Selling a Business in Owensboro

Owners in the Owensboro area sell to local buyers and to buyers from other markets. The area has 2,546 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

Owensboro by the numbers

2,546

2,546

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

83%

83%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

7,332

7,332

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

44,705

44,705

EMPLOYMENT

$2.2 billion

$2.2 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

1,196

1,196

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 Owensboro compares

  • The Owensboro area ranks 5th of 6 Kentucky metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 2.9% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Health care and social assistance makes up 15% of employer businesses in Owensboro, compared with 13% in Kentucky.

  • 1,196 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • The Owensboro area ranks 5th of 6 Kentucky metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 2.9% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Health care and social assistance makes up 15% of employer businesses in Owensboro, compared with 13% in Kentucky.

  • 1,196 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 429 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 387 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 272 employer businesses

  • Construction: 239 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 211 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 429 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 387 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 272 employer businesses

  • Construction: 239 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 211 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 Owensboro

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

247 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

  • General Contracting: 57 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 44 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 44 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 39 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.

  • Electrical: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Masonry: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

Medical Practices

220 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

Restaurants & Food

219 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

Financial & Professional Services

160 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

Retail Stores

148 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

Automotive & Boat

98 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

  • Auto Repair: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Parts: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Collision Repair: 9 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: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Manufacturing

72 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

Gas Stations & Convenience

71 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

Logistics & Transportation

69 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

Wholesale & Distribution

45 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

Home Services

38 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

34 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

Health & Fitness

30 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

Hospitality & Travel

23 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

  • Hotels: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Education & Childcare

20 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

  • Daycare Centers: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

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

Entertainment & Recreation

18 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Bars & Pubs: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Golf Courses: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Bowling Alleys: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x 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.

Senior Care & Living

18 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

Technology & Media

17 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

Beauty & Personal Care

14 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

  • Day Spas: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Hair Salons: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

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

Energy & Utilities

9 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

Pet Services

8 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

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

247 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

  • General Contracting: 57 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 44 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 44 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 39 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.

  • Electrical: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Masonry: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

Medical Practices

220 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

Restaurants & Food

219 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

Financial & Professional Services

160 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

Retail Stores

148 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

Automotive & Boat

98 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

  • Auto Repair: 31 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Auto Parts: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Collision Repair: 9 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: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

Manufacturing

72 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

Gas Stations & Convenience

71 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

Logistics & Transportation

69 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

Wholesale & Distribution

45 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

Home Services

38 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

34 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

Health & Fitness

30 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

Hospitality & Travel

23 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

  • Hotels: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Education & Childcare

20 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

  • Daycare Centers: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

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

Entertainment & Recreation

18 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Bars & Pubs: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Golf Courses: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Bowling Alleys: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x 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.

Senior Care & Living

18 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

Technology & Media

17 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

Beauty & Personal Care

14 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

  • Day Spas: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Hair Salons: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

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

Energy & Utilities

9 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

Pet Services

8 related employer businesses in Owensboro.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

Counties in this metro area

Working with owners in Owensboro

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Owensboro ask

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

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 Owensboro?

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 Owensboro

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