Selling a Business in Great Falls

Owners in the Great Falls area sell to local buyers and to buyers from other markets. The area has 2,472 employer businesses, and 87% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows what is here and how a sale is handled.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Great Falls by the numbers

2,472

2,472

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

87%

87%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

5,799

5,799

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

30,050

30,050

EMPLOYMENT

$1.5 billion

$1.5 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

1,126

1,126

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 Great Falls compares

  • The Great Falls area ranks 5th of 5 Montana metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 0.7% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Health care and social assistance makes up 14% of employer businesses in Great Falls, compared with 11% in Montana.

  • 1,126 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • The Great Falls area ranks 5th of 5 Montana metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 0.7% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Health care and social assistance makes up 14% of employer businesses in Great Falls, compared with 11% in Montana.

  • 1,126 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Health care and social assistance: 347 employer businesses

  • Retail: 321 employer businesses

  • Construction: 290 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 248 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 229 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Health care and social assistance: 347 employer businesses

  • Retail: 321 employer businesses

  • Construction: 290 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 248 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 229 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

Every kind of business we sell in Great Falls

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Great Falls. 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

302 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

  • General Contracting: 99 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 43 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 43 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 40 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 32 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 30 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Civil Engineering: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

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

  • Masonry: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

Restaurants & Food

175 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

Financial & Professional Services

151 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

Medical Practices

144 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

Retail Stores

122 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

Automotive & Boat

104 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

  • Auto Repair: 37 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Parts: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Collision Repair: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Logistics & Transportation

60 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

Entertainment & Recreation

58 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

  • Bars & Pubs: 44 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 44 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x 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.

Home Services

57 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

Manufacturing

56 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

Wholesale & Distribution

49 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

Education & Childcare

37 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

  • Daycare Centers: 37 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

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

Hospitality & Travel

36 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

  • Hotels: 30 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 30 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.

  • Transportation Services: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Gas Stations & Convenience

34 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

Senior Care & Living

30 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

Health & Fitness

25 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

22 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

Beauty & Personal Care

21 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

  • Hair Salons: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

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

Pet Services

15 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

Technology & Media

13 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

Energy & Utilities

5 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Great Falls. 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

302 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

  • General Contracting: 99 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 43 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 43 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 40 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 32 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 30 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Civil Engineering: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

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

  • Masonry: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

Restaurants & Food

175 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

Financial & Professional Services

151 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

Medical Practices

144 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

Retail Stores

122 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

Automotive & Boat

104 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

  • Auto Repair: 37 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Parts: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Collision Repair: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Washes: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Logistics & Transportation

60 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

Entertainment & Recreation

58 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

  • Bars & Pubs: 44 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 44 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x 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.

Home Services

57 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

Manufacturing

56 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

Wholesale & Distribution

49 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

Education & Childcare

37 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

  • Daycare Centers: 37 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

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

Hospitality & Travel

36 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

  • Hotels: 30 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 30 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.

  • Transportation Services: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Gas Stations & Convenience

34 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

Senior Care & Living

30 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

Health & Fitness

25 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

22 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

Beauty & Personal Care

21 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

  • Hair Salons: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

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

Pet Services

15 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

Technology & Media

13 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

Energy & Utilities

5 related employer businesses in Great Falls.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

Counties in this metro area

Working with owners in Great Falls

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Great Falls ask

How long does it take to sell a business in Great Falls?

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 Great Falls?

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 Great Falls

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