NAICS 445310

Beer, Wine & Liquor Stores in Morro Bay, CA

The 1 ZIP codes assigned to Morro Bay contained 3 Liquor Stores establishments in 2023.

Establishments (2023)
3
1 ZIP codes
10 or more employees
n/a
Practical financing floor
Share of county
5%
San Luis Obispo County
City population
10,613
2025 estimate

Figures cover the ZIP codes the U.S. Postal Service assigns to Morro Bay (93442). ZIP areas are not municipal boundaries: they can extend beyond city limits and are shared between neighbouring places. This is a count of establishments in Morro Bay's ZIP codes, not a count of businesses inside its city limits.

Business size mix

Morro Bay is more consolidated than California as a whole: fewer micro-operators and a larger share of businesses with real headcount. Fewer targets, but the ones that exist are more likely to be financeable.

Share of establishmentsMorro BayCaliforniaDifference
Under 5 employeesOwner-operated, often no management layer0.0%69.5%-69.5%
5 to 49 employeesThe range most individual buyers target0.0%5.5%-5.5%
10 or more employeesPractical floor for acquisition financing0.0%0.6%-0.6%

Nearest comparable markets

The closest places to Morro Bay that also have Liquor Stores establishments on record. Useful for spotting a gap next door, or realising the market you are looking at is already served from the town over.

MarketEstablishmentsVs state share
Atascadero3-12%
San Luis Obispo9-9%
Pismo Beach7n/a
Guadalupe4n/a
Santa Maria24+130%

The wider San Luis Obispo County market

Employment and payroll are reported at county level only, so the figures below describe the county Morro Bay sits in.

County establishments (2023)
62
San Luis Obispo County
County employees
350
Mid-March employment
County annual payroll
$12M
All establishments
Full Liquor Stores data for San Luis Obispo County

What acquirers look at

The California ABC license is often the single most valuable asset, and transfer runs its own 60 to 90 day timeline independent of the deal.

Other industries in Morro Bay

Nearby cities

Sources

  1. U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 ZIP Code Business Patterns. Establishment counts and size distribution by ZIP code and NAICS, aggregated over the ZIP codes assigned to each city. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  2. U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 County Business Patterns. Establishment counts, employment and annual payroll by NAICS. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  3. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (2026Q1). Quarterly establishment counts and employment for employers covered by unemployment insurance. Retrieved 2026-09-08.