San Diego, CA
$300,000
San Diego, CA
$300,000
REAL ESTATE INCLUDED
Butte County, CA
$999,000
Oceanside, CA
$275,000
Palm Springs, CA
$325,000
Newark, CA
$80,000
Lassen County, CA
$1,600,000
Sacramento County, CA
$97,200
San Diego, CA
$150,000
Newark, CA
$190,000
Anaheim, CA
$799,000
Available in California
$100,000
Livermore, CA
$274,999
Van Nuys, CA
$180,000
$180,000
San Francisco, CA
San Jose, CA
$289,000
Sherman Oaks, CA
$250,000
Edward Fixen, Certified Business Broker
BusinessQuest Brokers, Inc.
Serving San Bernardino County, CA
Since 2006 BusinessQuest has specialized in representing sellers of privately-held, small and medium sized businesses with annual sales ranging from $500,000 up to $30 million. BusinessQuest is a full service business appraisal and business brokerage firm. Over the years we have sold over 150 businesses and valued another 200 businesses and developed expertise in the manufacturing, wholesale/distribution, business services, e-commerce, personal services, retail, food service, healthcare, and transportation & logistics industries. We are unique in that we are both Certified Business Appraisers and Certified Business Brokers, a distinction very few of our peers hold. We have two offices located in Los Angeles County and the Inland Empire to serve all of Southern California. Our staff consist of three (3) Certified Business Brokers, three (3) other experienced business brokers, one Certified Business Appraiser and one Certified Valuation Analyst. In addition to our business brokerage and M&A advisory expertise, we specialize in preparing business valuations and certified appraisals ranging from less costly opinion of value reports to comprehensive certified appraisals meeting the professional standards of the National Association of Certified Valuators & Analysts (NACVA).
California
$599,000
Alameda, CA
$249,999
California
$599,000
Alameda, CA
$75,000
San Diego County, CA
$189,000
Available Nationwide
$100,000
Los Angeles, CA
$600,000
REAL ESTATE INCLUDED
California
$1,995,000
$845,000
Ventura County, CA
Rocklin, CA
$200,000
Los Angeles County, CA
$150,000
Santa Clara County, CA
$296,000
Los Alamitos, CA
$200,000
Murrieta, CA
$300,000
Milpitas, CA
$288,000
Redwood City, CA
$228,000
Available Nationwide
$500,000
Anaheim, CA
$98,000
Oceanside, CA
$900,000
$389,000
Lake Arrowhead, CA
Windsor, CA
$550,000
Orange County, CA
$69,500
Available Nationwide
$200,000
San Francisco County, CA
$429,000
Santa Clarita, CA
$250,000
Pasadena, CA
$50,000
Los Angeles, CA
$660,000
La Habra, CA
$50,000
NEREIDA CASTILLO
HOMESMART REALTY WEST
Serving San Diego County, CA
West Hollywood, CA
$500,000
North Hills, CA
$950,000
$500,000
Solano County, CA
California
$475,000
Fremont, CA
$250,000
Available in California
$65,000
Bakersfield, CA
$180,000
Bakersfield, CA
$525,000
San Bruno, CA
$179,000
Orange County, CA
$99,000
Norco, CA
$55,000
Orange County, CA
$505,000
Gardena, CA
$190,000
Orange County, CA
$150,000
Rancho Mirage, CA
$38,000
Available Nationwide
$150,000
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.