Selling a Business in Madison County

Madison County has 1,232 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

Madison County by the numbers

1,232

1,232

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

84%

84%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

3,088

3,088

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

19,641

19,641

EMPLOYMENT

$987 million

$987 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

561

561

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 Madison County compares

  • Madison County ranks 6th of 93 Nebraska counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 4.3% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 15% of employer businesses in Madison County, compared with 12% in Nebraska.

  • 561 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Madison County ranks 6th of 93 Nebraska counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 4.3% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 15% of employer businesses in Madison County, compared with 12% in Nebraska.

  • 561 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 190 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 173 employer businesses

  • Construction: 136 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 120 employer businesses

  • Finance and insurance: 106 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 190 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 173 employer businesses

  • Construction: 136 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 120 employer businesses

  • Finance and insurance: 106 employer businesses

Every kind of business we sell in Madison County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Madison 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

124 related employer businesses in Madison County.

  • General Contracting: 36 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Plumbing: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x 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.

Financial & Professional Services

96 related employer businesses in Madison County.

Medical Practices

84 related employer businesses in Madison County.

Restaurants & Food

82 related employer businesses in Madison County.

Retail Stores

69 related employer businesses in Madison County.

Logistics & Transportation

54 related employer businesses in Madison County.

Automotive & Boat

52 related employer businesses in Madison County.

  • Auto Repair: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Auto Parts: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Washes: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

34 related employer businesses in Madison County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

24 related employer businesses in Madison County.

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

Education & Childcare

21 related employer businesses in Madison County.

  • Daycare Centers: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Home Services

15 related employer businesses in Madison County.

Wholesale & Distribution

15 related employer businesses in Madison County.

Entertainment & Recreation

14 related employer businesses in Madison County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Golf Courses: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Hospitality & Travel

13 related employer businesses in Madison County.

  • Hotels: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 10 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.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

12 related employer businesses in Madison County.

Senior Care & Living

12 related employer businesses in Madison County.

Beauty & Personal Care

11 related employer businesses in Madison County.

  • Hair Salons: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

10 related employer businesses in Madison County.

Health & Fitness

8 related employer businesses in Madison County.

Pet Services

3 related employer businesses in Madison County.

Technology & Media

3 related employer businesses in Madison County.

  • Real Estate Media: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.8x SDE.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Madison 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

124 related employer businesses in Madison County.

  • General Contracting: 36 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Plumbing: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x 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.

Financial & Professional Services

96 related employer businesses in Madison County.

Medical Practices

84 related employer businesses in Madison County.

Restaurants & Food

82 related employer businesses in Madison County.

Retail Stores

69 related employer businesses in Madison County.

Logistics & Transportation

54 related employer businesses in Madison County.

Automotive & Boat

52 related employer businesses in Madison County.

  • Auto Repair: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Auto Parts: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Washes: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

34 related employer businesses in Madison County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

24 related employer businesses in Madison County.

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

Education & Childcare

21 related employer businesses in Madison County.

  • Daycare Centers: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Home Services

15 related employer businesses in Madison County.

Wholesale & Distribution

15 related employer businesses in Madison County.

Entertainment & Recreation

14 related employer businesses in Madison County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Golf Courses: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Hospitality & Travel

13 related employer businesses in Madison County.

  • Hotels: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 10 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.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

12 related employer businesses in Madison County.

Senior Care & Living

12 related employer businesses in Madison County.

Beauty & Personal Care

11 related employer businesses in Madison County.

  • Hair Salons: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

10 related employer businesses in Madison County.

Health & Fitness

8 related employer businesses in Madison County.

Pet Services

3 related employer businesses in Madison County.

Technology & Media

3 related employer businesses in Madison County.

  • Real Estate Media: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.8x SDE.

Working with owners in Madison County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Madison County ask

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