The three largest of those industries in Missouri are insurance agencies and brokerages (3,327 establishments), gas stations with convenience stores (2,340), and accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms (2,245). WETYR buys qualifying Missouri businesses directly and confidentially, and, with an owner's OK, introduces Missouri owners to registry buyers whose buy box fits. Owners and buyers then deal directly with their own advisors.
The largest owner-operated industries in Missouri
Missouri ranks 11th in the country for insurance agencies and brokerages, with 3,327 establishments, or $12,500 per $500K of the U.S. total, against 1.9% of the U.S. population. The fifteen largest Missouri categories follow.
| Industry | Establishments | Per 100k residents | Index vs U.S. | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies and brokerages | 3,327 | 54.1 | 1.33 | 11th |
| Gas stations with convenience stores | 2,340 | 38.0 | 1.31 | 16th |
| Accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms | 2,245 | 36.5 | 0.90 | 18th |
| Landscaping and tree services | 2,153 | 35.0 | 0.99 | 20th |
| Plumbing and HVAC contractors | 1,880 | 30.5 | 0.93 | 20th |
| Dental practices | 1,858 | 30.2 | 0.74 | 23rd |
| General auto repair shops | 1,692 | 27.5 | 1.09 | 18th |
| Home health care agencies | 1,490 | 24.2 | 2.11 | 5th |
| Childcare centers | 1,415 | 23.0 | 0.96 | 18th |
| Electrical contractors | 1,191 | 19.4 | 0.79 | 23rd |
| Commercial cleaning and janitorial services | 1,160 | 18.8 | 0.94 | 22nd |
| Physical therapy clinics | 859 | 14.0 | 0.93 | 19th |
| Site preparation and excavation contractors | 824 | 13.4 | 1.14 | 20th |
| Pharmacies and drug stores | 663 | 10.8 | 0.86 | 20th |
| Local general freight trucking | 647 | 10.5 | 0.79 | 18th |
Where Missouri is over and under the national average
Per resident, Missouri runs heaviest in home health care agencies (1,490 establishments, index 2.11, 5th nationally by count); insurance agencies and brokerages (3,327 establishments, index 1.33, 11th nationally by count); gas stations with convenience stores (2,340 establishments, index 1.31, 16th nationally by count). That top index of 2.11 means 111% more home health care agencies per Missouri resident than the U.S. average. Concentration like that usually points to an established local operator base.
At the other end, Missouri is thinnest in laundromats and drycleaners (index 0.56) and IT services and computer systems design (index 0.62). 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.
Missouri counties with the most owner-operated businesses
| County or area | Establishments | Median household income | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Louis County | 6,023 | $78,067 | $249,400 |
| Jackson County | 3,893 | $65,169 | $196,900 |
| St Charles County | 2,035 | $99,596 | $278,300 |
| Greene County | 1,734 | $54,968 | $182,800 |
| St Louis City | 1,450 | $52,941 | $174,100 |
| Clay County | 1,281 | $82,264 | $237,200 |
| Jefferson County | 1,038 | $77,217 | $202,500 |
| Boone County | 1,003 | $66,564 | $237,600 |
| Franklin County | 614 | $70,111 | $201,700 |
| Cass County | 565 | $82,473 | $242,300 |
St Louis County, Jackson County, St Charles County hold 40% of the 30,133 tracked establishments across 115 Missouri counties or areas. Median household income runs from $33,302 in Hickory County to $99,596 in St Charles County (3.0x), which changes what a buyer underwrites.
Missouri metro markets
Kansas City, Springfield, Independence and Columbia are the 4 Missouri metros with dedicated WETYR city pages, linked below for insurance agencies and brokerages and gas stations with convenience stores.
- Kansas City, about 467,007 residents (Platte County); nearest markets Kansas City (3 mi), Independence (9 mi)
- Springfield, about 164,122 residents (Greene County); nearest markets Joplin (68 mi), Rogers (76 mi)
- Independence, about 117,240 residents (Jackson County); nearest markets Kansas City (9 mi), Blue Springs (9 mi)
- Columbia, about 115,276 residents (Boone County); nearest markets Jefferson City (27 mi), Chesterfield (97 mi)
Working with WETYR in Missouri
WETYR buys Missouri businesses directly, with no listing and no broker commission, and, with your OK, introduces Missouri owners to registry buyers who fit.
Get a confidential valuation
Tell us a little about your business in Missouri. We reply with an indicative value range and whether we are a direct fit, within one business day. No obligation, no listing, nothing public.
Missouri business sale FAQ
How many small businesses are in the industries WETYR buys in Missouri?
U.S. Census County Business Patterns counts about 30,133 establishments in Missouri across the 37 owner-operated industries WETYR tracks, 19th among the 50 states. With roughly 6,154,422 residents, that works out to 49.0 establishments per 10,000 people versus 50.1 nationally. Missouri holds 1.82% of the U.S. total in these industries and 1.86% of the population.
Which industries are most common in Missouri?
By establishment count the largest are insurance agencies and brokerages (3,327), gas stations with convenience stores (2,340), and accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms (2,245). Insurance agencies and brokerages alone is $55,000 per $500K of the state's tracked total. Relative to population, Missouri is most concentrated in home health care agencies, insurance agencies and brokerages and gas stations with convenience stores.
Does Missouri tax the gain when I sell my business?
Yes. Missouri 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 Missouri CPA before you accept a headline price.
Where in Missouri are most of these businesses located?
St Louis County leads with about 6,023 tracked establishments, followed by Jackson County (3,893) and St Charles County (2,035). Together the top three hold 40% of the state total. Median household income in St Louis County is $78,067 and the median home value is $249,400. The smallest tracked area is Worth County with 3.
Sell by industry in Missouri
Other Midwest states
Sources
Census County Business Patterns (employer establishments, NAICS 2017); American Community Survey 5-year. Ranks and indexes: WETYR calculations, 50 states.