Selling a Business in White County

White County has 340 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

White County by the numbers

340

340

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

89%

89%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,013

1,013

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

3,219

3,219

EMPLOYMENT

$149 million

$149 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

144

144

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 White County compares

  • White County ranks 70th of 102 Illinois counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 6.6% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Mining and oil and gas makes up 5% of employer businesses in White County, compared with 0% in Illinois.

  • 144 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • White County ranks 70th of 102 Illinois counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 6.6% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Mining and oil and gas makes up 5% of employer businesses in White County, compared with 0% in Illinois.

  • 144 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 57 employer businesses

  • Retail: 53 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 38 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 27 employer businesses

  • Finance and insurance: 25 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 57 employer businesses

  • Retail: 53 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 38 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 27 employer businesses

  • Finance and insurance: 25 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in White County

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

Every kind of business we sell in White County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in White 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

21 related employer businesses in White County.

Financial & Professional Services

18 related employer businesses in White County.

Logistics & Transportation

18 related employer businesses in White County.

Medical Practices

14 related employer businesses in White County.

Construction & Engineering

13 related employer businesses in White County.

  • Plumbing: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 7 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.

Automotive & Boat

10 related employer businesses in White 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

10 related employer businesses in White County.

  • Gas Stations: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Retail Stores

10 related employer businesses in White County.

Energy & Utilities

9 related employer businesses in White County.

  • Oil & Gas Services: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

Wholesale & Distribution

7 related employer businesses in White County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

4 related employer businesses in White County.

  • Home Infusion: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.

Education & Childcare

3 related employer businesses in White County.

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

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in White 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 White 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

21 related employer businesses in White County.

Financial & Professional Services

18 related employer businesses in White County.

Logistics & Transportation

18 related employer businesses in White County.

Medical Practices

14 related employer businesses in White County.

Construction & Engineering

13 related employer businesses in White County.

  • Plumbing: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 7 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.

Automotive & Boat

10 related employer businesses in White 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

10 related employer businesses in White County.

  • Gas Stations: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Retail Stores

10 related employer businesses in White County.

Energy & Utilities

9 related employer businesses in White County.

  • Oil & Gas Services: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

Wholesale & Distribution

7 related employer businesses in White County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

4 related employer businesses in White County.

  • Home Infusion: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.

Education & Childcare

3 related employer businesses in White County.

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

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in White 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 White County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in White County ask

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