Business Broker in South Pasadena, CA

Selling or Buying a Business in South Pasadena

South Pasadena is a small, walkable city with a strong independent-business culture. The historic Mission Street district around the Metro station is full of restaurants, cafes, bookshops, boutiques, and studios, while Fair Oaks Avenue carries medical and dental offices, professional services, and neighborhood retail. The weekly farmers market and a loyal local customer base keep foot traffic steady.

Buyers like South Pasadena because its businesses tend to have repeat customers and a strong community reputation. That reputation is also the challenge in a sale: owners are often the face of the business. Martin helps owners plan a transition that keeps customers and staff in place, and markets the business confidentially so the neighborhood does not hear about it before the deal is done.

As your South Pasadena 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.

South Pasadena 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 Cafes

Independent restaurants, cafes, and bakeries in the Mission Street district and along Fair Oaks Avenue.

Boutique Retail

Bookstores, gift shops, apparel, and specialty retail with loyal local followings.

Medical and Dental Offices

Dental, pediatric, chiropractic, and therapy practices along Fair Oaks Avenue.

Professional Practices

Accounting, law, design, and architecture firms serving South Pasadena and nearby communities.

Fitness and Wellness

Yoga and pilates studios, personal training, and wellness businesses with membership revenue.

Creative and Service Businesses

Photography, design, printing, and home service businesses based in the city.

What Your South Pasadena 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.

In South Pasadena, owner dependence is the biggest factor in price. A cafe or boutique where the owner knows every customer is worth less to a buyer than the same business with a manager, documented systems, and a customer list. Membership or recurring revenue in studios and practices adds value. Martin shows you which changes will raise your price before you go to market.

Licenses and Permits When You Sell in South Pasadena

South Pasadena is its own incorporated city, separate from Pasadena, so its requirements and timelines differ. Handling these steps early keeps the deal on schedule.

City of South Pasadena business license. The buyer registers for a new City of South Pasadena business license before taking over.

Los Angeles County health permit. Food, beauty, and wellness businesses need their Los Angeles County Department of Public Health permit reissued to the new owner, usually after an inspection.

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.

Signs and use. Changes to signage or use in the historic Mission Street area can require city design review, so a buyer planning changes confirms them early.

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 South Pasadena cafe with a loyal morning crowd and about 190 thousand dollars in Seller's Discretionary Earnings was prepared for sale by putting a manager in place and documenting recipes and vendor terms. It sold confidentially to a first-time owner using SBA financing. This example is anonymized and illustrative.

Working With Martin Navarro

Martin Navarro is a South Pasadena 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

South Pasadena Business Broker, Common Questions

How much is my South Pasadena business worth?

Most South Pasadena small businesses sell for roughly 2x to 3x Seller's Discretionary Earnings.

Businesses with a manager in place, recurring revenue, and a long lease tend to sell at the higher end. A valuation on your actual numbers is the only reliable answer.

What does a South Pasadena business broker charge?

There are no upfront fees to work with Martin Navarro.

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

How long does it take to sell a business in South Pasadena?

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 South Pasadena 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 South Pasadena?

A sale usually involves a new City of South Pasadena business license, a reissued Los Angeles 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 South Pasadena?

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 South Pasadena do you cover?

Martin serves South Pasadena, Pasadena, San Marino, Highland Park, Eagle Rock, and Alhambra.

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