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Buying a business: California vs North Carolina

Two markets side by side — inventory, pricing, and what you actually pay per dollar of cash flow, from live Waterfall data.

California

6,340 active listings
Active listings6,340 Edge
Median asking$345,000 Edge
Median cash flow$178,627
Typical multiple1.9×
Owner-earnings yield~52%
Median revenue$750,000
VS

North Carolina

1,240 active listings
Active listings1,240
Median asking$349,000
Median cash flow$180,000 Edge
Typical multiple1.9×
Owner-earnings yield~52%
Median revenue$789,365

Who wins?

California has 411% more businesses on the market than North Carolina (6,340 vs 1,240). California is cheaper at the median asking price. Both markets price at about the same 1.9× cash-flow multiple, so you pay a similar earnings premium either way — the difference is selection and entry price, not valuation.

MetricCaliforniaNorth Carolina
Active listings6,3401,240
Median asking$345,000$349,000
Median cash flow$178,627$180,000
Typical multiple1.9×1.9×
Owner-earnings yield~52%~52%
Median revenue$750,000$789,365
Related comparisons

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