BizBen Index Posts Best November Of California Businesses for Sale Results in Four Years

DUBLIN, CA, December 06, 2012 (Press-News.org) California recorded 1,022 sales of small and mid-sized business last month, showing the highest level of November activity since 2008, according to the BizBen Index, which tracks and reports sales volume in the state's market for small California business for sale transfers. The company also announced that the count of sales so far this year stands at 13,046, representing the best sales volume since 2009, when 13,084 transactions were completed during the first 11 months.

"We're pleased to see improvement in business transfer activity because it's an indication that the market is recovering from the slowdown we've experienced over the past four years," said Peter Siegel, MBA, Founder and President of BizBen.com, parent of the BizBen Index. "Through the end of last month, we still are at about 34% fewer transactions for the year compared to the total of 19,885 deals recorded through November of 2008.

"It means 34% fewer people were able to buy a business in each of the last four year, even though there is increased demand as many Californians decide that owning their own company is a better long-term financial plan than working for someone else in this economic environment. At the same time, of course, 34% fewer business owners have been able to sell this year compared to 2008, despite the fact that hundreds of thousands of baby boomer owners are ready to retire."

Siegel noted "the business sales rate in the country's largest state is a key economic indicator. It's encouraging to see indications of improvement in transactions, but the market has changed dramatically and people still are learning to adapt to the way small businesses are bought and sold in this New Economy."

Many of California's largest counties logged more sales last month compared to the same 2011 period. Los Angeles County recorded 306 deals last month, up by more than 16% over the 263 total recorded the previous November. Orange County sales of 101 small and mid-sized businesses for the recently-completed month represents 23% growth from the 82 transactions successfully completed in November of last year. And San Diego County's November-to-November comparison shows an increase of more than 15%, from 77 to 89 transactions posted last month.

"There may be more optimism in Southern California, with more people willing to engage in a purchase or sale of a small business than in the Northern part of the state." said Siegel. He noted that the increase in deals in Santa Clara County from 52 to 57--when Novembers are compared--was less than ten percent. And the sales count was down to 18 this November in San Francisco, vs. 48 completed transactions in the same 2011 month. Sacramento County's decline from last November's 28 to 24 deals last month represents a dip of more than 14%.

The totals for November by county are noted below. More complete sales information by California counties and cities for the past five years, supplied by the BizBen Index, can be found at http://www.bizben.com/stats/stats-monthly-nov.php
Alameda: 62, Amador: 3, Butte: 5, Contra Costa: 29, El Dorado: 6, Fresno: 22, Humboldt: 2, Iimperial: 6, Kern: 10, Lake: 1, Los Angeles: 306, Marin: 1, Marion: 1, Mendocino: 2, Merced: 1, Monterey: 14, Nevada: 6, Orange: 101, Placer: 13, Riverside: 31, Sacramento: 24, San Bernardino: 54, San Diego: 89, San Francisco: 18, San Joaquin: 14, San Luis Obispo: 7, San Mateo: 20, Santa Barbara: 14, Santa Clara: 57, Santa Cruz: 12, Shasta: 3, Solano: 8, Sonoma: 28, Stanislaus: 16, Sutter: 4, Tehama: 1, Tulare: 6, Tuolumne: 1, Ventura: 19, Yolo: 4

The BizBen Index figures, showing the sales rates by city and county throughout the state for the past five years are accessed at http://www.bizben.com/stats/stats-total.php

BizBen.com features more than 8,000 California businesses for sale and businesses wanted postings, along with offerings of new franchises and business opportunities. Since 1994 this niche online network and service has proved a valuable tool for thousands of California business buyers, small business owners/sellers, intermediaries, and advisors. The site also includes articles, resources, news and tips, and a daily blog. For the past 15 years, its BizBen Index has collected and reported on business sales statistics, by county and city, throughout the state.

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