Selling a Business in Davenport

Owners in the Davenport area sell to local buyers and to buyers from other markets. The area has 8,812 employer businesses, and 82% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows what is here and how a sale is handled.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Davenport by the numbers

8,812

8,812

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

82%

82%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

23,179

23,179

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

166,095

166,095

EMPLOYMENT

$9.6 billion

$9.6 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

3,915

3,915

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 Davenport compares

  • The Davenport area ranks 2nd of 8 Iowa metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 0.1% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Accommodation and food service makes up 11% of employer businesses in Davenport, compared with 9% in Iowa.

  • 3,915 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • The Davenport area ranks 2nd of 8 Iowa metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 0.1% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Accommodation and food service makes up 11% of employer businesses in Davenport, compared with 9% in Iowa.

  • 3,915 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 1,209 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 1,083 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 1,003 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 963 employer businesses

  • Construction: 820 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 1,209 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 1,083 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 1,003 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 963 employer businesses

  • Construction: 820 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 Davenport

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

Every kind of business we sell in Davenport

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Davenport. 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

879 related employer businesses in Davenport.

  • General Contracting: 218 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 144 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 126 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 106 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Plumbing: 94 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 94 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 63 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 49 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 47 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Remediation & Restoration: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Restaurants & Food

833 related employer businesses in Davenport.

Medical Practices

583 related employer businesses in Davenport.

Financial & Professional Services

497 related employer businesses in Davenport.

Retail Stores

428 related employer businesses in Davenport.

Automotive & Boat

366 related employer businesses in Davenport.

  • Auto Repair: 134 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 71 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Parts: 69 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Collision Repair: 37 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 37 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

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

  • Marinas: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Logistics & Transportation

281 related employer businesses in Davenport.

Manufacturing

251 related employer businesses in Davenport.

Wholesale & Distribution

219 related employer businesses in Davenport.

Gas Stations & Convenience

211 related employer businesses in Davenport.

Entertainment & Recreation

198 related employer businesses in Davenport.

  • Bars & Pubs: 148 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 148 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Bowling Alleys: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Arcades & FECs: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.1x - 3.6x SDE.

  • 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.

Beauty & Personal Care

131 related employer businesses in Davenport.

  • Hair Salons: 82 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Barber Shops: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.25x SDE.

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

Home Services

123 related employer businesses in Davenport.

Hospitality & Travel

83 related employer businesses in Davenport.

  • Hotels: 59 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 59 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

  • Travel Agencies: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.2x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

82 related employer businesses in Davenport.

Technology & Media

76 related employer businesses in Davenport.

Education & Childcare

75 related employer businesses in Davenport.

  • Daycare Centers: 75 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

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

Health & Fitness

69 related employer businesses in Davenport.

Senior Care & Living

61 related employer businesses in Davenport.

Energy & Utilities

45 related employer businesses in Davenport.

Pet Services

43 related employer businesses in Davenport.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Davenport. 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

879 related employer businesses in Davenport.

  • General Contracting: 218 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 144 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 126 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 106 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Plumbing: 94 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 94 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 63 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 49 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 47 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Remediation & Restoration: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Restaurants & Food

833 related employer businesses in Davenport.

Medical Practices

583 related employer businesses in Davenport.

Financial & Professional Services

497 related employer businesses in Davenport.

Retail Stores

428 related employer businesses in Davenport.

Automotive & Boat

366 related employer businesses in Davenport.

  • Auto Repair: 134 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 71 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Parts: 69 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Collision Repair: 37 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 37 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

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

  • Marinas: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: Cap Rate or 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Logistics & Transportation

281 related employer businesses in Davenport.

Manufacturing

251 related employer businesses in Davenport.

Wholesale & Distribution

219 related employer businesses in Davenport.

Gas Stations & Convenience

211 related employer businesses in Davenport.

Entertainment & Recreation

198 related employer businesses in Davenport.

  • Bars & Pubs: 148 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 148 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Bowling Alleys: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Arcades & FECs: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.1x - 3.6x SDE.

  • 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.

Beauty & Personal Care

131 related employer businesses in Davenport.

  • Hair Salons: 82 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Barber Shops: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.25x SDE.

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

Home Services

123 related employer businesses in Davenport.

Hospitality & Travel

83 related employer businesses in Davenport.

  • Hotels: 59 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 59 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 17 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

  • Travel Agencies: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.2x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

82 related employer businesses in Davenport.

Technology & Media

76 related employer businesses in Davenport.

Education & Childcare

75 related employer businesses in Davenport.

  • Daycare Centers: 75 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

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

Health & Fitness

69 related employer businesses in Davenport.

Senior Care & Living

61 related employer businesses in Davenport.

Energy & Utilities

45 related employer businesses in Davenport.

Pet Services

43 related employer businesses in Davenport.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

Counties in this metro area

Working with owners in Davenport

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Davenport ask

How long does it take to sell a business in Davenport?

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 Davenport?

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 Davenport

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