Selling a Business in Paducah

Owners in the Paducah area sell to local buyers and to buyers from other markets. The area has 2,649 employer businesses, and 84% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows what is here and how a sale is handled.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Paducah by the numbers

2,649

2,649

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

84%

84%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

7,413

7,413

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

41,520

41,520

EMPLOYMENT

$2.2 billion

$2.2 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

1,284

1,284

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 Paducah compares

  • The Paducah area ranks 4th of 6 Kentucky metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 1.6% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Wholesale makes up 5% of employer businesses in Paducah, compared with 4% in Kentucky.

  • 1,284 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • The Paducah area ranks 4th of 6 Kentucky metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 1.6% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Wholesale makes up 5% of employer businesses in Paducah, compared with 4% in Kentucky.

  • 1,284 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 485 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 349 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 310 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 274 employer businesses

  • Construction: 218 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 485 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 349 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 310 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 274 employer businesses

  • Construction: 218 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 Paducah

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

Every kind of business we sell in Paducah

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

Restaurants & Food

243 related employer businesses in Paducah.

Construction & Engineering

234 related employer businesses in Paducah.

  • General Contracting: 51 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.

  • Electrical: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Roofing & Siding: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Remediation & Restoration: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

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

  • Carpentry & Framing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Retail Stores

203 related employer businesses in Paducah.

Medical Practices

199 related employer businesses in Paducah.

Financial & Professional Services

138 related employer businesses in Paducah.

Automotive & Boat

117 related employer businesses in Paducah.

  • Auto Repair: 35 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Collision Repair: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Dealerships: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Car Washes: 11 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.

  • Boat Dealerships: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.

Logistics & Transportation

59 related employer businesses in Paducah.

Wholesale & Distribution

58 related employer businesses in Paducah.

Gas Stations & Convenience

55 related employer businesses in Paducah.

Manufacturing

53 related employer businesses in Paducah.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

47 related employer businesses in Paducah.

Hospitality & Travel

38 related employer businesses in Paducah.

  • Hotels: 35 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 35 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

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

Home Services

37 related employer businesses in Paducah.

Senior Care & Living

24 related employer businesses in Paducah.

Education & Childcare

21 related employer businesses in Paducah.

  • Daycare Centers: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

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

Energy & Utilities

20 related employer businesses in Paducah.

Entertainment & Recreation

19 related employer businesses in Paducah.

  • Bars & Pubs: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Golf Courses: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 3 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.

Technology & Media

18 related employer businesses in Paducah.

Beauty & Personal Care

15 related employer businesses in Paducah.

  • Hair Salons: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

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

Health & Fitness

12 related employer businesses in Paducah.

Pet Services

10 related employer businesses in Paducah.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

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

Restaurants & Food

243 related employer businesses in Paducah.

Construction & Engineering

234 related employer businesses in Paducah.

  • General Contracting: 51 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.

  • Electrical: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Interior Finishing: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Civil Engineering: 24 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Roofing & Siding: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Remediation & Restoration: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.

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

  • Carpentry & Framing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Retail Stores

203 related employer businesses in Paducah.

Medical Practices

199 related employer businesses in Paducah.

Financial & Professional Services

138 related employer businesses in Paducah.

Automotive & Boat

117 related employer businesses in Paducah.

  • Auto Repair: 35 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Collision Repair: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Car Dealerships: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Car Washes: 11 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.

  • Boat Dealerships: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA.

Logistics & Transportation

59 related employer businesses in Paducah.

Wholesale & Distribution

58 related employer businesses in Paducah.

Gas Stations & Convenience

55 related employer businesses in Paducah.

Manufacturing

53 related employer businesses in Paducah.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

47 related employer businesses in Paducah.

Hospitality & Travel

38 related employer businesses in Paducah.

  • Hotels: 35 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 35 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

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

Home Services

37 related employer businesses in Paducah.

Senior Care & Living

24 related employer businesses in Paducah.

Education & Childcare

21 related employer businesses in Paducah.

  • Daycare Centers: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

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

Energy & Utilities

20 related employer businesses in Paducah.

Entertainment & Recreation

19 related employer businesses in Paducah.

  • Bars & Pubs: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Golf Courses: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 3 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.

Technology & Media

18 related employer businesses in Paducah.

Beauty & Personal Care

15 related employer businesses in Paducah.

  • Hair Salons: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Day Spas: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

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

Health & Fitness

12 related employer businesses in Paducah.

Pet Services

10 related employer businesses in Paducah.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

Counties in this metro area

Working with owners in Paducah

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Paducah ask

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

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 Paducah?

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 Paducah

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