Selling a Business in Rowan County

Rowan County has 532 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

Rowan County by the numbers

532

532

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

85%

85%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,568

1,568

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

8,319

8,319

EMPLOYMENT

$367 million

$367 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

252

252

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 Rowan County compares

  • Rowan County ranks 38th of 120 Kentucky counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 9.0% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Transportation and warehousing makes up 5% of employer businesses in Rowan County, compared with 3% in Kentucky.

  • 252 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Rowan County ranks 38th of 120 Kentucky counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 9.0% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Transportation and warehousing makes up 5% of employer businesses in Rowan County, compared with 3% in Kentucky.

  • 252 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 99 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 98 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 59 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 43 employer businesses

  • Finance and insurance: 36 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 99 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 98 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 59 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 43 employer businesses

  • Finance and insurance: 36 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Rowan County

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

Every kind of business we sell in Rowan County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Rowan 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

47 related employer businesses in Rowan County.

Medical Practices

37 related employer businesses in Rowan County.

Financial & Professional Services

27 related employer businesses in Rowan County.

Construction & Engineering

25 related employer businesses in Rowan County.

  • Plumbing: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • General Contracting: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

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

  • Landscaping: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Logistics & Transportation

20 related employer businesses in Rowan County.

Retail Stores

20 related employer businesses in Rowan County.

Automotive & Boat

16 related employer businesses in Rowan County.

  • Auto Parts: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Towing & Repo: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Gas Stations & Convenience

16 related employer businesses in Rowan County.

  • Gas Stations: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Manufacturing

14 related employer businesses in Rowan County.

Health & Fitness

13 related employer businesses in Rowan County.

Beauty & Personal Care

11 related employer businesses in Rowan County.

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

  • Day Spas: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

7 related employer businesses in Rowan County.

Hospitality & Travel

6 related employer businesses in Rowan 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.

Education & Childcare

5 related employer businesses in Rowan County.

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

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

5 related employer businesses in Rowan County.

Entertainment & Recreation

4 related employer businesses in Rowan 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.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Rowan 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

47 related employer businesses in Rowan County.

Medical Practices

37 related employer businesses in Rowan County.

Financial & Professional Services

27 related employer businesses in Rowan County.

Construction & Engineering

25 related employer businesses in Rowan County.

  • Plumbing: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • General Contracting: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

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

  • Landscaping: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Logistics & Transportation

20 related employer businesses in Rowan County.

Retail Stores

20 related employer businesses in Rowan County.

Automotive & Boat

16 related employer businesses in Rowan County.

  • Auto Parts: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Towing & Repo: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Gas Stations & Convenience

16 related employer businesses in Rowan County.

  • Gas Stations: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Manufacturing

14 related employer businesses in Rowan County.

Health & Fitness

13 related employer businesses in Rowan County.

Beauty & Personal Care

11 related employer businesses in Rowan County.

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

  • Day Spas: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

7 related employer businesses in Rowan County.

Hospitality & Travel

6 related employer businesses in Rowan 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.

Education & Childcare

5 related employer businesses in Rowan County.

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

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

5 related employer businesses in Rowan County.

Entertainment & Recreation

4 related employer businesses in Rowan 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.

Working with owners in Rowan County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Rowan County ask

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