Selling a Business in Jefferson County
Jefferson County has 1,199 employer businesses, and 87% 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
Jefferson County by the numbers
1,199
1,199
EMPLOYER BUSINESSES
87%
87%
SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE
4,490
4,490
BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES
18,269
18,269
EMPLOYMENT
$905 million
$905 million
ANNUAL PAYROLL
529
529
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 Jefferson County compares
Jefferson County ranks 11th of 75 Arkansas counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 5.3% between 2018 and 2023.
Retail makes up 21% of employer businesses in Jefferson County, compared with 15% in Arkansas.
529 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Jefferson County ranks 11th of 75 Arkansas counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 5.3% between 2018 and 2023.
Retail makes up 21% of employer businesses in Jefferson County, compared with 15% in Arkansas.
529 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Industry mix
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Retail: 255 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 175 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 146 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 118 employer businesses
Finance and insurance: 76 employer businesses
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Retail: 255 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 175 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 146 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 118 employer businesses
Finance and insurance: 76 employer businesses
INDUSTRIES
What sells in Jefferson County
Retail, health care and social assistance, repair, personal care and other services, accommodation and food service
Every kind of business we sell in Jefferson County
We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Jefferson 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
119 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 64 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Full-Service Restaurants: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Liquor, Wine & Beer Stores: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Coffee Shops: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Medical Practices
91 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Primary & Family Care: 52 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Dental Practices: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Home Health & Hospice: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Vision & Eye Care: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Veterinary Medicine: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Medical Labs & Imaging: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Retail Stores
65 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Home Decor & Furniture: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Gas Stations & Convenience
54 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Gas Stations: 47 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Convenience Stores: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Financial & Professional Services
51 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Insurance Agencies: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Real Estate Brokerages: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Wealth Management: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Construction & Engineering
49 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Plumbing: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 16 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.
Electrical: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Landscaping: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
General Contracting: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Civil Engineering: 3 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.
Automotive & Boat
40 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Car Dealerships: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.
Auto Parts: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Auto Repair: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Collision Repair: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Car Washes: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Towing & Repo: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Manufacturing
25 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Metal Fabrication: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 5 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.
Construction Materials Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Home Services
24 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Property Management: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
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: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
24 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Compounding Pharmacies: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Home Infusion: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Durable Medical Equipment (DME): 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Medical Supply Retail: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE + Inventory.
Logistics & Transportation
22 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
General Freight Trucking: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Warehousing & Fulfillment: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Wholesale & Distribution
19 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Industrial & Construction Supply: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Chemicals, Plastics & Raw Materials Distribution: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.
Hospitality & Travel
18 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Hotels: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.
Education & Childcare
15 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Daycare Centers: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Beauty & Personal Care
10 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Hair Salons: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.
Nail Salons: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.
Senior Care & Living
7 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Assisted Living Facilities: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Non-Medical Home Care: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Energy & Utilities
4 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Water & Wastewater Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Pet Services
3 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Pet Retail & Specialty Supplies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE + Inventory.
Technology & Media
3 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Digital Marketing Agencies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Jefferson 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
119 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 64 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Full-Service Restaurants: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Liquor, Wine & Beer Stores: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Coffee Shops: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Medical Practices
91 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Primary & Family Care: 52 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Dental Practices: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Home Health & Hospice: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Vision & Eye Care: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Veterinary Medicine: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Medical Labs & Imaging: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Retail Stores
65 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Home Decor & Furniture: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Gas Stations & Convenience
54 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Gas Stations: 47 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Convenience Stores: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Financial & Professional Services
51 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Insurance Agencies: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Real Estate Brokerages: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Wealth Management: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.
Construction & Engineering
49 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Plumbing: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 16 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.
Electrical: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Landscaping: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
General Contracting: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Civil Engineering: 3 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.
Automotive & Boat
40 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Car Dealerships: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.
Auto Parts: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Auto Repair: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Collision Repair: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Car Washes: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Towing & Repo: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Manufacturing
25 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Metal Fabrication: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.
Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 5 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.
Construction Materials Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Home Services
24 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Property Management: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
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: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.
Pharmacies & Medical Supply
24 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Compounding Pharmacies: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Home Infusion: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Durable Medical Equipment (DME): 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Medical Supply Retail: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE + Inventory.
Logistics & Transportation
22 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
General Freight Trucking: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Warehousing & Fulfillment: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Wholesale & Distribution
19 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Industrial & Construction Supply: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Chemicals, Plastics & Raw Materials Distribution: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.
Hospitality & Travel
18 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Hotels: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.
Education & Childcare
15 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Daycare Centers: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Beauty & Personal Care
10 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Hair Salons: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.
Nail Salons: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.
Senior Care & Living
7 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Assisted Living Facilities: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Non-Medical Home Care: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Energy & Utilities
4 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Water & Wastewater Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Pet Services
3 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Pet Retail & Specialty Supplies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE + Inventory.
Technology & Media
3 related employer businesses in Jefferson County.
Digital Marketing Agencies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Working with owners in Jefferson County
Business Advisors of America works with owners who are selling a business in Jefferson County. Contact us to talk about a sale.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions owners in Jefferson County ask
How long does it take to sell a business in Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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