Selling a Business in Steuben County

Steuben County has 965 employer businesses, and 84% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows the local mix of industries and how a sale is handled here.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Steuben County by the numbers

965

965

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

84%

84%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

2,416

2,416

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

14,322

14,322

EMPLOYMENT

$635 million

$635 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

390

390

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 Steuben County compares

  • Steuben County ranks 34th of 92 Indiana counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 1.0% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 9% of employer businesses in Steuben County, compared with 5% in Indiana.

  • 390 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Steuben County ranks 34th of 92 Indiana counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 1.0% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 9% of employer businesses in Steuben County, compared with 5% in Indiana.

  • 390 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 153 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 118 employer businesses

  • Construction: 95 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 89 employer businesses

  • Manufacturing: 83 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 153 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 118 employer businesses

  • Construction: 95 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 89 employer businesses

  • Manufacturing: 83 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Steuben County

Retail, repair, personal care and other services, construction, accommodation and food service

Every kind of business we sell in Steuben County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Steuben 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

104 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

  • General Contracting: 36 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Plumbing: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

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

  • Civil Engineering: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

77 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

Financial & Professional Services

58 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

Manufacturing

54 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

Retail Stores

53 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

Automotive & Boat

52 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

  • Auto Repair: 17 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.

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

  • Collision Repair: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Marinas: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

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

  • Car Washes: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Logistics & Transportation

36 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

Medical Practices

32 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

22 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

  • Gas Stations: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Home Services

14 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

Wholesale & Distribution

14 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

Beauty & Personal Care

12 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

  • Hair Salons: 7 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.

Hospitality & Travel

9 related employer businesses in Steuben 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.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Entertainment & Recreation

7 related employer businesses in Steuben 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.

  • Golf Courses: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Health & Fitness

6 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

Education & Childcare

5 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

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

Senior Care & Living

5 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

Technology & Media

4 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

  • Creative Agencies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 3.0x SDE.

Pet Services

3 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Steuben 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

104 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

  • General Contracting: 36 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Plumbing: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

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

  • Civil Engineering: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

77 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

Financial & Professional Services

58 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

Manufacturing

54 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

Retail Stores

53 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

Automotive & Boat

52 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

  • Auto Repair: 17 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.

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

  • Collision Repair: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Marinas: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

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

  • Car Washes: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Logistics & Transportation

36 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

Medical Practices

32 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

22 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

  • Gas Stations: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Home Services

14 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

Wholesale & Distribution

14 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

Beauty & Personal Care

12 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

  • Hair Salons: 7 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.

Hospitality & Travel

9 related employer businesses in Steuben 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.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Entertainment & Recreation

7 related employer businesses in Steuben 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.

  • Golf Courses: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Health & Fitness

6 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

Education & Childcare

5 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

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

Senior Care & Living

5 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

Technology & Media

4 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

  • Creative Agencies: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 3.0x SDE.

Pet Services

3 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in Steuben County.

Working with owners in Steuben County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Steuben County ask

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