Selling a Business in Effingham County
Effingham County has 1,263 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.
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LOCAL SNAPSHOT
Effingham County by the numbers
1,263
1,263
EMPLOYER BUSINESSES
83%
83%
SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE
2,857
2,857
BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES
32,183
32,183
EMPLOYMENT
$1.6 billion
$1.6 billion
ANNUAL PAYROLL
588
588
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 Effingham County compares
Effingham County ranks 24th of 102 Illinois counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses grew 0.8% between 2018 and 2023.
Retail makes up 15% of employer businesses in Effingham County, compared with 11% in Illinois.
588 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Effingham County ranks 24th of 102 Illinois counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses grew 0.8% between 2018 and 2023.
Retail makes up 15% of employer businesses in Effingham County, compared with 11% in Illinois.
588 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Industry mix
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Retail: 193 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 161 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 148 employer businesses
Construction: 146 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 125 employer businesses
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Retail: 193 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 161 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 148 employer businesses
Construction: 146 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 125 employer businesses
INDUSTRIES
What sells in Effingham County
Retail, health care and social assistance, repair, personal care and other services, construction
Every kind of business we sell in Effingham County
We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Effingham 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
134 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
General Contracting: 38 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Landscaping: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Interior Finishing: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Plumbing: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Foundation & Site Prep: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Electrical: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Civil Engineering: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Restaurants & Food
90 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 39 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Full-Service Restaurants: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Liquor, Wine & Beer Stores: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Coffee Shops: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Medical Practices
77 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
Primary & Family Care: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Dental Practices: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Veterinary Medicine: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Vision & Eye Care: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Mental & Behavioral Health: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Automotive & Boat
68 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
Auto Repair: 29 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.
Car Dealerships: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.
Car Washes: 8 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.
Towing & Repo: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Retail Stores
66 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Home Decor & Furniture: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Electronics & Repair: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Hobby, Toys & Gift Shops: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE + Inventory.
Financial & Professional Services
65 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
Insurance Agencies: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 11 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: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Private Lending: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Manufacturing
46 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
Metal Fabrication: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Printing & Plastics: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.9x - 4.9x SDE.
Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Construction Materials Manufacturing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Logistics & Transportation
42 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
General Freight Trucking: 39 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Heavy Haul Transport: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Hospitality & Travel
26 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
Hotels: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.
Transportation Services: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.
Wholesale & Distribution
26 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
Industrial & Construction Supply: 18 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.
Electronics, IT & Office Equipment Distribution: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Entertainment & Recreation
25 related employer businesses in Effingham 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.
Outdoor Recreation: 4 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 Effingham County.
Gas Stations: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Home Services
12 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
Residential Cleaning: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.
Pest Control: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
10 related employer businesses in Effingham 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.
Education & Childcare
9 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
Daycare Centers: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Beauty & Personal Care
7 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
Hair Salons: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.
Technology & Media
7 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
Digital Marketing Agencies: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Pet Services
5 related employer businesses in Effingham 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.
Energy & Utilities
3 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
Water & Wastewater Services: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Health & Fitness
3 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
Gyms & Health Clubs: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.
Yoga Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.
Pilates Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.
Personal Training Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.
Senior Care & Living
3 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
Non-Medical Home Care: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Effingham 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
134 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
General Contracting: 38 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Landscaping: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Interior Finishing: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Plumbing: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Foundation & Site Prep: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Electrical: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Civil Engineering: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Restaurants & Food
90 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 39 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Full-Service Restaurants: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Liquor, Wine & Beer Stores: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Coffee Shops: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Medical Practices
77 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
Primary & Family Care: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Dental Practices: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Veterinary Medicine: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Vision & Eye Care: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Mental & Behavioral Health: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Automotive & Boat
68 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
Auto Repair: 29 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.
Car Dealerships: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.
Car Washes: 8 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.
Towing & Repo: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Retail Stores
66 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Home Decor & Furniture: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Electronics & Repair: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Hobby, Toys & Gift Shops: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE + Inventory.
Financial & Professional Services
65 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
Insurance Agencies: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 11 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: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Private Lending: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Manufacturing
46 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
Metal Fabrication: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Printing & Plastics: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.9x - 4.9x SDE.
Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Construction Materials Manufacturing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Logistics & Transportation
42 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
General Freight Trucking: 39 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Heavy Haul Transport: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Hospitality & Travel
26 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
Hotels: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.
Transportation Services: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.
Wholesale & Distribution
26 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
Industrial & Construction Supply: 18 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.
Electronics, IT & Office Equipment Distribution: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Entertainment & Recreation
25 related employer businesses in Effingham 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.
Outdoor Recreation: 4 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 Effingham County.
Gas Stations: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Home Services
12 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
Residential Cleaning: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.
Pest Control: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
10 related employer businesses in Effingham 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.
Education & Childcare
9 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
Daycare Centers: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Beauty & Personal Care
7 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
Hair Salons: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.
Technology & Media
7 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
Digital Marketing Agencies: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Pet Services
5 related employer businesses in Effingham 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.
Energy & Utilities
3 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
Water & Wastewater Services: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Health & Fitness
3 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
Gyms & Health Clubs: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.
Yoga Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.
Pilates Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.
Personal Training Studios: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.
Senior Care & Living
3 related employer businesses in Effingham County.
Non-Medical Home Care: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Working with owners in Effingham County
Business Advisors of America works with owners who are selling a business in Effingham County. Contact us to talk about a sale.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions owners in Effingham County ask
How long does it take to sell a business in Effingham 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 Effingham 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 Effingham 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