Ventura County, CA
$250,000
Ventura County, CA
$250,000
Mountain View, CA
$125,000
Upland, CA
$50,000
Lakewood, CA
$250,000
Santa Barbara County, CA
$7,000
Monterey, CA
$800,000
West Hollywood, CA
$695,000
Los Angeles County, CA
$167,500
Lake Elsinore, CA
$150,000
Daly City, CA
$99,000
West Hollywood, CA
$599,000
Los Angeles County, CA
$100,000
Los Angeles, CA
$60,000
Pico Rivera, CA
$170,000
Winnetka, CA
$250,000
Long Beach, CA
$225,000
Scott Price
Sunbelt Business Brokers
Serving San Bernardino County, CA
Sunbelt Business Brokers is the largest and most successful business brokerage network in the world, with over 30 years of experience helping entrepreneurs buy and sell privately held businesses. With offices across the U.S. and internationally, Sunbelt combines deep local market expertise with global reach. At Sunbelt, we specialize in confidential business sales, mergers & acquisitions, and valuations across a wide range of industries — from healthcare and professional services to manufacturing and technology. Our brokers are trained professionals who follow a proven process to help sellers maximize value and help buyers find the right opportunities. Whether you're planning your exit strategy or looking to invest in a business, Sunbelt offers the knowledge, experience, and network to guide you through a successful transaction. Your future is our business.
West Hollywood, CA
$200,000
Jamestown, CA
$695,000
San Diego, CA
Not Disclosed
Murrieta, CA
$180,000
Santa Clara County, CA
$149,000
Los Angeles, CA
$100,000
Eureka, CA
$500,000
Santa Monica, CA
$100,000
Auburn, CA
$65,000
West Hollywood, CA
$250,000
Silver Lake, CA
$150,000
San Francisco, CA
$50,000
Hacienda Heights, CA
$100,000
San Diego, CA
$350,002
California
$75,000
Palm Desert, CA
$300,000
Carlsbad, CA
$195,000
Santa Monica, CA
$250,000
East Los Angeles, CA
$299,000
San Luis Obispo, CA
$425,000
Los Angeles County, CA
$69,000
Wilmington, CA
$325,000
Solana Beach, CA
$295,000
San Diego, CA
$349,000
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
$149,000
Carmichael, CA
$150,000
West Covina, CA
$100,000
Orange, CA
$500,000
Antoinette Payne
Pacific Coast Brokers,Inc.
Serving San Francisco County, CA
Bringing Business Buyers & Sellers together since 1989
Santa Ana, CA
$350,000
Lancaster, CA
$85,000
Lancaster, CA
$52,000
Irvine, CA
$5,500,000
San Diego, CA
$6,500,000
Orange County, CA
$39,500
California is a huge state with a lot of money, so it's naturally a popular destination for businesses. The major industries in California include technology, agriculture, and entertainment, but the private business for sale market spans the gamut of sectors.
If you're looking to buy (or sell) a business in California, it helps to have some context on the market. We have aggregated and summarized the most current listings data to provide a basic overview of the business for sale market in California.
Market Overview
Number of Businesses for Sale |
~5,500 |
Median Asking Price |
$360,000 |
Median Reported Revenue |
$630,000 |
Median Reported Earnings |
$150,000 |
Profit Margin |
23% |
Earnings Multiple |
2.5 |
Revenue Multiple |
0.6 |
Financials based on businesses that listed an asking price, annual revenue, and seller's discretionary earnings. |
Major Metro Areas
More than 80% of all businesses for sale in the state are in the following six metro areas:
How many businesses are listed for sale in California?
There are around 5,400 businesses for sale in California, with listings across various metro areas and statewide.
What types of businesses are for sale?
The marketplace in California is diverse, with all types of businesses in play.
What is the average asking price for these businesses?
The median asking price for businesses listed for sale in California is $360,000.
What is the average revenue of these businesses?
The median reported revenue for these businesses is $630,000.
What is the average seller discretionary earnings?
The median reported earnings, often referred to as Seller Discretionary Earnings (SDE), is $150,000.
What are the average valuation multiples?
Typically, businesses are being listed with an earnings multiple of 2.5 and a revenue multiple of 0.6 when referring to the asking price.
Which cities in California have the most businesses listed for sale?
The cities with the highest number of listings are Los Angeles (approx. 480), San Diego (approx. 250), San Francisco (approx. 220), Sacramento (approx. 140), San Jose (approx. 120), Oakland (approx. 80), Long Beach (approx. 80), Anaheim (approx. 60), and Riverside (approx. 60).
How can California business owners sell their own businesses?
Most business owners will retain an experienced business broker, who will typically charge a 10-15% success fee. Some business owners choose to list their business for sale directly and take on the entire process on their own. This can be a complex and challenging task, requiring an understanding of the market, great marketing skills, and even better negotiating skills.