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McDonough County

Selling a Business in McDonough County

McDonough County has 611 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.

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LOCAL SNAPSHOT

McDonough County by the numbers

611

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

86%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,843

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

8,590

EMPLOYMENT

$370 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

250

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 McDonough County compares

McDonough County ranks 50th of 102 Illinois counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 5.0% between 2018 and 2023.
Repair, personal care and other services makes up 14% of employer businesses in McDonough County, compared with 10% in Illinois.
250 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

McDonough County ranks 50th of 102 Illinois counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 5.0% between 2018 and 2023.
Repair, personal care and other services makes up 14% of employer businesses in McDonough County, compared with 10% in Illinois.
250 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

Retail: 92 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 87 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 72 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 66 employer businesses
Finance and insurance: 45 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

Retail: 92 employer businesses
Repair, personal care and other services: 87 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 72 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 66 employer businesses
Finance and insurance: 45 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in McDonough County

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

Electronics & Repair

Retail Stores

Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry

Retail Stores

Barber Shops

Beauty & Personal Care

Day Spas

Beauty & Personal Care

Auto Parts

Automotive & Boat

Auto Repair

Automotive & Boat

Every kind of business we sell in McDonough County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in McDonough 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 McDonough County.

Quick-Service & Fast Food: 21 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.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 7 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.
Liquor, Wine & Beer Stores: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Construction & Engineering

37 related employer businesses in McDonough County.

Landscaping: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
General Contracting: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Plumbing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Foundation & Site Prep: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Interior Finishing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Roofing & Siding: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Electrical: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Financial & Professional Services

36 related employer businesses in McDonough County.

Accounting & Tax Practices: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Insurance Agencies: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Real Estate Brokerages: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Wealth Management: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.

Retail Stores

31 related employer businesses in McDonough County.

Hardware, Garden & Building: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Home Decor & Furniture: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Electronics & Repair: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.

Automotive & Boat

28 related employer businesses in McDonough County.

Auto Repair: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Collision Repair: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Auto Parts: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Car Dealerships: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

Medical Practices

23 related employer businesses in McDonough County.

Primary & Family Care: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Dental Practices: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Veterinary Medicine: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.

Logistics & Transportation

22 related employer businesses in McDonough County.

General Freight Trucking: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.

Gas Stations & Convenience

14 related employer businesses in McDonough County.

Gas Stations: 11 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.

Entertainment & Recreation

12 related employer businesses in McDonough County.

Bars & Pubs: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 8 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.

Beauty & Personal Care

7 related employer businesses in McDonough County.

Hair Salons: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

7 related employer businesses in McDonough County.

Compounding Pharmacies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Medical Supply Retail: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE + Inventory.

Hospitality & Travel

5 related employer businesses in McDonough County.

Hotels: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

5 related employer businesses in McDonough County.

Assisted Living Facilities: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Education & Childcare

4 related employer businesses in McDonough County.

Daycare Centers: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Manufacturing

4 related employer businesses in McDonough County.

Metal Fabrication: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

4 related employer businesses in McDonough County.

Industrial & Construction Supply: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Home Services

3 related employer businesses in McDonough County.

Property Management: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

57 related employer businesses in McDonough County.

Quick-Service & Fast Food: 21 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.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 7 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.
Liquor, Wine & Beer Stores: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Construction & Engineering

37 related employer businesses in McDonough County.

Landscaping: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
General Contracting: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Plumbing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Foundation & Site Prep: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Interior Finishing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.
Roofing & Siding: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Electrical: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Financial & Professional Services

36 related employer businesses in McDonough County.

Accounting & Tax Practices: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Insurance Agencies: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Real Estate Brokerages: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Wealth Management: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.7x - 4.0x Recurring Revenue.

Retail Stores

31 related employer businesses in McDonough County.

Hardware, Garden & Building: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Home Decor & Furniture: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Electronics & Repair: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.

Automotive & Boat

28 related employer businesses in McDonough County.

Auto Repair: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Collision Repair: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Auto Parts: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Car Dealerships: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

Medical Practices

23 related employer businesses in McDonough County.

Primary & Family Care: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Dental Practices: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Veterinary Medicine: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.

Logistics & Transportation

22 related employer businesses in McDonough County.

General Freight Trucking: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.

Gas Stations & Convenience

14 related employer businesses in McDonough County.

Gas Stations: 11 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.

Entertainment & Recreation

12 related employer businesses in McDonough County.

Bars & Pubs: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 8 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.

Beauty & Personal Care

7 related employer businesses in McDonough County.

Hair Salons: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

7 related employer businesses in McDonough County.

Compounding Pharmacies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Specialty Pharmacies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 6.5x EBITDA.
Medical Supply Retail: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE + Inventory.

Hospitality & Travel

5 related employer businesses in McDonough County.

Hotels: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Senior Care & Living

5 related employer businesses in McDonough County.

Assisted Living Facilities: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Education & Childcare

4 related employer businesses in McDonough County.

Daycare Centers: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Manufacturing

4 related employer businesses in McDonough County.

Metal Fabrication: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.2x - 4.2x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

4 related employer businesses in McDonough County.

Industrial & Construction Supply: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.

Home Services

3 related employer businesses in McDonough County.

Property Management: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

Working with owners in McDonough County

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

Get a Free Valuation

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in McDonough County ask

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