The three largest of those industries in California are dental practices (22,639 establishments), accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms (18,425), and insurance agencies and brokerages (14,189). WETYR buys qualifying California businesses directly and confidentially, and, with an owner's OK, introduces California owners to registry buyers whose buy box fits. Owners and buyers then deal directly with their own advisors.
The largest owner-operated industries in California
California ranks 1st in the country for dental practices, with 22,639 establishments, or 16.8% of the U.S. total, against 11.9% of the U.S. population. Below are the fifteen largest categories in California.
| Industry | Establishments | Per 100k residents | Index vs U.S. | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dental practices | 22,639 | 57.5 | 1.41 | 1st |
| Accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms | 18,425 | 46.8 | 1.15 | 1st |
| Insurance agencies and brokerages | 14,189 | 36.1 | 0.89 | 1st |
| Plumbing and HVAC contractors | 11,331 | 28.8 | 0.87 | 1st |
| Electrical contractors | 9,909 | 25.2 | 1.03 | 1st |
| General auto repair shops | 9,703 | 24.7 | 0.98 | 1st |
| Local general freight trucking | 9,420 | 23.9 | 1.79 | 1st |
| Landscaping and tree services | 9,316 | 23.7 | 0.67 | 2nd |
| Childcare centers | 9,295 | 23.6 | 0.99 | 1st |
| IT services and computer systems design | 7,807 | 19.8 | 1.18 | 1st |
| Commercial cleaning and janitorial services | 6,716 | 17.1 | 0.85 | 1st |
| Gas stations with convenience stores | 6,702 | 17.0 | 0.59 | 2nd |
| Fitness centers and gyms | 5,223 | 13.3 | 1.11 | 1st |
| Home health care agencies | 5,097 | 13.0 | 1.13 | 1st |
| Physical therapy clinics | 5,047 | 12.8 | 0.86 | 1st |
Where California is over and under the national average
Per resident, California runs heaviest in security guard and patrol companies (2,070 establishments, index 1.79, 1st nationally by count); local general freight trucking (9,420 establishments, index 1.79, 1st nationally by count); durable goods wholesalers and distributors (1,624 establishments, index 1.57, 1st nationally by count). That top index of 1.79 means 79% more security guard and patrol companies per California resident than the U.S. average. Concentration like that usually points to an established local operator base.
At the other end, California is thinnest in funeral homes (index 0.48) and site preparation and excavation contractors (index 0.57). Thin categories cut both ways: fewer local competitors for an operator, but fewer comparable transactions when a buyer prices a deal.
California counties with the most owner-operated businesses
| County or area | Establishments | Median household income | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles County | 51,221 | $83,411 | $732,200 |
| Orange County | 20,139 | $109,361 | $862,900 |
| San Diego County | 17,523 | $96,974 | $725,200 |
| Riverside County | 10,339 | $84,505 | $462,900 |
| Santa Clara County | 10,329 | $153,792 | $1,316,800 |
| San Bernardino County | 9,329 | $77,423 | $438,000 |
| Alameda County | 8,051 | $122,488 | $999,200 |
| Sacramento County | 7,338 | $84,010 | $465,900 |
| Contra Costa County | 5,788 | $120,020 | $787,300 |
| Ventura County | 4,862 | $102,141 | $719,100 |
Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Diego County hold 45% of the 196,969 tracked establishments across 57 California counties or areas. Median household income runs from $47,317 in Trinity County to $153,792 in Santa Clara County (3.3x), which changes what a buyer underwrites.
California metro markets
Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Fresno, Sacramento, Long Beach, Oakland, Bakersfield, Anaheim, Riverside, Stockton, San Bernardino and Pasadena are the 14 California metros with dedicated WETYR city pages, linked below for dental practices and accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms.
- Los Angeles, about 3,884,307 residents (Los angeles County); nearest markets Pasadena (9 mi), Long Beach (20 mi)
- San Diego, about 1,355,896 residents (San diego County); nearest markets Riverside (87 mi), Anaheim (89 mi)
- San Jose, about 998,537 residents (Santa clara County); nearest markets Oakland (38 mi), San Francisco (42 mi)
- San Francisco, about 837,442 residents (San mateo County); nearest markets Oakland (8 mi), San Jose (42 mi)
- Fresno, about 509,924 residents (Fresno County); nearest markets Bakersfield (104 mi), Stockton (118 mi)
- Sacramento, about 479,686 residents (Sacramento County); nearest markets Stockton (45 mi), Oakland (68 mi)
- Long Beach, about 469,428 residents (Los angeles County); nearest markets Anaheim (17 mi), Los Angeles (20 mi)
- Oakland, about 406,253 residents (Alameda County); nearest markets San Francisco (8 mi), San Jose (38 mi)
- Bakersfield, about 363,630 residents (Kern County); nearest markets Santa Barbara (76 mi), Pasadena (98 mi)
- Anaheim, about 345,012 residents (Orange County); nearest markets Long Beach (17 mi), Los Angeles (24 mi)
- Riverside, about 316,619 residents (Riverside County); nearest markets San Bernardino (12 mi), Anaheim (31 mi)
- Stockton, about 298,118 residents (San joaquin County); nearest markets Sacramento (45 mi), San Jose (54 mi)
- San Bernardino, about 213,708 residents (San bernardino County); nearest markets Riverside (12 mi), Anaheim (40 mi)
- Pasadena, about 139,731 residents (Los angeles County); nearest markets Los Angeles (9 mi), Anaheim (25 mi)
Working with WETYR in California
WETYR buys California businesses directly, with no listing and no broker commission, and, with your OK, introduces California owners to registry buyers who fit.
Get a confidential valuation
Tell us a little about your business in California. We reply with an indicative value range and whether we are a direct fit, within one business day. No obligation, no listing, nothing public.
California business sale FAQ
How many small businesses are in the industries WETYR buys in California?
U.S. Census County Business Patterns counts about 196,969 establishments in California across the 37 owner-operated industries WETYR tracks, 1st among the 50 states. With roughly 39,356,104 residents, that works out to 50.0 establishments per 10,000 people versus 50.1 nationally. California holds 11.90% of the U.S. total in these industries and 11.91% of the population.
Which industries are most common in California?
By establishment count the largest are dental practices (22,639), accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms (18,425), and insurance agencies and brokerages (14,189). Dental practices alone is 11.5% of the state's tracked total. Relative to population, California is most concentrated in security guard and patrol companies, local general freight trucking and durable goods wholesalers and distributors.
Does California tax the gain when I sell my business?
Yes. California taxes personal income, so the gain on a sale is generally subject to state tax in addition to federal tax. How much depends on structure: asset versus stock sale, how the purchase price is allocated, and whether part is paid over time. Model the after-tax number with a California CPA before you accept a headline price.
Where in California are most of these businesses located?
Los Angeles County leads with about 51,221 tracked establishments, followed by Orange County (20,139) and San Diego County (17,523). Together the top three hold 45% of the state total. Median household income in Los Angeles County is $83,411 and the median home value is $732,200. The smallest tracked area is Sierra County with 6.
Sell by industry in California
Sources
Census County Business Patterns (employer establishments, NAICS 2017); American Community Survey 5-year. Ranks and indexes: WETYR calculations, 50 states.