Selling a Business in La Crosse

Owners in the La Crosse area sell to local buyers and to buyers from other markets. The area has 4,231 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

La Crosse by the numbers

4,231

4,231

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

82%

82%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

11,722

11,722

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

78,124

78,124

EMPLOYMENT

$4.3 billion

$4.3 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

1,897

1,897

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 La Crosse compares

  • The La Crosse area ranks 6th of 13 Wisconsin metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 2.0% between 2018 and 2023.

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

  • 1,897 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • The La Crosse area ranks 6th of 13 Wisconsin metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 2.0% between 2018 and 2023.

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

  • 1,897 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 524 employer businesses

  • Construction: 469 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 468 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 467 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 459 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 524 employer businesses

  • Construction: 469 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 468 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 467 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 459 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 La Crosse

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in La Crosse. 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

499 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

  • General Contracting: 123 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 79 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 69 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 66 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Plumbing: 64 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 64 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 41 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

312 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

Financial & Professional Services

284 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

Retail Stores

221 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

Medical Practices

184 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

Manufacturing

172 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

Automotive & Boat

154 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

  • Auto Repair: 71 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 32 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

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

  • Car Washes: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Logistics & Transportation

145 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

Entertainment & Recreation

144 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

  • Bars & Pubs: 105 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 105 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Bowling Alleys: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Arcades & FECs: 3 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.

Wholesale & Distribution

98 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

Hospitality & Travel

70 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

  • Hotels: 44 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 44 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Travel Agencies: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.2x SDE.

Beauty & Personal Care

69 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

  • Hair Salons: 43 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Barber Shops: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.25x SDE.

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

Home Services

66 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

Gas Stations & Convenience

61 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

Senior Care & Living

47 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

Education & Childcare

45 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

  • Daycare Centers: 40 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

  • Tutoring Centers: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.

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

Technology & Media

45 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

Health & Fitness

44 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

39 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

Energy & Utilities

27 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

Pet Services

20 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in La Crosse. 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

499 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

  • General Contracting: 123 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 79 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 69 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 66 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Plumbing: 64 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 64 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 41 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

312 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

Financial & Professional Services

284 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

Retail Stores

221 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

Medical Practices

184 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

Manufacturing

172 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

Automotive & Boat

154 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

  • Auto Repair: 71 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 32 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

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

  • Car Washes: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Logistics & Transportation

145 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

Entertainment & Recreation

144 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

  • Bars & Pubs: 105 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 105 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Bowling Alleys: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Arcades & FECs: 3 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.

Wholesale & Distribution

98 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

Hospitality & Travel

70 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

  • Hotels: 44 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 44 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

  • Campgrounds & RV Parks: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Travel Agencies: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.3x - 3.2x SDE.

Beauty & Personal Care

69 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

  • Hair Salons: 43 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Barber Shops: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.25x SDE.

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

Home Services

66 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

Gas Stations & Convenience

61 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

Senior Care & Living

47 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

Education & Childcare

45 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

  • Daycare Centers: 40 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

  • Tutoring Centers: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.

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

Technology & Media

45 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

Health & Fitness

44 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

39 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

Energy & Utilities

27 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

Pet Services

20 related employer businesses in La Crosse.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

Counties in this metro area

Working with owners in La Crosse

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in La Crosse ask

How long does it take to sell a business in La Crosse?

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 La Crosse?

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 La Crosse

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