Retail businesses in Castellón: buying, selling and valuation
Retail trade is the activity with the most establishments of those this website covers for Castellón: 6,415 according to the INE (Spanish National Statistics Institute) at the start of 2025, 11.8% of those in the Valencian Community (Comunidad Valenciana). The figure covers all kinds of shops, from food and pharmacy to fashion, hardware, electronics or online sales, and excludes the motor vehicle trade.
Across the Valencian Community as a whole, retail had 41,419 companies at the start of 2025. The number of establishments in the province and the number of companies in the region are not comparable with each other, but both reflect a sector made up of many businesses, in which a particular shop competes mainly on its location, its range and its loyal customers.
Retail · Castellón in figures
Active establishments in the province (CNAE activity code 47)
6,415
Share of the Valencian Community
11.8%
Active companies in the province (all activities)
40,045
What affects the value of retail businesses in Castellón
Separating the business from the premises comes first. Many shops are worth mainly their location, and in that case the decisive factor is the lease: remaining term, rent, whether it can be assigned and any pending works. If the shop generates profit in its own right, with repeat customers, a recognised brand or its own online sales, the buyer will pay for that profit as well as the premises.
Inventory deserves special attention. Stock is normally valued at cost, but only stock that can be sold; products from past seasons or slow-moving lines are discounted. A recent stock count, with ageing by product family, avoids one of the most common disputes in the sale of a shop.
If the shop is a franchise or distributes a brand under contract, you need to check what that contract says about transfer: the franchisor often has to approve the new owner. Margins by product family, dependence on a supplier, sales by channel and, if there is one, the weight of the online shop and who manages its traffic are also analysed.
Illustrative example: two shops with similar sales may receive very different valuations if one has a long lease and a base of registered customers, and the other depends on the owner being behind the counter every day with a lease that expires soon.
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 6,415 retail trade establishments in the province, excluding vehicle sales. They are establishments, not companies: a chain with several shops is counted several times.
It depends on the case. If the profit comes mainly from the location, the value lies in the lease or in the property. If there are loyal customers, a brand or its own online channel, the business is worth something in its own right and is valued on its profit.
It is usually valued separately, at cost price and discounting obsolete items, with a stock count close to the completion date. That way the price of the business does not depend on how much merchandise there is on that day.
Yes, but normally with the franchisor's approval and in line with the terms of its contract, which may include pre-emptive purchase rights. Read the contract before looking for a buyer and, if in doubt, it is worth confirming this with a legal adviser.
Yes, if the online sales have demonstrable results of their own and do not depend on a single person. Sales by channel, customer acquisition cost, the domain, the platform accounts and in whose name they are held are reviewed.
Other sectors in Castellón
HVAC and air conditioningElectrical installationPlumbingCommercial cleaningManufacturing and industryConstruction and refurbishmentDistribution and logisticsProfessional servicesHospitality and restaurantsHealth and wellbeingSolar energySecurity and alarmsTechnology and ITProvince of CastellónWhat 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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