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Delaware County

Selling a Business in Delaware County

Delaware County has 522 employer businesses, and 91% 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

Delaware County by the numbers

522

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

91%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,527

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

5,906

EMPLOYMENT

$300 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

188

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 Delaware County compares

Delaware County ranks 37th of 99 Iowa counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses grew 5.2% between 2018 and 2023.
Manufacturing makes up 8% of employer businesses in Delaware County, compared with 4% in Iowa.
188 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Delaware County ranks 37th of 99 Iowa counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses grew 5.2% between 2018 and 2023.
Manufacturing makes up 8% of employer businesses in Delaware County, compared with 4% in Iowa.
188 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

Construction: 76 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 70 employer businesses
Retail: 64 employer businesses
Manufacturing: 44 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 39 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

Construction: 76 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 70 employer businesses
Retail: 64 employer businesses
Manufacturing: 44 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 39 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Delaware County

Construction, repair, personal care and other services, retail, manufacturing

Carpentry & Framing

Construction & Engineering

Civil Engineering

Construction & Engineering

Audio Visual (AV)

Home Services

Commercial Cleaning

Home Services

Barber Shops

Beauty & Personal Care

Day Spas

Beauty & Personal Care

Every kind of business we sell in Delaware County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Delaware 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

68 related employer businesses in Delaware County.

General Contracting: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Foundation & Site Prep: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Interior Finishing: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Landscaping: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Electrical: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Plumbing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Civil Engineering: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Masonry: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

Logistics & Transportation

40 related employer businesses in Delaware County.

General Freight Trucking: 33 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Heavy Haul Transport: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 4.5x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

31 related employer businesses in Delaware County.

Full-Service Restaurants: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Coffee Shops: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.

Automotive & Boat

29 related employer businesses in Delaware County.

Auto Repair: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Collision Repair: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Car Washes: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Car Dealerships: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

Manufacturing

22 related employer businesses in Delaware County.

Medical & Chemical Manufacturing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Metal Fabrication: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Construction Materials Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

Retail Stores

21 related employer businesses in Delaware County.

Hardware, Garden & Building: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Home Decor & Furniture: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.

Financial & Professional Services

19 related employer businesses in Delaware County.

Insurance Agencies: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Wealth Management: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.

Medical Practices

17 related employer businesses in Delaware County.

Dental Practices: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Veterinary Medicine: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Primary & Family Care: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Home Health & Hospice: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Gas Stations & Convenience

11 related employer businesses in Delaware County.

Gas Stations: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Entertainment & Recreation

9 related employer businesses in Delaware County.

Bars & Pubs: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.
Golf Courses: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Home Services

5 related employer businesses in Delaware County.

Residential Cleaning: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.

Education & Childcare

4 related employer businesses in Delaware County.

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

Energy & Utilities

4 related employer businesses in Delaware County.

Water & Wastewater Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Beauty & Personal Care

3 related employer businesses in Delaware County.

Hair Salons: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in Delaware County.

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

Wholesale & Distribution

3 related employer businesses in Delaware County.

Industrial & Construction Supply: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Construction & Engineering

68 related employer businesses in Delaware County.

General Contracting: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Foundation & Site Prep: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Interior Finishing: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Landscaping: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Electrical: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Plumbing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Civil Engineering: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Masonry: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

Logistics & Transportation

40 related employer businesses in Delaware County.

General Freight Trucking: 33 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Heavy Haul Transport: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 4.5x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

31 related employer businesses in Delaware County.

Full-Service Restaurants: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Coffee Shops: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.

Automotive & Boat

29 related employer businesses in Delaware County.

Auto Repair: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Collision Repair: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Car Washes: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Car Dealerships: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

Manufacturing

22 related employer businesses in Delaware County.

Medical & Chemical Manufacturing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Metal Fabrication: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Construction Materials Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

Retail Stores

21 related employer businesses in Delaware County.

Hardware, Garden & Building: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Home Decor & Furniture: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.

Financial & Professional Services

19 related employer businesses in Delaware County.

Insurance Agencies: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Wealth Management: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.

Medical Practices

17 related employer businesses in Delaware County.

Dental Practices: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Veterinary Medicine: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Primary & Family Care: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Home Health & Hospice: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Gas Stations & Convenience

11 related employer businesses in Delaware County.

Gas Stations: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Entertainment & Recreation

9 related employer businesses in Delaware County.

Bars & Pubs: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.
Golf Courses: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Home Services

5 related employer businesses in Delaware County.

Residential Cleaning: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.

Education & Childcare

4 related employer businesses in Delaware County.

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

Energy & Utilities

4 related employer businesses in Delaware County.

Water & Wastewater Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Beauty & Personal Care

3 related employer businesses in Delaware County.

Hair Salons: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in Delaware County.

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

Wholesale & Distribution

3 related employer businesses in Delaware County.

Industrial & Construction Supply: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Working with owners in Delaware County

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

Get a Free Valuation

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Delaware County ask

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