The three largest of those industries in Illinois are insurance agencies and brokerages (5,830 establishments), dental practices (5,820), and accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms (5,095). WETYR buys qualifying Illinois businesses directly and confidentially, and, with an owner's OK, introduces Illinois owners to registry buyers whose buy box fits. Owners and buyers then deal directly with their own advisors.
The largest owner-operated industries in Illinois
Illinois ranks 5th in the country for insurance agencies and brokerages, with 5,830 establishments, or $22,000 per $500K of the U.S. total, against 3.9% of the U.S. population. Here is how the top fifteen stack up in Illinois.
| Industry | Establishments | Per 100k residents | Index vs U.S. | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies and brokerages | 5,830 | 45.7 | 1.13 | 5th |
| Dental practices | 5,820 | 45.6 | 1.12 | 5th |
| Accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms | 5,095 | 39.9 | 0.98 | 5th |
| Landscaping and tree services | 5,009 | 39.3 | 1.12 | 6th |
| Local general freight trucking | 4,648 | 36.4 | 2.72 | 2nd |
| Plumbing and HVAC contractors | 4,135 | 32.4 | 0.98 | 5th |
| General auto repair shops | 3,903 | 30.6 | 1.21 | 6th |
| Gas stations with convenience stores | 3,471 | 27.2 | 0.94 | 8th |
| Childcare centers | 3,065 | 24.0 | 1.01 | 6th |
| Electrical contractors | 2,690 | 21.1 | 0.86 | 7th |
| Commercial cleaning and janitorial services | 2,503 | 19.6 | 0.98 | 5th |
| Physical therapy clinics | 2,343 | 18.4 | 1.23 | 5th |
| IT services and computer systems design | 2,240 | 17.6 | 1.04 | 8th |
| Fitness centers and gyms | 1,585 | 12.4 | 1.04 | 6th |
| Pharmacies and drug stores | 1,527 | 12.0 | 0.96 | 8th |
Where Illinois is over and under the national average
Per resident, Illinois runs heaviest in local general freight trucking (4,648 establishments, index 2.72, 2nd nationally by count); plate work and fabricated metal shops (66 establishments, index 1.94, 6th nationally by count); funeral homes (705 establishments, index 1.35, 6th nationally by count). That top index of 2.72 means 172% more local general freight trucking per Illinois resident than the U.S. average. Dense categories tend to have more local buyers at exit.
At the other end, Illinois is thinnest in septic and drainage services (index 0.46) and pest control companies (index 0.61). For an acquirer, an underweight category is worth a second look: scarcity can support pricing, but it also narrows the local buyer pool at exit.
Illinois counties with the most owner-operated businesses
| County or area | Establishments | Median household income | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cook County | 27,352 | $78,304 | $293,700 |
| Dupage County | 7,437 | $107,035 | $361,700 |
| Lake County | 4,721 | $104,553 | $313,700 |
| Will County | 4,242 | $103,678 | $283,600 |
| Kane County | 3,198 | $96,400 | $290,100 |
| Mchenry County | 2,067 | $100,101 | $270,600 |
| Winnebago County | 1,427 | $61,738 | $146,800 |
| Madison County | 1,233 | $71,759 | $159,400 |
| St Clair County | 1,101 | $68,915 | $158,500 |
| Sangamon County | 934 | $71,653 | $162,400 |
Cook County, Dupage County, Lake County hold 58% of the 68,187 tracked establishments across 99 Illinois counties or areas. Median household income runs from $44,847 in Jackson County to $107,035 in Dupage County (2.4x), which changes what a buyer underwrites.
Illinois metro markets
Chicago, Aurora, Rockford, Joliet, Naperville, Springfield and Peoria are the 7 Illinois metros with dedicated WETYR city pages, linked below for insurance agencies and brokerages and dental practices.
- Chicago, about 2,718,782 residents (Cook County); nearest markets Evanston (12 mi), Hammond (21 mi)
- Aurora, about 199,963 residents (Kane County); nearest markets Naperville (9 mi), Carol Stream (14 mi)
- Rockford, about 150,251 residents (Winnebago County); nearest markets Janesville (29 mi), Aurora (53 mi)
- Joliet, about 147,806 residents (Will County); nearest markets Naperville (16 mi), Aurora (20 mi)
- Naperville, about 144,864 residents (Will County); nearest markets Aurora (9 mi), Carol Stream (11 mi)
- Springfield, about 117,006 residents (Sangamon County); nearest markets Decatur (37 mi), Bloomington (60 mi)
- Peoria, about 116,513 residents (Peoria County); nearest markets Bloomington (34 mi), Springfield (63 mi)
Working with WETYR in Illinois
WETYR buys Illinois businesses directly, with no listing and no broker commission, and, with your OK, introduces Illinois owners to registry buyers who fit.
Get a confidential valuation
Tell us a little about your business in Illinois. We reply with an indicative value range and whether we are a direct fit, within one business day. No obligation, no listing, nothing public.
Illinois business sale FAQ
How many small businesses are in the industries WETYR buys in Illinois?
U.S. Census County Business Patterns counts about 68,187 establishments in Illinois across the 37 owner-operated industries WETYR tracks, 5th among the 50 states. With roughly 12,757,634 residents, that works out to 53.4 establishments per 10,000 people versus 50.1 nationally. Illinois holds 4.12% of the U.S. total in these industries and 3.86% of the population.
Which industries are most common in Illinois?
By establishment count the largest are insurance agencies and brokerages (5,830), dental practices (5,820), and accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms (5,095). Insurance agencies and brokerages alone makes up $43,000 per $500K of the state's tracked total. Relative to population, Illinois is most concentrated in local general freight trucking, plate work and fabricated metal shops and funeral homes.
Does Illinois tax the gain when I sell my business?
Yes. Illinois taxes personal income, so the gain on a sale is generally subject to state tax in addition to federal tax. How much depends on structure: asset versus stock sale, how the purchase price is allocated, and whether part is paid over time. Model the after-tax number with a Illinois CPA before you accept a headline price.
Where in Illinois are most of these businesses located?
Cook County leads with about 27,352 tracked establishments, followed by Dupage County (7,437) and Lake County (4,721). Together the top three hold 58% of the state total. Median household income in Cook County is $78,304 and the median home value is $293,700. The smallest tracked area is Calhoun County with 6.
Sell by industry in Illinois
Other Midwest states
Sources
Census County Business Patterns (employer establishments, NAICS 2017); American Community Survey 5-year. Ranks and indexes: WETYR calculations, 50 states.