Selling a Business in Washburn County

Washburn County has 499 employer businesses, and 91% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows the local mix of industries and how a sale is handled here.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Washburn County by the numbers

499

499

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

91%

91%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,498

1,498

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

4,261

4,261

EMPLOYMENT

$187 million

$187 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

171

171

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 Washburn County compares

  • Washburn County ranks 51st of 72 Wisconsin counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 5.1% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Real estate and rental makes up 5% of employer businesses in Washburn County, compared with 4% in Wisconsin.

  • 171 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Washburn County ranks 51st of 72 Wisconsin counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 5.1% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Real estate and rental makes up 5% of employer businesses in Washburn County, compared with 4% in Wisconsin.

  • 171 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Accommodation and food service: 68 employer businesses

  • Retail: 67 employer businesses

  • Construction: 62 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 50 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 47 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Accommodation and food service: 68 employer businesses

  • Retail: 67 employer businesses

  • Construction: 62 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 50 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 47 employer businesses

Every kind of business we sell in Washburn County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Washburn 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

65 related employer businesses in Washburn County.

  • Landscaping: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • 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: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Electrical: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

35 related employer businesses in Washburn County.

Financial & Professional Services

28 related employer businesses in Washburn County.

Manufacturing

27 related employer businesses in Washburn County.

Retail Stores

22 related employer businesses in Washburn County.

Entertainment & Recreation

19 related employer businesses in Washburn County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

Logistics & Transportation

17 related employer businesses in Washburn County.

Automotive & Boat

16 related employer businesses in Washburn County.

  • Auto Repair: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Boat Dealerships: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.

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

Medical Practices

13 related employer businesses in Washburn County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

10 related employer businesses in Washburn County.

  • Gas Stations: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Hospitality & Travel

8 related employer businesses in Washburn 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: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Energy & Utilities

7 related employer businesses in Washburn County.

Beauty & Personal Care

3 related employer businesses in Washburn County.

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

Senior Care & Living

3 related employer businesses in Washburn County.

Technology & Media

3 related employer businesses in Washburn County.

  • Creative Agencies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 3.0x SDE.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Washburn 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

65 related employer businesses in Washburn County.

  • Landscaping: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • 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: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Electrical: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

35 related employer businesses in Washburn County.

Financial & Professional Services

28 related employer businesses in Washburn County.

Manufacturing

27 related employer businesses in Washburn County.

Retail Stores

22 related employer businesses in Washburn County.

Entertainment & Recreation

19 related employer businesses in Washburn County.

  • Bars & Pubs: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

Logistics & Transportation

17 related employer businesses in Washburn County.

Automotive & Boat

16 related employer businesses in Washburn County.

  • Auto Repair: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Boat Dealerships: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.

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

Medical Practices

13 related employer businesses in Washburn County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

10 related employer businesses in Washburn County.

  • Gas Stations: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Hospitality & Travel

8 related employer businesses in Washburn 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: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Energy & Utilities

7 related employer businesses in Washburn County.

Beauty & Personal Care

3 related employer businesses in Washburn County.

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

Senior Care & Living

3 related employer businesses in Washburn County.

Technology & Media

3 related employer businesses in Washburn County.

  • Creative Agencies: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 3.0x SDE.

Working with owners in Washburn County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Washburn County ask

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