$19,315
Businesses For Sale in California


$150,000


$75,000
$450,000
$45,000
$5,000
$100,000
$39,500
$30,000
$320,000
$10,000
$5,000
$65,000
Raymond P. Dowd
PNW Business Brokers, LLC
Serving Riverside County, CA
PNW Business Brokers, LLC is a partnership of experienced individuals with uniquely different backgrounds sharing their collective knowledge for the benefit of their clients. PNW is the only partner owned business brokerage in the Western US specializing in business exit sales exclusively in Oregon. Each partner / associate partner brings multiple decades of business experience, and everyone shares their extensive personal networks for the benefit of every client. Every partner is engaged with every client from business development, pre-sale planning, business valuation, marketing strategy development, buyer engagement, SBA lender, lawyer and CPA referrals, and transaction management through escrow closing. A Twenty-Six 5 star Google rating, 30 Sold businesses in Oregon with brokers in Eugene, Bend and Lake Oswego allows us to engage with, then market businesses from Portland to Grants Pass and from Florence to Bend. For greater wingspan, PNW also owns The Osprey M&A network which is exclusively focused on expanding exposure for business owners in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Colorado, Nevada and British Columbia. The participants are all top of their game professionals with extensive backgrounds each with their own state territory, each contributing equally to marketing and each capable of bringing buyers to any network listing.
Buy or Sell a Business in California
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:
- Fresno Metro Area
- Greater Los Angeles Area
- Modesto-Merced Area
- Sacramento Area
- San Francisco Bay Area
- Visalia-Hanford Area
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.
- Food and Restaurants (approx. 1740)
- Retail (approx. 730)
- Service Businesses (approx. 570)
- Health Care and Fitness (approx. 440)
- Automotive and Boat (approx. 350)
- Manufacturing to Beauty and Personal Care, among others.
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.