Selling a Business in Des Moines County
Des Moines County has 1,065 employer businesses, and 84% 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
Des Moines County by the numbers
1,065
1,065
EMPLOYER BUSINESSES
84%
84%
SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE
2,568
2,568
BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES
18,107
18,107
EMPLOYMENT
$878 million
$878 million
ANNUAL PAYROLL
517
517
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 Des Moines County compares
Des Moines County ranks 14th of 99 Iowa counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 3.7% between 2018 and 2023.
Health care and social assistance makes up 15% of employer businesses in Des Moines County, compared with 11% in Iowa.
517 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Des Moines County ranks 14th of 99 Iowa counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 3.7% between 2018 and 2023.
Health care and social assistance makes up 15% of employer businesses in Des Moines County, compared with 11% in Iowa.
517 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Industry mix
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Retail: 167 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 157 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 138 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 104 employer businesses
Construction: 82 employer businesses
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Retail: 167 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 157 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 138 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 104 employer businesses
Construction: 82 employer businesses
INDUSTRIES
What sells in Des Moines County
Retail, health care and social assistance, repair, personal care and other services, accommodation and food service
Every kind of business we sell in Des Moines County
We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Des Moines 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
83 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
General Contracting: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Landscaping: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Plumbing: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Foundation & Site Prep: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Electrical: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Interior Finishing: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Civil Engineering: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Restaurants & Food
74 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 32 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Full-Service Restaurants: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Coffee Shops: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Medical Practices
73 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Primary & Family Care: 39 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Dental Practices: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Vision & Eye Care: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Home Health & Hospice: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Mental & Behavioral Health: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Veterinary Medicine: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Retail Stores
63 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Home Decor & Furniture: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Sporting Goods & Firearms: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.4x SDE.
Financial & Professional Services
53 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Insurance Agencies: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Real Estate Brokerages: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Wealth Management: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Automotive & Boat
44 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Auto Repair: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Car Dealerships: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.
Collision Repair: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Car Washes: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Auto Parts: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Logistics & Transportation
35 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
General Freight Trucking: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Freight Brokerage & 3PL: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Last-Mile & Courier: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.76x - 3.32x SDE.
Gas Stations & Convenience
30 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Gas Stations: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Convenience Stores: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Manufacturing
25 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Metal Fabrication: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Construction Materials Manufacturing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Medical & Chemical Manufacturing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Printing & Plastics: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.9x - 4.9x SDE.
Senior Care & Living
25 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Non-Medical Home Care: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Wholesale & Distribution
22 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Industrial & Construction Supply: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Food & Beverage Distribution: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Chemicals, Plastics & Raw Materials Distribution: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.
Entertainment & Recreation
18 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Bars & Pubs: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.
Beauty & Personal Care
16 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Hair Salons: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.
Day Spas: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.
Tattoo Shops: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Massage Parlors: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Home Services
15 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Residential Cleaning: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.
Pest Control: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.
Property Management: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
14 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Compounding Pharmacies: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Medical Supply Retail: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE + Inventory.
Home Infusion: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Hospitality & Travel
13 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Hotels: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.
Pet Services
9 related employer businesses in Des Moines 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.
Pet Retail & Specialty Supplies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE + Inventory.
Education & Childcare
6 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Daycare Centers: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Technology & Media
6 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Creative Agencies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 3.0x SDE.
Real Estate Media: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.8x SDE.
Energy & Utilities
3 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Water & Wastewater Services: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Health & Fitness
3 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Wellness & Recovery Centers: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 5.5x - 9.7x EBITDA.
We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Des Moines 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
83 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
General Contracting: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Landscaping: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Plumbing: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Foundation & Site Prep: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Electrical: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Interior Finishing: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Civil Engineering: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Restaurants & Food
74 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 32 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Full-Service Restaurants: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Coffee Shops: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Medical Practices
73 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Primary & Family Care: 39 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Dental Practices: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Vision & Eye Care: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Home Health & Hospice: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Mental & Behavioral Health: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Veterinary Medicine: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Retail Stores
63 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Home Decor & Furniture: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Sporting Goods & Firearms: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.4x SDE.
Financial & Professional Services
53 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Insurance Agencies: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Real Estate Brokerages: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Wealth Management: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Automotive & Boat
44 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Auto Repair: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Car Dealerships: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.
Collision Repair: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Car Washes: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Auto Parts: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Logistics & Transportation
35 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
General Freight Trucking: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Freight Brokerage & 3PL: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Last-Mile & Courier: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.76x - 3.32x SDE.
Gas Stations & Convenience
30 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Gas Stations: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Convenience Stores: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Manufacturing
25 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Metal Fabrication: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Construction Materials Manufacturing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Medical & Chemical Manufacturing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Printing & Plastics: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.9x - 4.9x SDE.
Senior Care & Living
25 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Non-Medical Home Care: 25 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Wholesale & Distribution
22 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Industrial & Construction Supply: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Food & Beverage Distribution: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Chemicals, Plastics & Raw Materials Distribution: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.
Entertainment & Recreation
18 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Bars & Pubs: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.
Beauty & Personal Care
16 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Hair Salons: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.
Day Spas: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.
Tattoo Shops: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Massage Parlors: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Home Services
15 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Residential Cleaning: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.
Pest Control: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.
Property Management: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
14 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Compounding Pharmacies: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Medical Supply Retail: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE + Inventory.
Home Infusion: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Hospitality & Travel
13 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Hotels: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.
Pet Services
9 related employer businesses in Des Moines 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.
Pet Retail & Specialty Supplies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE + Inventory.
Education & Childcare
6 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Daycare Centers: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Technology & Media
6 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Creative Agencies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 3.0x SDE.
Real Estate Media: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.8x SDE.
Energy & Utilities
3 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Water & Wastewater Services: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Health & Fitness
3 related employer businesses in Des Moines County.
Wellness & Recovery Centers: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 5.5x - 9.7x EBITDA.
Working with owners in Des Moines County
Business Advisors of America works with owners who are selling a business in Des Moines County. Contact us to talk about a sale.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions owners in Des Moines County ask
How long does it take to sell a business in Des Moines 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 Des Moines 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 Des Moines 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