in Vernon County.

Retail Stores

25 related employer businesses in Vernon County.

Construction & Engineering

23 related employer businesses in Vernon County.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

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

  • Landscaping: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Automotive & Boat

16 related employer businesses in Vernon County.

  • Auto Repair: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • 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.

Gas Stations & Convenience

12 related employer businesses in Vernon County.

  • Gas Stations: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Manufacturing

12 related employer businesses in Vernon County.

Wholesale & Distribution

10 related employer businesses in Vernon County.

Medical Practices

7 related employer businesses in Vernon County.

  • Dental Practices: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.

  • Veterinary Medicine: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

7 related employer businesses in Vernon County.

Energy & Utilities

4 related employer businesses in Vernon County.

Beauty & Personal Care

3 related employer businesses in Vernon County.

  • Hair Salons: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Education & Childcare

3 related employer businesses in Vernon County.

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

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in Vernon County.

  • 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.

Working with owners in Vernon County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Vernon County ask

How long does it take to sell a business in Vernon 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 Vernon 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 Vernon 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