The three largest of those industries in Ohio are insurance agencies and brokerages (4,440 establishments), landscaping and tree services (4,189), and dental practices (3,877). WETYR buys qualifying Ohio businesses directly and confidentially, and, with an owner's OK, introduces Ohio owners to registry buyers whose buy box fits. Owners and buyers then deal directly with their own advisors.
The largest owner-operated industries in Ohio
Ohio ranks 8th in the country for insurance agencies and brokerages, with 4,440 establishments, or $16,500 per $500K of the U.S. total, against 3.6% of the U.S. population. Here is how the top fifteen stack up in Ohio.
| Industry | Establishments | Per 100k residents | Index vs U.S. | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies and brokerages | 4,440 | 37.7 | 0.93 | 8th |
| Landscaping and tree services | 4,189 | 35.6 | 1.01 | 10th |
| Dental practices | 3,877 | 32.9 | 0.81 | 8th |
| Accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms | 3,775 | 32.1 | 0.79 | 8th |
| Gas stations with convenience stores | 3,486 | 29.6 | 1.02 | 7th |
| Plumbing and HVAC contractors | 2,979 | 25.3 | 0.77 | 11th |
| General auto repair shops | 2,915 | 24.8 | 0.98 | 7th |
| Childcare centers | 2,754 | 23.4 | 0.98 | 7th |
| Commercial cleaning and janitorial services | 1,946 | 16.5 | 0.83 | 12th |
| Electrical contractors | 1,939 | 16.5 | 0.67 | 13th |
| Home health care agencies | 1,636 | 13.9 | 1.21 | 4th |
| Site preparation and excavation contractors | 1,403 | 11.9 | 1.02 | 8th |
| Local general freight trucking | 1,371 | 11.6 | 0.87 | 9th |
| Staffing agencies | 1,304 | 11.1 | 1.09 | 7th |
| Pharmacies and drug stores | 1,286 | 10.9 | 0.88 | 11th |
Where Ohio is over and under the national average
Per resident, Ohio runs heaviest in plate work and fabricated metal shops (93 establishments, index 2.96, 1st nationally by count); machine shops (1,119 establishments, index 1.94, 3rd nationally by count); funeral homes (803 establishments, index 1.66, 4th nationally by count). That top index of 2.96 means 196% more plate work and fabricated metal shops per Ohio resident than the U.S. average. A buyer pricing an Ohio deal in that category has real comparables to work from.
At the other end, Ohio is thinnest in pool, building and dwelling services (index 0.58) and security guard and patrol companies (index 0.58). Thin categories cut both ways: fewer local competitors for an operator, but fewer comparable transactions when a buyer prices a deal.
Ohio counties with the most owner-operated businesses
| County or area | Establishments | Median household income | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | 6,215 | $71,070 | $243,100 |
| Cuyahoga County | 6,198 | $60,074 | $168,700 |
| Hamilton County | 4,048 | $68,249 | $205,000 |
| Summit County | 2,742 | $68,360 | $182,500 |
| Montgomery County | 2,330 | $61,942 | $154,300 |
| Lucas County | 2,007 | $57,265 | $144,200 |
| Stark County | 1,735 | $63,130 | $164,900 |
| Butler County | 1,608 | $77,062 | $224,300 |
| Lorain County | 1,267 | $67,272 | $191,900 |
| Lake County | 1,264 | $76,835 | $189,600 |
Franklin County, Cuyahoga County, Hamilton County hold 32% of the 52,240 tracked establishments across 88 Ohio counties or areas. Median household income runs from $46,234 in Adams County to $123,995 in Delaware County (2.7x), and that gap shows up in what customers pay.
Ohio metro markets
Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, Akron and Dayton are the 6 Ohio metros with dedicated WETYR city pages, linked below for insurance agencies and brokerages and landscaping and tree services.
- Columbus, about 822,553 residents (Franklin County); nearest markets Groveport (9 mi), Springfield (43 mi)
- Cleveland, about 390,113 residents (Cuyahoga County); nearest markets Akron (30 mi), Warren (49 mi)
- Cincinnati, about 297,517 residents (Hamilton County); nearest markets Covington (1 mi), Newport (2 mi)
- Toledo, about 282,313 residents (Wood County); nearest markets Ann Arbor (44 mi), Dearborn (49 mi)
- Akron, about 198,100 residents (Summit County); nearest markets Canton (21 mi), Cleveland (30 mi)
- Dayton, about 143,355 residents (Montgomery County); nearest markets Springfield (23 mi), Hamilton (32 mi)
Working with WETYR in Ohio
WETYR buys Ohio businesses directly, with no listing and no broker commission, and, with your OK, introduces Ohio owners to registry buyers who fit.
Get a confidential valuation
Tell us a little about your business in Ohio. We reply with an indicative value range and whether we are a direct fit, within one business day. No obligation, no listing, nothing public.
Ohio business sale FAQ
How many small businesses are in the industries WETYR buys in Ohio?
U.S. Census County Business Patterns counts about 52,240 establishments in Ohio across the 37 owner-operated industries WETYR tracks, 8th among the 50 states. With roughly 11,774,683 residents, that works out to 44.4 establishments per 10,000 people versus 50.1 nationally. Ohio holds 3.16% of the U.S. total in these industries and 3.56% of the population.
Which industries are most common in Ohio?
By establishment count the largest are insurance agencies and brokerages (4,440), landscaping and tree services (4,189), and dental practices (3,877). Insurance agencies and brokerages alone makes up $42,500 per $500K of the state's tracked total. Relative to population, Ohio is most concentrated in plate work and fabricated metal shops, machine shops and funeral homes.
Does Ohio tax the gain when I sell my business?
Yes. Ohio 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 Ohio CPA before you accept a headline price.
Where in Ohio are most of these businesses located?
Franklin County leads with about 6,215 tracked establishments, followed by Cuyahoga County (6,198) and Hamilton County (4,048). Together the top three hold 32% of the state total. Median household income in Franklin County is $71,070 and the median home value is $243,100. The smallest tracked area is Vinton County with 10.
Sell by industry in Ohio
Other Midwest states
Sources
Census County Business Patterns (employer establishments, NAICS 2017); American Community Survey 5-year. Ranks and indexes: WETYR calculations, 50 states.