Selling a Business in Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County has 1,129 employer businesses, and 88% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows the local mix of industries and how a sale is handled here.
LOCAL SNAPSHOT
Santa Cruz County by the numbers
1,129
1,129
EMPLOYER BUSINESSES
88%
88%
SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE
5,043
5,043
BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES
11,201
11,201
EMPLOYMENT
$501 million
$501 million
ANNUAL PAYROLL
470
470
BUSINESSES WITH 5 TO 49 EMPLOYEES
U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023 and Nonemployer Statistics 2024. Counts are employer establishments, meaning business locations with paid employees.
How Santa Cruz County compares
Santa Cruz County ranks 10th of 15 Arizona counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 1.7% between 2018 and 2023.
Transportation and warehousing makes up 16% of employer businesses in Santa Cruz County, compared with 3% in Arizona.
470 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Santa Cruz County ranks 10th of 15 Arizona counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.
The number of employer businesses fell 1.7% between 2018 and 2023.
Transportation and warehousing makes up 16% of employer businesses in Santa Cruz County, compared with 3% in Arizona.
470 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.
Industry mix
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Wholesale: 207 employer businesses
Transportation and warehousing: 182 employer businesses
Retail: 154 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 103 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 74 employer businesses
The largest industries by number of employer businesses:
Wholesale: 207 employer businesses
Transportation and warehousing: 182 employer businesses
Retail: 154 employer businesses
Accommodation and food service: 103 employer businesses
Health care and social assistance: 74 employer businesses
INDUSTRIES
What sells in Santa Cruz County
Wholesale, transportation and warehousing, retail, accommodation and food service
Every kind of business we sell in Santa Cruz County
We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Santa Cruz County. Counts are employer businesses in the closest Census industry codes. Industries without a clean Census match are listed without a count, and a few industries share one Census category, so their counts match. A sale multiple is the price a business typically sells for as a multiple of its earnings. SDE means seller's discretionary earnings, which is the owner's pay plus the profit of the business. EBITDA means earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.
Logistics & Transportation
185 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
General Freight Trucking: 77 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Freight Brokerage & 3PL: 61 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Warehousing & Fulfillment: 33 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Heavy Haul Transport: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Wholesale & Distribution
129 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
Food & Beverage Distribution: 102 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Industrial & Construction Supply: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Electronics, IT & Office Equipment Distribution: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Packaging, Paper & JanSan Distribution: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Restaurants & Food
80 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
Full-Service Restaurants: 37 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Coffee Shops: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Construction & Engineering
69 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
General Contracting: 35 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Plumbing: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Foundation & Site Prep: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Electrical: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Civil Engineering: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Landscaping: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Retail Stores
55 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 33 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Hobby, Toys & Gift Shops: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Home Decor & Furniture: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Financial & Professional Services
42 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
Insurance Agencies: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Real Estate Brokerages: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Medical Practices
22 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
Primary & Family Care: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Dental Practices: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Veterinary Medicine: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Automotive & Boat
20 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
Auto Repair: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Auto Parts: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Manufacturing
19 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Construction Materials Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Gas Stations & Convenience
18 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
Gas Stations: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Home Services
18 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
Property Management: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Residential Cleaning: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.
Pest Control: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.
Hospitality & Travel
12 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
Hotels: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.
Senior Care & Living
11 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
Non-Medical Home Care: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Assisted Living Facilities: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Beauty & Personal Care
8 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
Hair Salons: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.
Barber Shops: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.25x SDE.
Education & Childcare
8 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
Daycare Centers: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Energy & Utilities
7 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
Water & Wastewater Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Propane & Fuel Distribution: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Entertainment & Recreation
5 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
Bars & Pubs: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.
We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Santa Cruz County. Counts are employer businesses in the closest Census industry codes. Industries without a clean Census match are listed without a count, and a few industries share one Census category, so their counts match. A sale multiple is the price a business typically sells for as a multiple of its earnings. SDE means seller's discretionary earnings, which is the owner's pay plus the profit of the business. EBITDA means earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.
Logistics & Transportation
185 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
General Freight Trucking: 77 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 3.45x SDE.
Freight Brokerage & 3PL: 61 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Warehousing & Fulfillment: 33 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Heavy Haul Transport: 14 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Wholesale & Distribution
129 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
Food & Beverage Distribution: 102 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Industrial & Construction Supply: 19 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Electronics, IT & Office Equipment Distribution: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Packaging, Paper & JanSan Distribution: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Restaurants & Food
80 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
Full-Service Restaurants: 37 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.
