Selling a Business in Warren County

Warren County has 351 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.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Warren County by the numbers

351

351

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

87%

87%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

930

930

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

5,447

5,447

EMPLOYMENT

$245 million

$245 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

147

147

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 Warren County compares

  • Warren County ranks 66th of 102 Illinois counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 6.4% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Wholesale makes up 8% of employer businesses in Warren County, compared with 5% in Illinois.

  • 147 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Warren County ranks 66th of 102 Illinois counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 6.4% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Wholesale makes up 8% of employer businesses in Warren County, compared with 5% in Illinois.

  • 147 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 55 employer businesses

  • Retail: 44 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 40 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 38 employer businesses

  • Construction: 32 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 55 employer businesses

  • Retail: 44 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 40 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 38 employer businesses

  • Construction: 32 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Warren County

Repair, personal care and other services, retail, accommodation and food service, health care and social assistance

Every kind of business we sell in Warren County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Warren 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

29 related employer businesses in Warren County.

Logistics & Transportation

21 related employer businesses in Warren County.

Construction & Engineering

20 related employer businesses in Warren County.

  • 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.

  • Landscaping: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

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

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

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

Automotive & Boat

11 related employer businesses in Warren County.

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

  • Auto Parts: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

Entertainment & Recreation

10 related employer businesses in Warren County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

Financial & Professional Services

8 related employer businesses in Warren County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

7 related employer businesses in Warren County.

  • Gas Stations: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Medical Practices

6 related employer businesses in Warren County.

  • Dental Practices: 3 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.

Retail Stores

6 related employer businesses in Warren County.

Pet Services

5 related employer businesses in Warren County.

Beauty & Personal Care

4 related employer businesses in Warren County.

  • Hair Salons: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Education & Childcare

4 related employer businesses in Warren County.

  • Daycare Centers: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

4 related employer businesses in Warren County.

Wholesale & Distribution

4 related employer businesses in Warren County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in Warren County.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Warren 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

29 related employer businesses in Warren County.

Logistics & Transportation

21 related employer businesses in Warren County.

Construction & Engineering

20 related employer businesses in Warren County.

  • 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.

  • Landscaping: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

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

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

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

Automotive & Boat

11 related employer businesses in Warren County.

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

  • Auto Parts: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

Entertainment & Recreation

10 related employer businesses in Warren County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

Financial & Professional Services

8 related employer businesses in Warren County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

7 related employer businesses in Warren County.

  • Gas Stations: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Medical Practices

6 related employer businesses in Warren County.

  • Dental Practices: 3 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.

Retail Stores

6 related employer businesses in Warren County.

Pet Services

5 related employer businesses in Warren County.

Beauty & Personal Care

4 related employer businesses in Warren County.

  • Hair Salons: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Education & Childcare

4 related employer businesses in Warren County.

  • Daycare Centers: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

4 related employer businesses in Warren County.

Wholesale & Distribution

4 related employer businesses in Warren County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in Warren County.

Working with owners in Warren County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Warren County ask

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