--- title: Restaurant Broker — Sacramento, East Bay & North Bay | Jim Pate, CBB description: Sell your restaurant for its true worth with Jim Pate, a Certified Business Broker specializing in Restaurant, Bars, and select Main Street Businesses image: https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/hubfs/Headshots/Jim-and-chef.png --- 100% Confidential | No Upfront Fees | [(916) 250-2012 — Call Jim Direct](tel:+19162502012) [![Restaurant Deal Brokers](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logo_horizontal_reversed.png?height=44&name=logo_horizontal_reversed.png)](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/) - [About Jim](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/about) - [Service Areas](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/restaurant-broker-sacramento-region) - [Sacramento Region](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/restaurant-broker-sacramento-region) - [East Bay Corridor](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/restaurant-broker-east-bay) - [North Bay](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/restaurant-broker-north-bay) - [Northern California](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/restaurant-broker-northern-california) - [Listings](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/listings) - [Insights](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/insights) [(916) 250-2012](tel:+19162502012) [Free Evaluation →](https://hire.restaurantdealbrokers.com/en/) [About Jim](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/about) Service Areas [Sacramento Region](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/restaurant-broker-sacramento-region) [East Bay Corridor](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/restaurant-broker-east-bay) [North Bay](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/restaurant-broker-north-bay) [Northern California](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/restaurant-broker-northern-california) [Listings](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/listings) [Insights](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/insights) [(916) 250-2012](tel:+19162502012) [Free Evaluation](https://hire.restaurantdealbrokers.com/en/) Northern California's Restaurant Exit Specialist # Sell your restaurant for what it's *truly worth.* You've put years — maybe decades — into building it. **Don't leave the value on the table.** Get a free, confidential valuation from a broker who's been in your shoes. 40+ yrsIn Restaurants OwnerOperator · Broker CBBCertified Broker [Get My Free Valuation →](https://hire.restaurantdealbrokers.com/en/) [📞 Schedule a 15-min Call](https://meetings.hubspot.com/jim474/restaurant-evaluation-exit-strategy-) ✓100% Confidential ✓No Upfront Fees ✓Staff Won't Know ![Jim Pate, CBB — restaurant broker shaking hands with a restaurant owner after a successful sale](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Headshots/hero-portrait.webp?width=720&height=960&name=hero-portrait.webp) Jim Pate Certified Business Broker · DRE #02067466 Why owners call Jim first - Former restaurant owner & operator - Certified Business Broker (CBB) - U.S. Marine Corps Veteran - 40+ years in the restaurant business - Restaurant and Main Street Exit Specialist [Get My Free Valuation →](https://hire.restaurantdealbrokers.com/en/) Confidential · No obligation · No upfront fees ![](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Headshots/jim-pate-restaurant-broker-about.webp?width=28&height=28&name=jim-pate-restaurant-broker-about.webp) By **Jim Pate**, Northern California's Restaurant Exit Specialist · Certified Business Broker · DRE #02067466 · 40+ years in the restaurant business Updated May 31, 2026 Credentials: ✓Certified Business Broker (CBB) ✓California DRE #02067466 ✓IBBA Member ✓CABB Member ✓U.S. Marine Corps Veteran 40+ Years in Restaurants Owner. Operator. Broker. 100% Restaurant-Only No upfront fee — we get paid when you get paid. SBA-Ready Deal Structuring More buyers. Stronger price. Confidential. No Pressure. You stay in control. What you walk away with ## Four things that decide whether your restaurant *actually sells* Most owners don't know what their restaurant is truly worth — and most brokers won't tell them straight. Here's what really matters when buyers and lenders look at your business. 💰 ### Cash Flow (SDE) Seller's Discretionary Earnings is the primary number buyers and lenders look at. Most owners don't know their true SDE — or how to present it. Jim recasts your financials to find the real number. 📋 ### Lease Structure A short or unfavorable lease kills deals. Buyers need runway. Understanding lease terms and negotiating extensions is often the difference between a sale and a stall. 👥 ### Buyer Demand Jim's buyer network crosses regional lines — Sacramento, North Bay, East Bay. Your restaurant gets exposure to qualified, financed buyers across Northern California, not just one market. 🏦 ### SBA Financing Most restaurant buyers use SBA financing. Positioning your restaurant to be SBA-eligible dramatically expands your buyer pool and supports a stronger sale price. The hard truth ## A lot of restaurants *struggle to sell.* Here's how Jim flips the script. After 40+ years in the restaurant business — dishwasher, Marine, chef, owner, and broker — the patterns are clear. Most listings fail for the same avoidable reasons. Here's what kills restaurant sales, and what makes them close. ⚠ The Common Path ### Listed by a generic broker - Inflated price set just to win the listing - Months go by — nothing happens - Owner gets frustrated; price drops - Time erodes value; buyers smell desperation - Deal stalls or collapses at escrow - You walk away with less than your business was worth ✓ Working with Jim ### Priced right. Marketed right. Closed right. - Honest valuation grounded in market reality - Positioned in front of qualified, financed buyers across Northern California - SBA-positioned to expand the buyer pool - Confidential — staff and customers don't find out - Most listings sell in 90–180 days - You walk away with what your restaurant is truly worth The process ## From your first call *to the closing table.