Selling a Business in Wabash County

Wabash County has 249 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

Wabash County by the numbers

249

249

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

89%

89%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

781

781

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

2,660

2,660

EMPLOYMENT

$152 million

$152 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

90

90

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 Wabash County compares

  • Wabash County ranks 79th of 102 Illinois counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 2.4% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Mining and oil and gas makes up 9% of employer businesses in Wabash County, compared with 0% in Illinois.

  • 90 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Wabash County ranks 79th of 102 Illinois counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 2.4% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Mining and oil and gas makes up 9% of employer businesses in Wabash County, compared with 0% in Illinois.

  • 90 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 37 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 36 employer businesses

  • Professional and technical services: 23 employer businesses

  • Mining and oil and gas: 23 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 22 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 37 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 36 employer businesses

  • Professional and technical services: 23 employer businesses

  • Mining and oil and gas: 23 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 22 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Wabash County

Retail, repair, personal care and other services, professional and technical services, mining and oil and gas

Every kind of business we sell in Wabash County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Wabash 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

18 related employer businesses in Wabash County.

Restaurants & Food

17 related employer businesses in Wabash County.

Energy & Utilities

10 related employer businesses in Wabash County.

Retail Stores

6 related employer businesses in Wabash County.

Logistics & Transportation

5 related employer businesses in Wabash County.

Construction & Engineering

4 related employer businesses in Wabash County.

  • Electrical: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Gas Stations & Convenience

4 related employer businesses in Wabash County.

  • Gas Stations: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Medical Practices

4 related employer businesses in Wabash County.

Wholesale & Distribution

4 related employer businesses in Wabash County.

Automotive & Boat

3 related employer businesses in Wabash County.

  • Auto Parts: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Wabash 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

18 related employer businesses in Wabash County.

Restaurants & Food

17 related employer businesses in Wabash County.

Energy & Utilities

10 related employer businesses in Wabash County.

Retail Stores

6 related employer businesses in Wabash County.

Logistics & Transportation

5 related employer businesses in Wabash County.

Construction & Engineering

4 related employer businesses in Wabash County.

  • Electrical: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Gas Stations & Convenience

4 related employer businesses in Wabash County.

  • Gas Stations: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Medical Practices

4 related employer businesses in Wabash County.

Wholesale & Distribution

4 related employer businesses in Wabash County.

Automotive & Boat

3 related employer businesses in Wabash County.

  • Auto Parts: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

Working with owners in Wabash County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Wabash County ask

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