California Market Intelligence Report (2025)

Top Businesses to Start in California (2025)

We analyzed 1.3M+ verified business records to help you separate the hype from the hard numbers.

Top 5 Opportunities

#1
FASTEST GROWTH SECTOR

Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians)

Growth: +291.7% • Saturation: 0.60 LQ
#2
HIGH DEMAND SIGNAL

Employment Placement Agencies

Growth: +266.7% • Saturation: 0.57 LQ
#3
LOW COMPETITION GAP

Miscellaneous Intermediation

Growth: +260.0% • Saturation: 0.53 LQ
#4
HIGH DEMAND SIGNAL

General Freight Trucking, Local

Growth: +250.0% • Saturation: 0.36 LQ
#5
LOW COMPETITION GAP

Barber Shops

Growth: +233.3% • Saturation: 0.73 LQ

Census Records

Official Source

Volume Filtered

10+ Est. Minimum

100% Objective

No Pay-to-Play

Validate Your Idea Locally

SELECT METRO AREA

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim

#1 VOL

The state's largest economic engine.

Population

13.0M

Active Biz

511K

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Fastest Growth

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont

4.7M Residents

ANALYZE

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

Population

4.6M

ANALYZE

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

Population

3.3M

ANALYZE

Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

Population

2.4M

ANALYZE

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara

Population

2.0M

ANALYZE

Fresno

Population

1.2M

ANALYZE

Bakersfield-Delano

Population

910K

ANALYZE

Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

Population

838K

ANALYZE

Stockton-Lodi

Population

787K

ANALYZE

Modesto

Population

552K

ANALYZE

Santa Rosa-Petaluma

Population

486K

ANALYZE

Visalia

Population

476K

ANALYZE

Vallejo

Population

451K

ANALYZE

Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

Population

444K

ANALYZE

Salinas

Population

436K

ANALYZE

Merced

Population

286K

ANALYZE

San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

Population

281K

ANALYZE

Santa Cruz-Watsonville

Population

266K

ANALYZE

Chico

Population

209K

ANALYZE

Yuba City

Population

182K

ANALYZE

Redding

Population

182K

ANALYZE

El Centro

Population

179K

ANALYZE

Hanford-Corcoran

Population

153K

ANALYZE

Napa

Population

136K

ANALYZE

More States in the West

Explore business opportunities in other West states

AK
Alaska
AZ
Arizona
CO
Colorado
HI
Hawaii
ID
Idaho
MT
Montana
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Common Questions

What is the fastest growing business in California?+

Currently, the Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) sector is leading the state with a +291.7% 5-year growth rate across multiple metro markets.

What is the most profitable solo business?+

Based on Non-Employer Statistics, solo founders in the Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists) sector report the highest average annual receipts at $182k.

What does the data say about California's economy?+

The state is home to 1.3M active establishments across 25 major metro areas. The market shows strong growth in emerging sectors with opportunities in high-demand, low-saturation niches.