Retail businesses in Alicante: buying, selling and valuation
Retail trade is one of the activities with the most premises in the province: 22,759 active establishments in 2025, according to the INE (Spanish National Statistics Institute), 41.8% of retail trade in the Valencian Community (Comunidad Valenciana). The figure covers all kinds of shops, from food and pharmacies to fashion, electronics or online sales, but excludes the sale of vehicles.
Because premises are counted, a chain with several shops is counted several times. At regional level, the INE records 41,419 retail companies across the Valencian Community in 2025; there is no official figure for retail companies by province.
Retail · Alicante in figures
Active establishments in the province (CNAE activity code 47)
22,759
Share of the Valencian Community
41.8%
Active companies in the province (all activities)
145,106
What affects the value of retail businesses in Alicante
When selling a shop, it is worth distinguishing what is really being sold: the premises and their location, a brand or a concept that works, a loyal clientele, a franchise or an online shop with its own traffic. The buyer will pay for what they can keep. If the value lies in the location, the lease and its length are the key element.
Stock is usually a significant part of the price and also of the disputes. Take an inventory in good time, separate current products from those that have not moved for months and value the latter realistically. A buyer is willing to pay for stock they can sell, not for stock they will have to clear.
In franchises, the contract with the franchisor decides almost everything: whether it allows the transfer, what conditions it imposes on the new franchisee, how long it has left to run and whether any amount has to be paid for the change. If the contract requires the franchisor's consent, ask for it at the right moment, because without it the transaction cannot be completed; it is worth confirming this with a legal adviser.
The buyer will also look at how sales develop by season, the gross margin by product family, dependence on one or two suppliers, the weight of the online channel and who serves in the shop. A shop that only works because the owner knows every customer is worth less than one with a team that already handles the relationship.
Indicative valuation multiples
| Method | Range | Median |
|---|---|---|
| SDE (small businesses) | 1.5× – 2.5× | 2× |
| EBITDA (medium-sized businesses) | 3× – 5× | 4× |
Frequently asked questions
The INE counts the province's retail trade establishments, a figure that appears on this page with its source. It includes all kinds of shops and distance selling, and counts each set of premises separately.
No. In a traspaso (transfer of a business lease and its assets), it is mainly the lease of the premises with its fittings that is assigned; in the sale of the business, the clientele, the brand, the stock, the team and, if the shares are sold, the company itself are also transferred. The price and the documentation differ greatly between the two cases.
Normally at cost for saleable products and below cost for old or damaged ones, after a joint stock-take close to the completion date. The most common approach is to agree the criteria in writing before the count.
It depends on what the franchise agreement says, but it is common for it to require approval of the new franchisee. Review the assignment clauses before looking for a buyer; it is worth confirming this with a legal adviser.
If it generates its own sales with a margin and has repeat customers, yes, because it does not depend on the premises. The buyer will ask for data on orders, traffic and customer acquisition cost. A website with few sales adds little to the valuation.
Other sectors in Alicante
HVAC and air conditioningElectrical installationPlumbingCommercial cleaningManufacturing and industryConstruction and refurbishmentDistribution and logisticsProfessional servicesHospitality and restaurantsHealth and wellbeingSolar energySecurity and alarmsTechnology and ITProvince of AlicanteWhat is your business worth?
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- Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE): Locales por provincia, actividad principal (divisiones CNAE 2009) y estrato de asalariados
- Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE): Locales por CCAA, actividad principal (grupos CNAE 2009) y estrato de asalariados
- Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE): Empresas por provincia y estrato de asalariados
- Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE): Empresas por CCAA, actividad principal (grupos CNAE 2009) y estrato de asalariados
Latest official data available on the date given for each source.
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