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Independence County

Selling a Business in Independence County

Independence County has 810 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.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Independence County by the numbers

810

810

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

84%

84%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

2,600

2,600

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

16,206

16,206

EMPLOYMENT

$833 million

$833 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

364

364

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 Independence County compares

  • Independence County ranks 19th of 75 Arkansas counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 1.1% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 5% of employer businesses in Independence County, compared with 4% in Arkansas.

  • 364 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Independence County ranks 19th of 75 Arkansas counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 1.1% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 5% of employer businesses in Independence County, compared with 4% in Arkansas.

  • 364 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 157 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 111 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 94 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 73 employer businesses

  • Construction: 60 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 157 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 111 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 94 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 73 employer businesses

  • Construction: 60 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Independence County

Retail, health care and social assistance, repair, personal care and other services, accommodation and food service

Every kind of business we sell in Independence County

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

Restaurants & Food

69 related employer businesses in Independence County.

Retail Stores

62 related employer businesses in Independence County.

Medical Practices

59 related employer businesses in Independence County.

Construction & Engineering

54 related employer businesses in Independence County.

  • General Contracting: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Electrical: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Financial & Professional Services

41 related employer businesses in Independence County.

Manufacturing

31 related employer businesses in Independence County.

Automotive & Boat

29 related employer businesses in Independence County.

  • Auto Repair: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

Logistics & Transportation

26 related employer businesses in Independence County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

20 related employer businesses in Independence County.

  • Gas Stations: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

12 related employer businesses in Independence County.

Home Services

11 related employer businesses in Independence County.

  • Pest Control: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.

  • 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.

Wholesale & Distribution

8 related employer businesses in Independence County.

Hospitality & Travel

7 related employer businesses in Independence County.

  • Hotels: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

6 related employer businesses in Independence County.

Education & Childcare

5 related employer businesses in Independence County.

  • Daycare Centers: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Health & Fitness

5 related employer businesses in Independence County.

Beauty & Personal Care

4 related employer businesses in Independence County.

  • Hair Salons: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

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

Restaurants & Food

69 related employer businesses in Independence County.

Retail Stores

62 related employer businesses in Independence County.

Medical Practices

59 related employer businesses in Independence County.

Construction & Engineering

54 related employer businesses in Independence County.

  • General Contracting: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Electrical: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Financial & Professional Services

41 related employer businesses in Independence County.

Manufacturing

31 related employer businesses in Independence County.

Automotive & Boat

29 related employer businesses in Independence County.

  • Auto Repair: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

Logistics & Transportation

26 related employer businesses in Independence County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

20 related employer businesses in Independence County.

  • Gas Stations: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

12 related employer businesses in Independence County.

Home Services

11 related employer businesses in Independence County.

  • Pest Control: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.

  • 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.

Wholesale & Distribution

8 related employer businesses in Independence County.

Hospitality & Travel

7 related employer businesses in Independence County.

  • Hotels: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

6 related employer businesses in Independence County.

Education & Childcare

5 related employer businesses in Independence County.

  • Daycare Centers: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Health & Fitness

5 related employer businesses in Independence County.

Beauty & Personal Care

4 related employer businesses in Independence County.

  • Hair Salons: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Working with owners in Independence County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Independence County ask

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