Selling a Business in Walworth County

Walworth County has 2,829 employer businesses, and 86% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows the local mix of industries and how a sale is handled here.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Walworth County by the numbers

2,829

2,829

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

86%

86%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

8,082

8,082

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

39,077

39,077

EMPLOYMENT

$1.9 billion

$1.9 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

1,089

1,089

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 Walworth County compares

  • Walworth County ranks 14th of 72 Wisconsin counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 2.9% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Administrative and support services makes up 7% of employer businesses in Walworth County, compared with 6% in Wisconsin.

  • 1,089 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Walworth County ranks 14th of 72 Wisconsin counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 2.9% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Administrative and support services makes up 7% of employer businesses in Walworth County, compared with 6% in Wisconsin.

  • 1,089 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 364 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 345 employer businesses

  • Construction: 345 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 277 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 235 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 364 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 345 employer businesses

  • Construction: 345 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 277 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 235 employer businesses

Every kind of business we sell in Walworth County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Walworth 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

412 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

  • Landscaping: 104 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • General Contracting: 94 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 65 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 49 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 49 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Electrical: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

263 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

Manufacturing

152 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

Financial & Professional Services

149 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

Retail Stores

138 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

Medical Practices

117 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

Logistics & Transportation

101 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

Automotive & Boat

98 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

  • Auto Repair: 39 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

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

  • Boat Dealerships: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.

  • Marinas: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Collision Repair: 6 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.

Entertainment & Recreation

74 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 47 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 47 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Bowling Alleys: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x EBITDA.

Home Services

62 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

  • Residential Cleaning: 35 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.

  • Commercial Cleaning: 35 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.

  • Property Management: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Pest Control: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.

  • Security Systems: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.9x EBITDA.

Gas Stations & Convenience

60 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

  • Gas Stations: 56 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Beauty & Personal Care

49 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

  • Hair Salons: 35 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

Hospitality & Travel

45 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

  • Hotels: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Travel Agencies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.2x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

40 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

Senior Care & Living

31 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

Technology & Media

25 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

Education & Childcare

19 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

  • Daycare Centers: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

15 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

Health & Fitness

15 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

Pet Services

14 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

9 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Walworth 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

412 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

  • Landscaping: 104 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • General Contracting: 94 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 65 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 49 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 49 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Electrical: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

263 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

Manufacturing

152 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

Financial & Professional Services

149 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

Retail Stores

138 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

Medical Practices

117 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

Logistics & Transportation

101 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

Automotive & Boat

98 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

  • Auto Repair: 39 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

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

  • Boat Dealerships: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.

  • Marinas: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Collision Repair: 6 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.

Entertainment & Recreation

74 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 47 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 47 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Bowling Alleys: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x EBITDA.

Home Services

62 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

  • Residential Cleaning: 35 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.

  • Commercial Cleaning: 35 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.

  • Property Management: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Pest Control: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.

  • Security Systems: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.9x EBITDA.

Gas Stations & Convenience

60 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

  • Gas Stations: 56 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Beauty & Personal Care

49 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

  • Hair Salons: 35 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

Hospitality & Travel

45 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

  • Hotels: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Travel Agencies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.2x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

40 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

Senior Care & Living

31 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

Technology & Media

25 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

Education & Childcare

19 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

  • Daycare Centers: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

15 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

Health & Fitness

15 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

Pet Services

14 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

9 related employer businesses in Walworth County.

Working with owners in Walworth County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Walworth County ask

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