Business For Sale Deals Up For 5th Straight Month Says BizBen Index

  DUBLIN, CA - 06/14/2016 (PRESS RELEASE JET)

California business for sale transactions for this May are up over the previous May, making it five straight months that business for sale transactions have been up year over year it was reported by the BizBen Index. The number of transactions completed in the month of May this year reached 1,458 compared to the 1,417 of 2015. The 1,458 completed transactions represents a slight increase from the total sold last month, but so far this year sales are up 11% over last year.

"I think what we are seeing with the increase in small business for sale transactions this year is that the economy, specifically the California economy, is improving.’ said Peter Siegel, MBA, Founder and President of BizBen.com, parent of the BizBen Index.

Siegel explained, "Because of the improved economy both in California and nationwide, we are seeing more small business owners decide that now is the time to sell and more buyers willing to invest. However, we should be cautious moving forward predicting continued increases in transactions as last month’s job report was very disappointing and if the economy continues to slow we may see a decline in business for sale transactions moving forward.”

Other reasons for the improved sales rate, according to Siegel, are easier access to business purchase loans from both SBA-backed and non-SBA lenders, and increased willingness of buyers and sellers to commit to a transaction as they see the economy improving.

Siegel also noted, “As I’ve said in the past, when we see an increase in business for sale transactions, it’s a good sign for the California economy. It shows that both buyers and sellers are confident in the future and confidence is a major factor in the willingness of people to invest.”

"If last month’s job report is not an indicator of a slowing economy and and current lending practices stay stable we just may see a record year for small business for sale transactions."

Larger Counties With Improved Sales

Among large Southern California Counties reporting growth in the sale of small and mid-market businesses last month are Los Angeles County with 396 transactions, Orange County posting 148 completed business transfers last month and San Diego County with a rate of sales increase of 16% to 120 sales last month vs. 102 the previous year.

The BizBen Index reported growth last month in some of the largest Northern California counties including San Francisco where 64 sales were completed compared to 54 deals the previous May.

The total business sales by county recorded last month, available at http://www.bizben.com/stats/stats-monthly-mar.php are: 

Alameda: 91, Amador: 5 Butte: 10, Contra Costa: 14, El Dorado: 9, Fresno: 34, Imperial: 11, Kern: 33, Los Angeles: 396, Marin: 12, Merced: 1, Monterey: 12, Napa: 15, Nevada: 11, Orange: 148, Placer: 13, Riverside: 84, Sacramento: 28, San Bernardino: 60, San Diego: 120, San Francisco:64, San Joaquin: 23, San Mateo: 34, Santa Barbara: 15, Santa Clara: 79, Santa Cruz: 13, Shasta: 7, Solano: 10, Sonoma: 28, Stanislaus: 22, Tulare: 14, Tuolumne: 8, Ventura: 21,

Sales totals posted by California county over the last nine years are available at: http://www.bizben.com/stats/stats-total.php

The BizBen Index has been collecting and reporting information about small California business sales for 17 years, to help business owners/sellers, buyers and the professionals participating in this market make informed choices and achieve success. Sources for the information come from California's Secretary of State office and other government agencies.