Selling a Business in Cape Girardeau

Owners in the Cape Girardeau area sell to local buyers and to buyers from other markets. The area has 2,609 employer businesses, and 83% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows what is here and how a sale is handled.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Cape Girardeau by the numbers

2,609

2,609

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

83%

83%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

7,612

7,612

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

41,675

41,675

EMPLOYMENT

$2.0 billion

$2.0 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

1,232

1,232

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 Cape Girardeau compares

  • The Cape Girardeau area ranks 8th of 8 Missouri metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 1.8% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 15% of employer businesses in Cape Girardeau, compared with 13% in Missouri.

  • 1,232 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • The Cape Girardeau area ranks 8th of 8 Missouri metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 1.8% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 15% of employer businesses in Cape Girardeau, compared with 13% in Missouri.

  • 1,232 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 401 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 349 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 284 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 246 employer businesses

  • Construction: 237 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 401 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 349 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 284 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 246 employer businesses

  • Construction: 237 employer businesses

What buyers look for

Buyers look first at profit that holds up under review. Three years of tax returns and profit and loss statements that match each other carry more weight than a high number that cannot be shown.

  • How much of the business depends on the owner

  • How concentrated sales are among a few customers

  • The lease, its remaining term and the landlord's consent to a sale

  • The condition of equipment and the contracts that transfer

Buyers look first at profit that holds up under review. Three years of tax returns and profit and loss statements that match each other carry more weight than a high number that cannot be shown.

  • How much of the business depends on the owner

  • How concentrated sales are among a few customers

  • The lease, its remaining term and the landlord's consent to a sale

  • The condition of equipment and the contracts that transfer

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Cape Girardeau

Retail, health care and social assistance, repair, personal care and other services, accommodation and food service

Every kind of business we sell in Cape Girardeau

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Cape Girardeau. 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

248 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

  • General Contracting: 77 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 34 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 32 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Electrical: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

213 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

Financial & Professional Services

192 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

Medical Practices

190 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

Retail Stores

158 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

Automotive & Boat

122 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

  • Auto Repair: 46 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Parts: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Collision Repair: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Logistics & Transportation

102 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

Manufacturing

78 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

Wholesale & Distribution

60 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

Gas Stations & Convenience

52 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

39 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

Home Services

38 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

Senior Care & Living

37 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

Beauty & Personal Care

34 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

  • Hair Salons: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Medical Spas. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x EBITDA.

Health & Fitness

33 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

Entertainment & Recreation

25 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

  • Bars & Pubs: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Event Venues. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 3.5x Earnings.

  • Banquet Halls. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 4.5x Earnings.

  • Escape Rooms. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 3.5x SDE.

Education & Childcare

22 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

  • Daycare Centers: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

  • Preschools. Typical sale multiple: 3.12x - 4.0x SDE.

Hospitality & Travel

17 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

  • Hotels: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

15 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

Technology & Media

12 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

Pet Services

8 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Cape Girardeau. 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

248 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

  • General Contracting: 77 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 34 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 32 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Electrical: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

213 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

Financial & Professional Services

192 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

Medical Practices

190 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

Retail Stores

158 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

Automotive & Boat

122 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

  • Auto Repair: 46 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Parts: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Collision Repair: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Logistics & Transportation

102 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

Manufacturing

78 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

Wholesale & Distribution

60 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

Gas Stations & Convenience

52 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

39 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

Home Services

38 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

Senior Care & Living

37 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

Beauty & Personal Care

34 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

  • Hair Salons: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Medical Spas. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x EBITDA.

Health & Fitness

33 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

Entertainment & Recreation

25 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

  • Bars & Pubs: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Event Venues. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 3.5x Earnings.

  • Banquet Halls. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 4.5x Earnings.

  • Escape Rooms. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 3.5x SDE.

Education & Childcare

22 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

  • Daycare Centers: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

  • Preschools. Typical sale multiple: 3.12x - 4.0x SDE.

Hospitality & Travel

17 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

  • Hotels: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Energy & Utilities

15 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

Technology & Media

12 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

Pet Services

8 related employer businesses in Cape Girardeau.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

Counties in this metro area

Working with owners in Cape Girardeau

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Cape Girardeau ask

How long does it take to sell a business in Cape Girardeau?

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 Cape Girardeau?

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 Cape Girardeau

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