Selling a Business in Laclede County

Laclede County has 729 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

Laclede County by the numbers

729

729

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

86%

86%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

3,043

3,043

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

12,972

12,972

EMPLOYMENT

$551 million

$551 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

301

301

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 Laclede County compares

  • Laclede County ranks 34th of 115 Missouri counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 4.0% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 7% of employer businesses in Laclede County, compared with 4% in Missouri.

  • 301 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Laclede County ranks 34th of 115 Missouri counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 4.0% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 7% of employer businesses in Laclede County, compared with 4% in Missouri.

  • 301 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 152 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 88 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 76 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 66 employer businesses

  • Construction: 56 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 152 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 88 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 76 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 66 employer businesses

  • Construction: 56 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Laclede County

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

Every kind of business we sell in Laclede County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Laclede 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

57 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

Financial & Professional Services

49 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

Retail Stores

46 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

Construction & Engineering

44 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

  • 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.

  • General Contracting: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

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

  • Electrical: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Automotive & Boat

39 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

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

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

  • Car Dealerships: 9 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

34 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

Medical Practices

32 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

Manufacturing

29 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

27 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

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

  • Convenience Stores: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Senior Care & Living

11 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

9 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

Education & Childcare

6 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

  • Daycare Centers: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

  • Tutoring Centers: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.

Hospitality & Travel

6 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

  • Hotels: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

5 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

Wholesale & Distribution

5 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

Beauty & Personal Care

4 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

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

Health & Fitness

3 related employer businesses in Laclede 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.

Pet Services

3 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Laclede 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

57 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

Financial & Professional Services

49 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

Retail Stores

46 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

Construction & Engineering

44 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

  • 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.

  • General Contracting: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

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

  • Electrical: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Automotive & Boat

39 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

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

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

  • Car Dealerships: 9 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

34 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

Medical Practices

32 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

Manufacturing

29 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

27 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

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

  • Convenience Stores: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Senior Care & Living

11 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

9 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

Education & Childcare

6 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

  • Daycare Centers: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

  • Tutoring Centers: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.

Hospitality & Travel

6 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

  • Hotels: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

5 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

Wholesale & Distribution

5 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

Beauty & Personal Care

4 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

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

Health & Fitness

3 related employer businesses in Laclede 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.

Pet Services

3 related employer businesses in Laclede County.

Working with owners in Laclede County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Laclede County ask

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