Napa County, CA
$200,000
Napa County, CA
$200,000
San Diego County, CA
$1,250,000
San Diego County, CA
$69,000
West Covina, CA
$225,000
San Francisco, CA
$138,000
San Francisco, CA
$140,000
Fairfield, CA
$78,000
Sunnyvale, CA
$220,000
San Francisco, CA
$135,000
Dinuba, CA
$120,000
Huntington Beach, CA
$250,000
San Jose, CA
$90,000
Sacramento, CA
$180,000
Hayward, CA
$150,000
San Francisco, CA
$128,000
San Francisco, CA
$175,000
Jock Purtle
Business Exits Inc.
Serving Los Angeles County, CA
San Francisco, CA
$138,000
Oakland, CA
$250,000
Alameda, CA
$350,000
Dublin, CA
$75,000
Imperial Beach, CA
$69,999
Laguna Beach, CA
$695,000
Los Angeles, CA
$350,000
South El Monte, CA
$375,000
Dublin, CA
$160,000
Orange County, CA
$410,000
Sacramento County, CA
$799,000
Los Angeles, CA
$120,000
Vallejo, CA
$128,000
Daly City, CA
$220,000
San Francisco, CA
$148,000
Alameda, CA
$100,000
Pleasanton, CA
$85,000
Lancaster, CA
$350,000
San Francisco, CA
$150,000
Contra Costa County, CA
Not Disclosed
Cash Flow: $438,000
Santa Rosa, CA
$160,000
Orange County, CA
$299,000
Dublin, CA
$300,000
San Gabriel, CA
$475,000
Woodland Hills, CA
$69,000
Tuolumne County, CA
$175,000
Los Angeles, CA
Not Disclosed
Cash Flow: $10,000
Sacramento County, CA
$750,000
Dave Richards
KeyStone Business Advisors
Serving Ventura County, CA
Keystone Business Advisors is Southern California-based full-service M&A advisory firm. Keystone specializes in managing the sale of privately-owned California-based businesses with annual revenues up to $100 million. The firm has completed over 200 + transactions and has considerable experience in most industries including manufacturing, wholesale/distribution, service, ecommerce, software, IT, logistics, professional services and healthcare. All Keystone M&A Advisors are experts managing the sale process and excel in keeping things moving forward in an orderly manner to ensure that sensitive information is protected, uncertainty is avoided, and the best price is achieved.
San Francisco, CA
$299,000
Los Angeles County, CA
$1,500,000
Alameda County, CA
$225,000
Orange County, CA
$275,000
Dana Point, CA
$595,000
North Hollywood, CA
$595,000
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.