Selling a Business in Sawyer County

Sawyer County has 627 employer businesses, and 92% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows the local mix of industries and how a sale is handled here.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Sawyer County by the numbers

627

627

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

92%

92%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,653

1,653

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

5,363

5,363

EMPLOYMENT

$264 million

$264 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

230

230

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 Sawyer County compares

  • Sawyer County ranks 47th of 72 Wisconsin counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 1.6% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Accommodation and food service makes up 18% of employer businesses in Sawyer County, compared with 11% in Wisconsin.

  • 230 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Sawyer County ranks 47th of 72 Wisconsin counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 1.6% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Accommodation and food service makes up 18% of employer businesses in Sawyer County, compared with 11% in Wisconsin.

  • 230 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Accommodation and food service: 111 employer businesses

  • Retail: 95 employer businesses

  • Construction: 88 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 50 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 41 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Accommodation and food service: 111 employer businesses

  • Retail: 95 employer businesses

  • Construction: 88 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 50 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 41 employer businesses

Every kind of business we sell in Sawyer County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Sawyer 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

93 related employer businesses in Sawyer County.

  • General Contracting: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Plumbing: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 10 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.

Restaurants & Food

67 related employer businesses in Sawyer County.

Retail Stores

36 related employer businesses in Sawyer County.

Financial & Professional Services

31 related employer businesses in Sawyer County.

Entertainment & Recreation

28 related employer businesses in Sawyer County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

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

Automotive & Boat

20 related employer businesses in Sawyer County.

  • Auto Repair: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Collision Repair: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Boat Dealerships: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.

  • Auto Parts: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

Medical Practices

19 related employer businesses in Sawyer County.

Hospitality & Travel

16 related employer businesses in Sawyer 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.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

14 related employer businesses in Sawyer County.

Logistics & Transportation

13 related employer businesses in Sawyer County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

9 related employer businesses in Sawyer County.

  • Gas Stations: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Senior Care & Living

8 related employer businesses in Sawyer County.

Wholesale & Distribution

7 related employer businesses in Sawyer County.

Education & Childcare

4 related employer businesses in Sawyer County.

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

Energy & Utilities

4 related employer businesses in Sawyer County.

Beauty & Personal Care

3 related employer businesses in Sawyer County.

  • Hair Salons: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Health & Fitness

3 related employer businesses in Sawyer County.

Technology & Media

3 related employer businesses in Sawyer 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 Sawyer 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

93 related employer businesses in Sawyer County.

  • General Contracting: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Plumbing: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 10 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.

Restaurants & Food

67 related employer businesses in Sawyer County.

Retail Stores

36 related employer businesses in Sawyer County.

Financial & Professional Services

31 related employer businesses in Sawyer County.

Entertainment & Recreation

28 related employer businesses in Sawyer County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

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

Automotive & Boat

20 related employer businesses in Sawyer County.

  • Auto Repair: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Collision Repair: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Boat Dealerships: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.

  • Auto Parts: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

Medical Practices

19 related employer businesses in Sawyer County.

Hospitality & Travel

16 related employer businesses in Sawyer 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.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

14 related employer businesses in Sawyer County.

Logistics & Transportation

13 related employer businesses in Sawyer County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

9 related employer businesses in Sawyer County.

  • Gas Stations: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Senior Care & Living

8 related employer businesses in Sawyer County.

Wholesale & Distribution

7 related employer businesses in Sawyer County.

Education & Childcare

4 related employer businesses in Sawyer County.

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

Energy & Utilities

4 related employer businesses in Sawyer County.

Beauty & Personal Care

3 related employer businesses in Sawyer County.

  • Hair Salons: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Health & Fitness

3 related employer businesses in Sawyer County.

Technology & Media

3 related employer businesses in Sawyer County.

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

Working with owners in Sawyer County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Sawyer County ask

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