Dana Point, CA
$995,000
Dana Point, CA
$995,000
Mentone, CA
$135,000
Palm Springs, CA
$395,000
San Diego, CA
$100,000
California
$1,150,000
Shasta County, CA
$150,000
San Joaquin County, CA
$720,000
Martinez, CA
$170,000
Long Beach, CA
$295,000
Santa Clarita, CA
$700,000
Sacramento, CA
$135,000
Bellflower, CA
$100,000
San Francisco, CA
$95,000
Los Angeles County, CA
$259,000
Newark, CA
$140,000
Davis, CA
$180,000
Randy Hendershot, CBB
Evolution Advisors
Serving Placer County, CA
Evolution provides a full range of professional services to anyone considering Buying or Selling a Business, including Valuation, Exit Strategies, Financing or anything else related to the sale or purchase of a business. Evolutions approach is unique and proven to work.
San Diego, CA
$275,000
San Francisco, CA
$119,000
Ventura County, CA
$190,000
Mendocino County, CA
$348,999
Hanford, CA
$599,000
Fremont, CA
$348,000
San Gabriel, CA
$198,000
Newark, CA
$150,000
Pleasanton, CA
$150,000
San Rafael, CA
$75,000
Fairfield, CA
$99,000
San Francisco, CA
$120,000
San Francisco, CA
$185,000
Redwood City, CA
$450,000
San Francisco, CA
$150,000
Berkeley, CA
$120,000
San Jose, CA
$165,000
San Francisco, CA
$120,000
San Francisco, CA
$468,000
Los Angeles, CA
$225,000
San Jose, CA
$75,000
Fremont, CA
$180,000
Berkeley, CA
$120,000
Santa Fe Springs, CA
$180,000
San Francisco, CA
$500,000
Berkeley, CA
$160,000
San Jose, CA
$175,000
Oakland, CA
$350,000
William Yoo
Sky Commercial Real Estate
Serving Los Angeles County, CA
KNOWLEDGEABLE AND EXPERIENCED AGENT
Richmond, CA
$120,000
Stockton, CA
$65,000
Orange, CA
$110,999
Eagle Rock, CA
$300,000
Alameda County, CA
$200,000
Orange County, CA
$249,000
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.