Business Broker in Costa Mesa, CA

Selling or Buying a Business in Costa Mesa

Costa Mesa is Orange County's retail and consumer-brand center. South Coast Plaza is one of the highest-grossing shopping centers in the country, and the surrounding area includes the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, SoCo and The Camp, and a dense mix of restaurants. The city is also home to action sports, apparel, and consumer brands, and the Westside has light industrial, fabrication, and service businesses.

That range means Costa Mesa buyers are just as varied: restaurant groups, brand acquirers, first-time owners, and industrial operators. Martin matches the marketing to the right buyers and keeps the process confidential.

As your Costa Mesa business broker, Martin handles businesses of every type and works with owners selling companies up to 50 million dollars. He handles every engagement himself and serves Los Angeles, Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange County, and throughout Southern California.

Costa Mesa Businesses Martin Sells

Martin is not limited to one niche. He represents owners across every sector, from main street to the lower middle market.

Restaurants and Food Concepts

Restaurants and food concepts near South Coast Plaza, SoCo, and along 17th Street.

Retail and Specialty Stores

Specialty retail across the city's shopping districts.

Action Sports and Consumer Brands

Apparel, surf, skate, and lifestyle brands with wholesale and online sales.

Westside Industrial and Fabrication

Light manufacturing, fabrication, and industrial service businesses on the Westside.

Automotive Services

Auto repair, detailing, and specialty automotive businesses.

Health and Wellness

Fitness studios, physical therapy, and wellness businesses.

What Your Costa Mesa Business Is Worth

Most small and mid sized businesses are valued on Seller's Discretionary Earnings, or SDE, which is your net profit with the owner's salary, benefits, and one time or personal expenses added back. A market multiple, commonly 2x to 4x SDE for main street businesses, is adjusted for your lease, assets, growth, and how dependent the business is on you. Larger companies are valued on a multiple of EBITDA.

Consumer brands are valued on revenue growth, gross margin, and how diversified their sales channels are, not just current profit. Restaurants depend on lease terms and documented sales. Westside industrial businesses are valued on customer relationships and equipment, and whether the owner also owns the building. Martin prepares each type of business for the buyers most likely to pay for it.

Licenses and Permits When You Sell in Costa Mesa

Costa Mesa is its own city in Orange County, so a sale follows City of Costa Mesa, county, and state requirements. Handling these steps early keeps the deal on schedule.

City of Costa Mesa business license. The buyer applies for a new City of Costa Mesa business license in their own name.

Orange County health permit. Food businesses need a new health permit from the Orange County Health Care Agency, which is not transferable between owners.

ABC alcohol license. Restaurants, bars, and markets transfer the state Alcoholic Beverage Control license through escrow, and the application is started early because ABC review can take weeks.

Industrial and hazardous materials permits. Westside fabrication and automotive businesses may have fire department or hazardous materials permits that must be updated for a new owner.

Lease assignment and bulk sale escrow. The landlord's consent to assign the lease is negotiated alongside a standard California bulk sale escrow with published notice to creditors.

Martin coordinates these steps with your escrow officer, your attorney, and the relevant agencies so nothing becomes a surprise at the closing table.

Example: a Costa Mesa apparel brand with growing online and wholesale sales and about 600 thousand dollars in adjusted earnings was marketed confidentially to strategic brand acquirers. Clean channel reporting and inventory records supported a strong offer. This example is anonymized and illustrative.

Working With Martin Navarro

Martin Navarro is a Costa Mesa business broker and M&A advisor who handles the confidential sale and acquisition of businesses of every type, from main street through the lower middle market. He works every engagement personally.

Credentialed and accountable. California DRE salesperson license number 02372118, and a member of the California Association of Business Brokers, the International Business Brokers Association, M&A Source, and ACG Los Angeles.

Background that fits the work. U.S. Marine Corps veteran with dual California State University, Northridge degrees in Business Management and Accounting.

Aligned with you. No upfront fees. Martin is paid only when your business sells and the deal closes.

Regional coverage. Serving Los Angeles, Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange County, and throughout Southern California.

FAQ

Costa Mesa Business Broker, Common Questions

How much is my Costa Mesa business worth?

Most Costa Mesa businesses sell for roughly 2x to 3.5x Seller's Discretionary Earnings, and larger companies on a multiple of EBITDA.

Growing consumer brands and restaurants with long leases often sell at the higher end. A valuation on your actual numbers is the only reliable answer.

What does a Costa Mesa business broker charge?

There are no upfront fees to work with Martin Navarro.

He is paid a success fee only when your Costa Mesa business sells and the deal closes.

How long does it take to sell a business in Costa Mesa?

Most sales take 6 to 12 months from engagement to closing.

Preparation runs 1 to 3 months, confidential marketing 3 to 6 months, and due diligence plus escrow another 60 to 90 days.

Can I sell my Costa Mesa business confidentially?

Yes. Martin markets your business without naming it and screens every buyer under a nondisclosure agreement before sharing details.

That protects your staff, customers, and competitors from learning of the sale before it closes.

What licenses transfer when I sell a business in Costa Mesa?

A sale usually involves a new City of Costa Mesa business license, a new Orange County health permit for food businesses, and transfer of any ABC alcohol license.

Martin coordinates each step with your escrow and attorney.

Do you sell all types of businesses in Costa Mesa?

Yes. Martin handles businesses of every type, from main street shops to lower middle market companies.

That includes retail, services, manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality, and franchises, with deals up to 50 million dollars.

What areas around Costa Mesa do you cover?

Martin serves Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Irvine, Huntington Beach, and Santa Ana.

He also covers Los Angeles, Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange County, and throughout Southern California.