Selling a Business in Pettis County

Pettis County has 1,004 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

Pettis County by the numbers

1,004

1,004

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

85%

85%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

3,425

3,425

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

17,225

17,225

EMPLOYMENT

$823 million

$823 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

452

452

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 Pettis County compares

  • Pettis County ranks 25th of 115 Missouri counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 2.1% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Transportation and warehousing makes up 6% of employer businesses in Pettis County, compared with 4% in Missouri.

  • 452 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Pettis County ranks 25th of 115 Missouri counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 2.1% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Transportation and warehousing makes up 6% of employer businesses in Pettis County, compared with 4% in Missouri.

  • 452 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 175 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 135 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 134 employer businesses

  • Construction: 90 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 79 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 175 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 135 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 134 employer businesses

  • Construction: 90 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 79 employer businesses

Every kind of business we sell in Pettis County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Pettis 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

85 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

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

  • Plumbing: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

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

  • Carpentry & Framing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

72 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

Retail Stores

65 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

Financial & Professional Services

59 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

Logistics & Transportation

52 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

Automotive & Boat

48 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

  • Car Dealerships: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Repair: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • 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.

Medical Practices

47 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

Senior Care & Living

31 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

Manufacturing

27 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

23 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

  • Gas Stations: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

22 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

Beauty & Personal Care

19 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

  • Hair Salons: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

15 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

Home Services

14 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

Hospitality & Travel

13 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

  • Hotels: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Education & Childcare

10 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

  • Daycare Centers: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Entertainment & Recreation

7 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 4 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.

Health & Fitness

6 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

Technology & Media

4 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

Energy & Utilities

3 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

Pet Services

3 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Pettis 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

85 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

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

  • Plumbing: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

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

  • Carpentry & Framing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

72 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

Retail Stores

65 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

Financial & Professional Services

59 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

Logistics & Transportation

52 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

Automotive & Boat

48 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

  • Car Dealerships: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Repair: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • 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.

Medical Practices

47 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

Senior Care & Living

31 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

Manufacturing

27 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

23 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

  • Gas Stations: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

22 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

Beauty & Personal Care

19 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

  • Hair Salons: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

15 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

Home Services

14 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

Hospitality & Travel

13 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

  • Hotels: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Education & Childcare

10 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

  • Daycare Centers: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Entertainment & Recreation

7 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 4 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.

Health & Fitness

6 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

Technology & Media

4 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

Energy & Utilities

3 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

Pet Services

3 related employer businesses in Pettis County.

Working with owners in Pettis County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Pettis County ask

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