Selling a Business in Chico

Owners in the Chico area sell to local buyers and to buyers from other markets. The area has 4,677 employer businesses, and 86% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows what is here and how a sale is handled.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Chico by the numbers

4,677

4,677

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

86%

86%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

13,330

13,330

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

63,158

63,158

EMPLOYMENT

$3.3 billion

$3.3 billion

ANNUAL PAYROLL

2,039

2,039

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 Chico compares

  • The Chico area ranks 19th of 25 California metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 1.9% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Construction makes up 12% of employer businesses in Chico, compared with 8% in California.

  • 2,039 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • The Chico area ranks 19th of 25 California metro areas for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses fell 1.9% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Construction makes up 12% of employer businesses in Chico, compared with 8% in California.

  • 2,039 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 682 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 639 employer businesses

  • Construction: 575 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 453 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 427 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 682 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 639 employer businesses

  • Construction: 575 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 453 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 427 employer businesses

What buyers look for

Buyers look first at profit that holds up under review. Three years of tax returns and profit and loss statements that match each other carry more weight than a high number that cannot be shown.

  • How much of the business depends on the owner

  • How concentrated sales are among a few customers

  • The lease, its remaining term and the landlord's consent to a sale

  • The condition of equipment and the contracts that transfer

Buyers look first at profit that holds up under review. Three years of tax returns and profit and loss statements that match each other carry more weight than a high number that cannot be shown.

  • How much of the business depends on the owner

  • How concentrated sales are among a few customers

  • The lease, its remaining term and the landlord's consent to a sale

  • The condition of equipment and the contracts that transfer

Every kind of business we sell in Chico

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Chico. 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.

Construction & Engineering

622 related employer businesses in Chico.

  • General Contracting: 195 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 93 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 81 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 63 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 63 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 61 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 51 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Civil Engineering: 32 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Masonry: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

441 related employer businesses in Chico.

Medical Practices

341 related employer businesses in Chico.

Financial & Professional Services

301 related employer businesses in Chico.

Retail Stores

271 related employer businesses in Chico.

Automotive & Boat

169 related employer businesses in Chico.

  • Auto Repair: 77 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 30 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Car Washes: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

136 related employer businesses in Chico.

Home Services

116 related employer businesses in Chico.

Gas Stations & Convenience

85 related employer businesses in Chico.

Logistics & Transportation

84 related employer businesses in Chico.

Wholesale & Distribution

82 related employer businesses in Chico.

Senior Care & Living

68 related employer businesses in Chico.

Beauty & Personal Care

64 related employer businesses in Chico.

  • Day Spas: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Hair Salons: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Medical Spas. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x EBITDA.

Education & Childcare

63 related employer businesses in Chico.

  • Daycare Centers: 63 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

  • Preschools. Typical sale multiple: 3.12x - 4.0x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

54 related employer businesses in Chico.

Entertainment & Recreation

46 related employer businesses in Chico.

  • Bars & Pubs: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Event Venues. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 3.5x Earnings.

  • Banquet Halls. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 4.5x Earnings.

  • Escape Rooms. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 3.5x SDE.

Health & Fitness

43 related employer businesses in Chico.

Technology & Media

41 related employer businesses in Chico.

Energy & Utilities

35 related employer businesses in Chico.

Hospitality & Travel

32 related employer businesses in Chico.

  • Hotels: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Pet Services

26 related employer businesses in Chico.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Chico. 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.

Construction & Engineering

622 related employer businesses in Chico.

  • General Contracting: 195 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 93 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Interior Finishing: 81 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 63 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 63 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Electrical: 61 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 51 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Civil Engineering: 32 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 26 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Masonry: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

  • Carpentry & Framing: 9 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x SDE.

Restaurants & Food

441 related employer businesses in Chico.

Medical Practices

341 related employer businesses in Chico.

Financial & Professional Services

301 related employer businesses in Chico.

Retail Stores

271 related employer businesses in Chico.

Automotive & Boat

169 related employer businesses in Chico.

  • Auto Repair: 77 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 30 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 23 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Collision Repair: 21 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Towing & Repo: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Car Washes: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

136 related employer businesses in Chico.

Home Services

116 related employer businesses in Chico.

Gas Stations & Convenience

85 related employer businesses in Chico.

Logistics & Transportation

84 related employer businesses in Chico.

Wholesale & Distribution

82 related employer businesses in Chico.

Senior Care & Living

68 related employer businesses in Chico.

Beauty & Personal Care

64 related employer businesses in Chico.

  • Day Spas: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.8x - 2.8x SDE.

  • Nail Salons: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.4x - 1.88x SDE.

  • Tattoo Shops: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Massage Parlors: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Hair Salons: 20 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

  • Medical Spas. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.5x EBITDA.

Education & Childcare

63 related employer businesses in Chico.

  • Daycare Centers: 63 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

  • Preschools. Typical sale multiple: 3.12x - 4.0x SDE.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

54 related employer businesses in Chico.

Entertainment & Recreation

46 related employer businesses in Chico.

  • Bars & Pubs: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Clubs & Lounges: 27 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 6.0x EBITDA.

  • Outdoor Recreation: 13 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.0x SDE.

  • Golf Courses: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Event Venues. Typical sale multiple: 2.8x - 3.5x Earnings.

  • Banquet Halls. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 4.5x Earnings.

  • Escape Rooms. Typical sale multiple: 1.5x - 3.5x SDE.

Health & Fitness

43 related employer businesses in Chico.

Technology & Media

41 related employer businesses in Chico.

Energy & Utilities

35 related employer businesses in Chico.

Hospitality & Travel

32 related employer businesses in Chico.

  • Hotels: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 29 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

  • Transportation Services: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.0x - 4.1x SDE.

Pet Services

26 related employer businesses in Chico.

E-commerce & Online Businesses

Land & Agriculture

Counties in this metro area

Working with owners in Chico

Business Advisors of America works with owners who are selling a business in Chico. Contact us to talk about a sale.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Chico ask

How long does it take to sell a business in Chico?

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 Chico?

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 Chico

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