Selling a Business in Winona County

Winona County has 1,145 employer businesses, and 83% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows the local mix of industries and how a sale is handled here. The largest industries here are retail and accommodation and food service.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Winona County by the numbers

1,145

1,145

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

83%

83%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

3,248

3,248

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

23,937

23,937

EMPLOYMENT

$1.2 billion

$1.2 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

524

524

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 Winona County compares

  • Winona County ranks 24th of 87 Minnesota counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 0.8% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 9% of employer businesses in Winona County, compared with 4% in Minnesota.

  • 524 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Winona County ranks 24th of 87 Minnesota counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 0.8% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 9% of employer businesses in Winona County, compared with 4% in Minnesota.

  • 524 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 146 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 132 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 132 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 131 employer businesses

  • Construction: 114 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 146 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 132 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 132 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 131 employer businesses

  • Construction: 114 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Winona County

Retail, accommodation and food service, health care and social assistance, repair, personal care and other services

Every kind of business we sell in Winona County

These are the industries in Winona County and the number of employer businesses in each. 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.

Construction & Engineering

107 related employer businesses in Winona County.

  • General Contracting: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Electrical: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Plumbing: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Restaurants & Food

91 related employer businesses in Winona County.

Manufacturing

61 related employer businesses in Winona County.

Financial & Professional Services

55 related employer businesses in Winona County.

Automotive & Boat

50 related employer businesses in Winona County.

  • Auto Repair: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Auto Parts: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Washes: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Retail Stores

46 related employer businesses in Winona County.

Logistics & Transportation

44 related employer businesses in Winona County.

Medical Practices

38 related employer businesses in Winona County.

Entertainment & Recreation

37 related employer businesses in Winona County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Gas Stations & Convenience

21 related employer businesses in Winona County.

  • Gas Stations: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Hospitality & Travel

20 related employer businesses in Winona County.

  • Hotels: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Transportation Services: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

19 related employer businesses in Winona County.

Beauty & Personal Care

16 related employer businesses in Winona County.

  • Hair Salons: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

Health & Fitness

9 related employer businesses in Winona County.

  • Gyms & Health Clubs: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.

  • Yoga Studios: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.

  • Pilates Studios: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.

  • Personal Training Studios: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

8 related employer businesses in Winona County.

Education & Childcare

6 related employer businesses in Winona County.

  • Daycare Centers: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Home Services

6 related employer businesses in Winona County.

Pet Services

4 related employer businesses in Winona County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in Winona County.

  • Home Infusion: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.

Technology & Media

3 related employer businesses in Winona County.

These are the industries in Winona County and the number of employer businesses in each. 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.

Construction & Engineering

107 related employer businesses in Winona County.

  • General Contracting: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Electrical: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Plumbing: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Restaurants & Food

91 related employer businesses in Winona County.

Manufacturing

61 related employer businesses in Winona County.

Financial & Professional Services

55 related employer businesses in Winona County.

Automotive & Boat

50 related employer businesses in Winona County.

  • Auto Repair: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Auto Parts: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Washes: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Retail Stores

46 related employer businesses in Winona County.

Logistics & Transportation

44 related employer businesses in Winona County.

Medical Practices

38 related employer businesses in Winona County.

Entertainment & Recreation

37 related employer businesses in Winona County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Gas Stations & Convenience

21 related employer businesses in Winona County.

  • Gas Stations: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Hospitality & Travel

20 related employer businesses in Winona County.

  • Hotels: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Transportation Services: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

19 related employer businesses in Winona County.

Beauty & Personal Care

16 related employer businesses in Winona County.

  • Hair Salons: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

Health & Fitness

9 related employer businesses in Winona County.

  • Gyms & Health Clubs: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.

  • Yoga Studios: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.

  • Pilates Studios: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.

  • Personal Training Studios: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

8 related employer businesses in Winona County.

Education & Childcare

6 related employer businesses in Winona County.

  • Daycare Centers: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Home Services

6 related employer businesses in Winona County.

Pet Services

4 related employer businesses in Winona County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in Winona County.

  • Home Infusion: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.

Technology & Media

3 related employer businesses in Winona County.

Working with owners in Winona County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Winona County ask

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

The time depends on the price, the quality of the records and the number of qualified buyers.

How is a business valued in Winona 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 Winona 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