Selling a Business in Brown County
Brown County has 1,245 employer businesses, and 86% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows the local mix of industries and how a sale is handled here.
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LOCAL SNAPSHOT
Brown County by the numbers
1,245
1,245
EMPLOYER BUSINESSES
86%
86%
SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE
3,186
3,186
BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES
17,306
17,306
EMPLOYMENT
$861 million
$861 million
ANNUAL PAYROLL
556
556
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 Brown County compares
Brown County ranks 5th of 66 South Dakota counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 2.2% between 2018 and 2023.
Wholesale makes up 7% of employer businesses in Brown County, compared with 5% in South Dakota.
556 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Brown County ranks 5th of 66 South Dakota counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 2.2% between 2018 and 2023.
Wholesale makes up 7% of employer businesses in Brown County, compared with 5% in South Dakota.
556 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Industry mix
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Construction: 159 employer businesses
Retail: 157 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 126 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 121 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 108 employer businesses
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Construction: 159 employer businesses
Retail: 157 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 126 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 121 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 108 employer businesses
INDUSTRIES
What sells in Brown County
Construction, retail, repair, personal care and other services, health care and social assistance
Every kind of business we sell in Brown County
We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Brown 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.
Construction & Engineering
161 related employer businesses in Brown County.
General Contracting: 52 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Electrical: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Plumbing: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Landscaping: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Interior Finishing: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Foundation & Site Prep: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Roofing & Siding: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Civil Engineering: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Financial & Professional Services
94 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Insurance Agencies: 45 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Wealth Management: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Real Estate Brokerages: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Restaurants & Food
70 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 30 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Full-Service Restaurants: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Coffee Shops: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Medical Practices
63 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Primary & Family Care: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Dental Practices: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Veterinary Medicine: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Mental & Behavioral Health: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Vision & Eye Care: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Retail Stores
60 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Home Decor & Furniture: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Sporting Goods & Firearms: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.4x SDE.
Hobby, Toys & Gift Shops: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE + Inventory.
Automotive & Boat
49 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Auto Repair: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Collision Repair: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Auto Parts: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Car Dealerships: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.
Car Washes: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Logistics & Transportation
37 related employer businesses in Brown County.
General Freight Trucking: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Last-Mile & Courier: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.76x - 3.32x SDE.
Wholesale & Distribution
33 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Industrial & Construction Supply: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Food & Beverage Distribution: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Electronics, IT & Office Equipment Distribution: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Entertainment & Recreation
31 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Bars & Pubs: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.
Outdoor Recreation: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Golf Courses: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Gas Stations & Convenience
22 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Gas Stations: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Hospitality & Travel
22 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Hotels: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.
Home Services
17 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Residential Cleaning: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.
Property Management: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Manufacturing
16 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Printing & Plastics: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.9x - 4.9x SDE.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Construction Materials Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Beauty & Personal Care
11 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Day Spas: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.
Tattoo Shops: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Massage Parlors: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Hair Salons: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.
Nail Salons: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.
Senior Care & Living
8 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Assisted Living Facilities: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Education & Childcare
6 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Daycare Centers: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Health & Fitness
6 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Gyms & Health Clubs: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.
Yoga Studios: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.
Pilates Studios: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.
Personal Training Studios: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.
Pet Services
5 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Pet Grooming & Spas: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Boarding, Daycare & Training: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.
Technology & Media
4 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Creative Agencies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 3.0x SDE.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
3 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Compounding Pharmacies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Brown 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.
Construction & Engineering
161 related employer businesses in Brown County.
General Contracting: 52 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Electrical: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Plumbing: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Landscaping: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Interior Finishing: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Foundation & Site Prep: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Roofing & Siding: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Civil Engineering: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Financial & Professional Services
94 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Insurance Agencies: 45 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Wealth Management: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Real Estate Brokerages: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Restaurants & Food
70 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 30 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Full-Service Restaurants: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Coffee Shops: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Medical Practices
63 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Primary & Family Care: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Dental Practices: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Veterinary Medicine: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Mental & Behavioral Health: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Vision & Eye Care: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Retail Stores
60 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Home Decor & Furniture: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Sporting Goods & Firearms: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.4x SDE.
Hobby, Toys & Gift Shops: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE + Inventory.
Automotive & Boat
49 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Auto Repair: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Collision Repair: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Auto Parts: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Car Dealerships: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.
Car Washes: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Logistics & Transportation
37 related employer businesses in Brown County.
General Freight Trucking: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Last-Mile & Courier: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.76x - 3.32x SDE.
Wholesale & Distribution
33 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Industrial & Construction Supply: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Food & Beverage Distribution: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Electronics, IT & Office Equipment Distribution: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Entertainment & Recreation
31 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Bars & Pubs: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.
Outdoor Recreation: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Golf Courses: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Gas Stations & Convenience
22 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Gas Stations: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Hospitality & Travel
22 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Hotels: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.
Home Services
17 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Residential Cleaning: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.
Property Management: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Manufacturing
16 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Printing & Plastics: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.9x - 4.9x SDE.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Construction Materials Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Beauty & Personal Care
11 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Day Spas: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.
Tattoo Shops: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Massage Parlors: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Hair Salons: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.
Nail Salons: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.
Senior Care & Living
8 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Assisted Living Facilities: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Education & Childcare
6 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Daycare Centers: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Health & Fitness
6 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Gyms & Health Clubs: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.
Yoga Studios: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.
Pilates Studios: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.
Personal Training Studios: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.
Pet Services
5 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Pet Grooming & Spas: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Boarding, Daycare & Training: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.
Technology & Media
4 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Creative Agencies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 3.0x SDE.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
3 related employer businesses in Brown County.
Compounding Pharmacies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Working with owners in Brown County
Business Advisors of America works with owners who are selling a business in Brown County. Contact us to talk about a sale.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions owners in Brown County ask
How long does it take to sell a business in Brown 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 Brown 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 Brown 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