Quick-Service & Fast Food: 28 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE.
Grocery Stores & Markets: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE + Inventory.
Coffee Shops: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.0x SDE.
Construction & Engineering
69 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
General Contracting: 35 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Plumbing: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.
HVAC Services: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Foundation & Site Prep: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.
Electrical: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Civil Engineering: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.
Landscaping: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Retail Stores
55 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
Fashion, Apparel & Jewelry: 33 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.
Hardware, Garden & Building: 7 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE + Inventory.
Hobby, Toys & Gift Shops: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE + Inventory.
Health, Beauty & Pharmacy: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 4.2x EBITDA.
Home Decor & Furniture: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Financial & Professional Services
42 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
Insurance Agencies: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.
Accounting & Tax Practices: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 3.5x SDE.
Real Estate Brokerages: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x SDE.
Medical Practices
22 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
Primary & Family Care: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.2x - 3.2x SDE.
Dental Practices: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.5x EBITDA.
Veterinary Medicine: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 6.0x - 9.0x EBITDA.
Physical Therapy & Rehab: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Automotive & Boat
20 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
Auto Repair: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.
Auto Parts: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.
Manufacturing
19 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.1x - 4.5x SDE.
Wood & Furniture Manufacturing: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.8x SDE.
Construction Materials Manufacturing: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.
Gas Stations & Convenience
18 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
Gas Stations: 18 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Home Services
18 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
Property Management: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.
Residential Cleaning: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.6x SDE.
Commercial Cleaning: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.47x - 4.11x EBITDA.
Pest Control: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.34x - 2.90x SDE.
Hospitality & Travel
12 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
Hotels: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.
Motels: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.
Senior Care & Living
11 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
Non-Medical Home Care: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.
Assisted Living Facilities: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Real Estate.
Beauty & Personal Care
8 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
Hair Salons: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.
Barber Shops: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.25x SDE.
Education & Childcare
8 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
Daycare Centers: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.
Energy & Utilities
7 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
Water & Wastewater Services: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA.
Propane & Fuel Distribution: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 7.0x EBITDA + Assets.
Entertainment & Recreation
5 related employer businesses in Santa Cruz County.
Bars & Pubs: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.
Clubs & Lounges: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.
Working with owners in Santa Cruz County
Business Advisors of America works with owners who are selling a business in Santa Cruz County. Contact us to talk about a sale.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions owners in Santa Cruz County ask
How long does it take to sell a business in Santa Cruz County?
The time depends on the price, the quality of the records and the number of qualified buyers. Many sales take six months or longer from the start of the process to closing.
How is a business valued in Santa Cruz County?
Valuation starts with the earnings the business produces for an owner, then adjusts for assets, size, industry and the terms a buyer is likely to accept. The result is a range, and the asking price is set inside it.
Is the sale confidential?
Buyers are asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement before they see the name of the business or its financial statements.
FROM OUR BLOG
Guides for owners in Santa Cruz County
October 3, 2025
Business Owners
Add-Backs: What Counts, What Does Not, and What Buyers Push Back On
Every add-back you can prove raises your sale price by two to three times its amount. Every add-back you cannot prove costs you credibility on all the others.
Read article
October 3, 2025
Business Owners
Add-Backs: What Counts, What Does Not, and What Buyers Push Back On
Every add-back you can prove raises your sale price by two to three times its amount. Every add-back you cannot prove costs you credibility on all the others.
Read article
March 5, 2026
Business Owners
Buyer Qualification: How We Screen Out the Buyers Who Cannot Close
Most inquiries on a business listing come from people who cannot close. Here is how they get screened out before they see your name or your financials.
Read article
March 5, 2026
Business Owners
Buyer Qualification: How We Screen Out the Buyers Who Cannot Close
Most inquiries on a business listing come from people who cannot close. Here is how they get screened out before they see your name or your financials.
Read article
February 9, 2026
Business Owners
The Confidential Information Memorandum: What Goes In It and Why
The CIM is the document a buyer reads before they decide to spend time on your business. Here is what it has to contain and the mistakes that cost sellers offers.
Read article
February 9, 2026
Business Owners
The Confidential Information Memorandum: What Goes In It and Why
The CIM is the document a buyer reads before they decide to spend time on your business. Here is what it has to contain and the mistakes that cost sellers offers.
Read article