Selling a Business in Stone County

Stone County has 736 employer businesses, and 94% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows the local mix of industries and how a sale is handled here.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Stone County by the numbers

736

736

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

94%

94%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

3,257

3,257

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

5,681

5,681

EMPLOYMENT

$207 million

$207 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

263

263

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 Stone County compares

  • Stone County ranks 32nd of 115 Missouri counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 7.6% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Construction makes up 18% of employer businesses in Stone County, compared with 10% in Missouri.

  • 263 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Stone County ranks 32nd of 115 Missouri counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 7.6% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Construction makes up 18% of employer businesses in Stone County, compared with 10% in Missouri.

  • 263 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Construction: 134 employer businesses

  • Retail: 110 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 104 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 89 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 46 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Construction: 134 employer businesses

  • Retail: 110 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 104 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 89 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 46 employer businesses

Every kind of business we sell in Stone County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Stone 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

125 related employer businesses in Stone County.

  • General Contracting: 32 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Landscaping: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Interior Finishing: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

58 related employer businesses in Stone County.

Financial & Professional Services

33 related employer businesses in Stone County.

Automotive & Boat

29 related employer businesses in Stone County.

  • Marinas: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Auto Repair: 6 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.

  • Boat Dealerships: 5 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.

Retail Stores

29 related employer businesses in Stone County.

Hospitality & Travel

27 related employer businesses in Stone County.

  • Hotels: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 23 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.

Gas Stations & Convenience

25 related employer businesses in Stone County.

  • Gas Stations: 22 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.

Medical Practices

16 related employer businesses in Stone County.

Home Services

13 related employer businesses in Stone County.

Logistics & Transportation

12 related employer businesses in Stone County.

Manufacturing

11 related employer businesses in Stone County.

Senior Care & Living

5 related employer businesses in Stone County.

Health & Fitness

4 related employer businesses in Stone County.

Pet Services

4 related employer businesses in Stone County.

Beauty & Personal Care

3 related employer businesses in Stone County.

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

Education & Childcare

3 related employer businesses in Stone County.

  • Daycare Centers: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in Stone County.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Stone 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

125 related employer businesses in Stone County.

  • General Contracting: 32 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Landscaping: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Interior Finishing: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

58 related employer businesses in Stone County.

Financial & Professional Services

33 related employer businesses in Stone County.

Automotive & Boat

29 related employer businesses in Stone County.

  • Marinas: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Auto Repair: 6 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.

  • Boat Dealerships: 5 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.

Retail Stores

29 related employer businesses in Stone County.

Hospitality & Travel

27 related employer businesses in Stone County.

  • Hotels: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 23 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.

Gas Stations & Convenience

25 related employer businesses in Stone County.

  • Gas Stations: 22 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.

Medical Practices

16 related employer businesses in Stone County.

Home Services

13 related employer businesses in Stone County.

Logistics & Transportation

12 related employer businesses in Stone County.

Manufacturing

11 related employer businesses in Stone County.

Senior Care & Living

5 related employer businesses in Stone County.

Health & Fitness

4 related employer businesses in Stone County.

Pet Services

4 related employer businesses in Stone County.

Beauty & Personal Care

3 related employer businesses in Stone County.

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

Education & Childcare

3 related employer businesses in Stone County.

  • Daycare Centers: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

3 related employer businesses in Stone County.

Working with owners in Stone County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Stone County ask

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