The three largest of those industries in Indiana are insurance agencies and brokerages (2,965 establishments), gas stations with convenience stores (2,609), and landscaping and tree services (2,424). WETYR buys qualifying Indiana businesses directly and confidentially, and, with an owner's OK, introduces Indiana owners to registry buyers whose buy box fits. Owners and buyers then deal directly with their own advisors.
The largest owner-operated industries in Indiana
Indiana ranks 14th in the country for insurance agencies and brokerages, with 2,965 establishments, or $11,000 per $500K of the U.S. total, against 2.1% of the U.S. population. Below are the fifteen largest categories in Indiana.
| Industry | Establishments | Per 100k residents | Index vs U.S. | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies and brokerages | 2,965 | 43.7 | 1.08 | 14th |
| Gas stations with convenience stores | 2,609 | 38.5 | 1.32 | 13th |
| Landscaping and tree services | 2,424 | 35.7 | 1.02 | 17th |
| Dental practices | 2,232 | 32.9 | 0.81 | 18th |
| Accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms | 2,058 | 30.3 | 0.75 | 21st |
| Plumbing and HVAC contractors | 1,987 | 29.3 | 0.89 | 18th |
| General auto repair shops | 1,871 | 27.6 | 1.09 | 13th |
| Childcare centers | 1,380 | 20.3 | 0.85 | 20th |
| Electrical contractors | 1,306 | 19.3 | 0.79 | 20th |
| Commercial cleaning and janitorial services | 1,202 | 17.7 | 0.89 | 21st |
| Site preparation and excavation contractors | 1,005 | 14.8 | 1.26 | 13th |
| Local general freight trucking | 945 | 13.9 | 1.04 | 12th |
| Physical therapy clinics | 906 | 13.4 | 0.89 | 17th |
| Pharmacies and drug stores | 707 | 10.4 | 0.84 | 19th |
| Staffing agencies | 691 | 10.2 | 1.00 | 20th |
Where Indiana is over and under the national average
Per resident, Indiana runs heaviest in funeral homes (462 establishments, index 1.66, 10th nationally by count); machine shops (548 establishments, index 1.65, 9th nationally by count); gas stations with convenience stores (2,609 establishments, index 1.32, 13th nationally by count). That top index of 1.66 means 66% more funeral homes per Indiana resident than the U.S. average. A buyer pricing an Indiana deal in that category has real comparables to work from.
At the other end, Indiana is thinnest in laundromats and drycleaners (index 0.58) and pool, building and dwelling services (index 0.58). Thin categories cut both ways: fewer local competitors for an operator, but fewer comparable transactions when a buyer prices a deal.
Indiana counties with the most owner-operated businesses
| County or area | Establishments | Median household income | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion County | 4,777 | $59,504 | $184,100 |
| Lake County | 2,376 | $66,375 | $195,100 |
| Hamilton County | 2,087 | $114,866 | $350,900 |
| Allen County | 1,972 | $66,222 | $173,600 |
| St Joseph County | 1,210 | $61,877 | $165,700 |
| Vanderburgh County | 1,026 | $58,839 | $162,800 |
| Elkhart County | 925 | $63,978 | $181,800 |
| Hendricks County | 873 | $95,261 | $257,700 |
| Johnson County | 835 | $82,730 | $240,700 |
| Porter County | 821 | $82,915 | $242,300 |
Marion County, Lake County, Hamilton County hold 29% of the 31,585 tracked establishments across 92 Indiana counties or areas. Median household income runs from $49,343 in Scott County to $114,866 in Hamilton County (2.3x), which changes what a buyer underwrites.
Indiana metro markets
Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and Evansville are the 3 Indiana metros with dedicated WETYR city pages, linked below for insurance agencies and brokerages and gas stations with convenience stores.
- Indianapolis, about 843,393 residents (Marion County); nearest markets Anderson (34 mi), Crawfordsville (44 mi)
- Fort Wayne, about 256,496 residents (Allen County); nearest markets Lima (59 mi), Elkhart (60 mi)
- Evansville, about 120,310 residents (Vanderburgh County); nearest markets Owensboro (29 mi), Paducah (87 mi)
Working with WETYR in Indiana
WETYR buys Indiana businesses directly, with no listing and no broker commission, and, with your OK, introduces Indiana owners to registry buyers who fit.
Get a confidential valuation
Tell us a little about your business in Indiana. We reply with an indicative value range and whether we are a direct fit, within one business day. No obligation, no listing, nothing public.
Indiana business sale FAQ
How many small businesses are in the industries WETYR buys in Indiana?
U.S. Census County Business Patterns counts about 31,585 establishments in Indiana across the 37 owner-operated industries WETYR tracks, 17th among the 50 states. With roughly 6,784,403 residents, that works out to 46.6 establishments per 10,000 people versus 50.1 nationally. Indiana holds 1.91% of the U.S. total in these industries and 2.05% of the population.
Which industries are most common in Indiana?
By establishment count the largest are insurance agencies and brokerages (2,965), gas stations with convenience stores (2,609), and landscaping and tree services (2,424). Insurance agencies and brokerages alone makes up $47,000 per $500K of the state's tracked total. Relative to population, Indiana is most concentrated in funeral homes, machine shops and gas stations with convenience stores.
Does Indiana tax the gain when I sell my business?
Yes. Indiana 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 Indiana CPA before you accept a headline price.
Where in Indiana are most of these businesses located?
Marion County leads with about 4,777 tracked establishments, followed by Lake County (2,376) and Hamilton County (2,087). Together the top three hold 29% of the state total. Median household income in Marion County is $59,504 and the median home value is $184,100. The smallest tracked area is Ohio County with 8.
Sell by industry in Indiana
Other Midwest states
Sources
Census County Business Patterns (employer establishments, NAICS 2017); American Community Survey 5-year. Ranks and indexes: WETYR calculations, 50 states.