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Buying a business: California vs North Dakota

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 Dakota

42 active listings
Active listings42
Median asking$1,000,000
Median cash flow$217,085 Edge
Typical multiple4.6×
Owner-earnings yield~22%
Median revenue$1,470,000

Who wins?

California has 14995% more businesses on the market than North Dakota (6,340 vs 42). California is cheaper at the median asking price. California trades at a lower multiple (1.9× vs 4.6×), meaning you pay less per dollar of cash flow there.

MetricCaliforniaNorth Dakota
Active listings6,34042
Median asking$345,000$1,000,000
Median cash flow$178,627$217,085
Typical multiple1.9×4.6×
Owner-earnings yield~52%~22%
Median revenue$750,000$1,470,000
Related comparisons

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