Selling a Business in Howell County

Howell County has 1,076 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.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Howell County by the numbers

1,076

1,076

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

86%

86%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

3,424

3,424

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

15,374

15,374

EMPLOYMENT

$648 million

$648 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

441

441

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 Howell County compares

  • Howell County ranks 21st of 115 Missouri counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 4.2% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 6% of employer businesses in Howell County, compared with 4% in Missouri.

  • 441 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Howell County ranks 21st of 115 Missouri counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 4.2% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 6% of employer businesses in Howell County, compared with 4% in Missouri.

  • 441 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 198 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 171 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 125 employer businesses

  • Construction: 75 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 74 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 198 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 171 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 125 employer businesses

  • Construction: 75 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 74 employer businesses

Every kind of business we sell in Howell County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Howell 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.

Financial & Professional Services

76 related employer businesses in Howell County.

Restaurants & Food

76 related employer businesses in Howell County.

Automotive & Boat

72 related employer businesses in Howell County.

  • Auto Repair: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 13 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: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Medical Practices

71 related employer businesses in Howell County.

Logistics & Transportation

65 related employer businesses in Howell County.

Retail Stores

63 related employer businesses in Howell County.

Construction & Engineering

59 related employer businesses in Howell County.

  • General Contracting: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Interior Finishing: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 7 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.

  • Roofing & Siding: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

47 related employer businesses in Howell County.

Senior Care & Living

28 related employer businesses in Howell County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

24 related employer businesses in Howell County.

  • Gas Stations: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Wholesale & Distribution

19 related employer businesses in Howell County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

18 related employer businesses in Howell County.

Education & Childcare

11 related employer businesses in Howell County.

  • Daycare Centers: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Beauty & Personal Care

8 related employer businesses in Howell County.

  • 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.

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

Energy & Utilities

7 related employer businesses in Howell County.

Health & Fitness

7 related employer businesses in Howell County.

Home Services

3 related employer businesses in Howell County.

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in Howell County.

  • Hotels: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Howell 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.

Financial & Professional Services

76 related employer businesses in Howell County.

Restaurants & Food

76 related employer businesses in Howell County.

Automotive & Boat

72 related employer businesses in Howell County.

  • Auto Repair: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 13 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: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Medical Practices

71 related employer businesses in Howell County.

Logistics & Transportation

65 related employer businesses in Howell County.

Retail Stores

63 related employer businesses in Howell County.

Construction & Engineering

59 related employer businesses in Howell County.

  • General Contracting: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Interior Finishing: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 7 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.

  • Roofing & Siding: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

47 related employer businesses in Howell County.

Senior Care & Living

28 related employer businesses in Howell County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

24 related employer businesses in Howell County.

  • Gas Stations: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Wholesale & Distribution

19 related employer businesses in Howell County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

18 related employer businesses in Howell County.

Education & Childcare

11 related employer businesses in Howell County.

  • Daycare Centers: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Beauty & Personal Care

8 related employer businesses in Howell County.

  • 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.

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

Energy & Utilities

7 related employer businesses in Howell County.

Health & Fitness

7 related employer businesses in Howell County.

Home Services

3 related employer businesses in Howell County.

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in Howell County.

  • Hotels: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Working with owners in Howell County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Howell County ask

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