Santa Cruz County, CA
$428,000
Santa Cruz County, CA
$428,000
Marin County, CA
$290,000
Orange County, CA
$350,000
Alameda County, CA
$795,000
Redding, CA
$725,000
California
$1,650,000
Rocklin, CA
$40,000
Los Angeles, CA
$795,000
San Francisco, CA
$220,000
Ontario, CA
$27,867,070
Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA
$459,000
Los Angeles County, CA
$70,000
Fremont, CA
$295,000
$91,190
Granada Hills, CA
Carmichael, CA
$200,000
Campbell, CA
$250,000
Matt Mertens
Transworld Business Brokers
Serving Sacramento County, CA
Glendale, CA
$350,000
Hancock, CA
$95,000
Redwood City, CA
$175,000
REAL ESTATE INCLUDED
Colusa County, CA
$2,700,000
Anaheim, CA
$95,000
Los Angeles County, CA
$1,600,000
Huntington Beach, CA
$1,600,000
Beverly Hills, CA
$400,000
$150,000
Sunol, CA
Dinuba, CA
$175,000
North Hollywood, CA
$120,000
Santa Clara County, CA
$475,000
REAL ESTATE INCLUDED
Santa Rosa, CA
$1,849,000
Morgan Hill, CA
$350,000
Sacramento County, CA
$103,200
Sutter County, CA
$225,000
San Bernardino County, CA
$950,000
Berkeley, CA
$124,900
Redlands, CA
$429,000
$399,000
Aptos, CA
San Francisco, CA
$150,000
Temecula, CA
$120,000
Shasta County, CA
$385,000
Windsor, CA
$2,938,000
California
$350,000
Alameda County, CA
$299,000
Los Angeles, CA
$650,000
Ventura County, CA
$489,000
Brigitte H
Keller William Realty Studio City
Serving Los Angeles County, CA
Brigitte H - 310 801 0705
San Diego County, CA
$60,000
Santa Clara, CA
$500,000
$225,000
Los Angeles, CA
Orange County, CA
$55,000
San Diego, CA
$235,000
San Diego, CA
$250,000
Shasta County, CA
$1,795,000
Los Angeles, CA
$229,000
Shasta County, CA
$329,000
Tehama County, CA
$65,000
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.