- Area
- San Joaquin County, north of Stockton
- Main roads
- State Route 99 and State Route 12
- Common sellers
- Wineries, vineyard services, restaurants, retailers and trades
Wine Country With a Working Economy
Lodi is known for zinfandel and other wine grapes, and a tasting room or vineyard service company is a different sale than a shop on Main Street. Buyers split the operating company from any land, buildings and vines.
Restaurants, retailers and trades also serve a steady local market, which buyers like.
What Buyers Ask About
Expect questions about seasonal swings, the lease, key employees and whether tourism or one big account drives sales. Show three years of results, not one strong harvest or festival season.
Alcohol licenses, if you have one, need their own approval. See the ABC transfer guide.
Business License Steps
Lodi has its own city rules, separate from Stockton. Check them before closing, and read the Stockton guide as an example of the questions to ask.
Selling Without Telling the Whole Town
In a city where growers, winemakers and shop owners all know each other, word of a sale travels fast. Confidentiality matters, since a leak can unsettle staff, suppliers and customers before a buyer has proven the money is real.
A broker markets the company without naming it, shares financials only with buyers who sign an agreement and show proof of funds, and sets up meetings on your terms.
Timing a Sale Around the Harvest
Many Lodi businesses earn most of their money in a few months. Buyers do not like to guess, so show monthly sales for three years. A fall start rarely closes the same year, since deals commonly take seven to nine months.
Next Step
Learn how farm service companies are valued, then request a valuation call.