Selling a Business in Marion County

Marion County has 797 employer businesses, and 85% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows the local mix of industries and how a sale is handled here.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Marion County by the numbers

797

797

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

85%

85%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,907

1,907

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

10,807

10,807

EMPLOYMENT

$513 million

$513 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

355

355

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 Marion County compares

  • Marion County ranks 28th of 115 Missouri counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 0.3% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Health care and social assistance makes up 17% of employer businesses in Marion County, compared with 14% in Missouri.

  • 355 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Marion County ranks 28th of 115 Missouri counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 0.3% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Health care and social assistance makes up 17% of employer businesses in Marion County, compared with 14% in Missouri.

  • 355 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Health care and social assistance: 134 employer businesses

  • Retail: 123 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 97 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 84 employer businesses

  • Finance and insurance: 67 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Health care and social assistance: 134 employer businesses

  • Retail: 123 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 97 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 84 employer businesses

  • Finance and insurance: 67 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Marion County

Health care and social assistance, retail, repair, personal care and other services, accommodation and food service

Every kind of business we sell in Marion County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Marion 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

66 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Construction & Engineering

50 related employer businesses in Marion County.

  • General Contracting: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Civil Engineering: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Plumbing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Financial & Professional Services

50 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Medical Practices

46 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Retail Stores

39 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Senior Care & Living

36 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Automotive & Boat

35 related employer businesses in Marion County.

  • Auto Repair: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Collision Repair: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Dealerships: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

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

Gas Stations & Convenience

26 related employer businesses in Marion County.

  • Gas Stations: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Logistics & Transportation

18 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Hospitality & Travel

14 related employer businesses in Marion County.

  • Hotels: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Manufacturing

14 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

12 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Entertainment & Recreation

10 related employer businesses in Marion County.

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

  • Bars & Pubs: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

7 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Education & Childcare

5 related employer businesses in Marion County.

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

Energy & Utilities

5 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Health & Fitness

5 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Beauty & Personal Care

4 related employer businesses in Marion County.

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

Home Services

4 related employer businesses in Marion County.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Marion 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

66 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Construction & Engineering

50 related employer businesses in Marion County.

  • General Contracting: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Civil Engineering: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Plumbing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Financial & Professional Services

50 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Medical Practices

46 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Retail Stores

39 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Senior Care & Living

36 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Automotive & Boat

35 related employer businesses in Marion County.

  • Auto Repair: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Collision Repair: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Dealerships: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

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

Gas Stations & Convenience

26 related employer businesses in Marion County.

  • Gas Stations: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Logistics & Transportation

18 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Hospitality & Travel

14 related employer businesses in Marion County.

  • Hotels: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Manufacturing

14 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

12 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Entertainment & Recreation

10 related employer businesses in Marion County.

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

  • Bars & Pubs: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

7 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Education & Childcare

5 related employer businesses in Marion County.

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

Energy & Utilities

5 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Health & Fitness

5 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Beauty & Personal Care

4 related employer businesses in Marion County.

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

Home Services

4 related employer businesses in Marion County.

Working with owners in Marion County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Marion County ask

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