* A guided, four-step process. Clear milestones. Jim quarterbacking every piece from start to finish. 01 Confidential Evaluation Free. No obligation. Jim reviews your financials, lease, and concept — and gives you a straight assessment of value and readiness. 02 Market Preparation Recast the P&L to find true cash flow. Address lease issues. Package financials to SBA standards so buyers can actually close. 03 Qualified Buyer Matching NDA first — always. Financials only go to qualified, financially screened buyers. Your staff, landlord, and suppliers don't find out until you decide to disclose. 04 Close the Deal LOI, purchase agreement, ABC license transfer, lease assignment, health permits — Jim coordinates every moving part until it's done. ★★★★★ **5.0 average** from 47+ verified client reviews ## What clients say about Jim " ★★★★★ Jim takes the initiative, follows through, and always thinks outside the box. SZ Steve Zimmerman Restaurant Brokerage Industry Veteran " ★★★★★ Jim has been incredibly knowledgeable and patient. His experience owning a restaurant made the entire buying process seamless. He goes above and beyond for his clients. DT Domenico Testa Restaurant Owner, California " ★★★★★ Jim has been great to work with on the lease assignment — an incredibly complicated deal. I would highly recommend Jim to any seller, buyer, or landlord. He will stay with it till it's done. GM George Manojlovic Senior VP, Fairbourne Properties " ★★★★★ Jim and the team have been great — educating me on how to sell, acquire businesses, and consult on the restaurant real estate market. He clearly knows this industry from the inside. DF Dennis F. Restaurant Owner & Buyer, California ![Jim Pate — Certified Business Broker, former restaurant owner, Northern California's dedicated restaurant broker](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Headshots/jim-pate-consulting-restaurant-owners.jpg?width=420&height=520&name=jim-pate-consulting-restaurant-owners.jpg) 40+ Years in the restaurant business About Jim ## I've been in *your shoes.* I'm not a broker who learned restaurants from a spreadsheet. I've washed the dishes, cooked the line, owned the place, and sold it. That's why owners trust me with the biggest sale of their life. 🧽 **Started at 14 — washing dishes** The restaurant business has been my life since the beginning. 🎖️ **U.S. Marine Corps** Served my country before returning to the kitchen — discipline and follow-through I still bring to every deal. 👨‍🍳 **Worked up to chef** Including Harrah's Lake Tahoe and the kitchens of Old Sacramento — California Fat's, China Camp. 🍽️ **Owned & operated my own restaurant for nearly a decade** Lived the pressure, the long hours, the staffing challenges — and the pride. Then sold it. Which is when I learned what it really means to need someone in your corner. 📈 **40+ years in the restaurant business** Operations, financials, market dynamics — the business from every angle. Now exclusively helping restaurant owners exit on their terms. "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." Certified Business Broker (CBB) California DRE #02067466 IBBA Member CABB Member U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Restaurant Exit Specialist [Read Jim's story →](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/about) Where Jim works ## Restaurant brokerage across *Northern California* Jim represents restaurant owners in three active markets across Northern California — the Greater Sacramento region, the East Bay 680 corridor, and the North Bay's Wine Country. Click your region for a market-specific page with local deals, buyer demand data, and Jim's direct contact. 📍 ### Restaurant Broker — Sacramento Region Serving **Sacramento, Roseville, Folsom, Elk Grove, Davis, Citrus Heights, Rancho Cordova, El Dorado Hills,** and the greater Sacramento metro. Jim's home market — strong SBA-eligible buyer demand and a healthy independent restaurant scene. Strong buyer demand·90–150 day avg sale [Sacramento restaurant brokerage →](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/restaurant-broker-sacramento-region) 📍 ### Restaurant Broker — East Bay Serving **Walnut Creek, Concord, Pleasanton, Dublin, Livermore, Danville, San Ramon, Lafayette, Orinda, Brentwood,** and the full 680 corridor. The suburban dining market built for serious operators — premium lease situations and a deep SBA buyer pool. 17 deals closed·680 Corridor specialist [East Bay restaurant brokerage →](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/restaurant-broker-east-bay) 📍 ### Restaurant Broker — North Bay Serving **Petaluma, Novato, San Rafael, Napa, Sonoma, Healdsburg, Sebastopol,** and Wine Country. Destination dining with high-quality buyer interest — backed by 30 years of institutional presence through Santa Rosa Business & Commercial. 30+ yrs SRBC presence·Wine Country specialist [North Bay restaurant brokerage →](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/restaurant-broker-north-bay) Frequently asked ## Common questions from California restaurant owners Straight answers from a broker who's owned a restaurant himself. How much is my restaurant worth in California? + Restaurant valuations in California are based primarily on **Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE)**, lease terms, location, buyer demand, and SBA financing eligibility. Most independent restaurants sell for **1.5–3× SDE**, with strong concepts in prime Sacramento, East Bay, and North Bay locations commanding premiums. Jim offers a free confidential Broker's Opinion of Value — no obligation, 24-hour turnaround. How long does it take to sell a restaurant? + With correct pricing and a qualified buyer pool, most California restaurants sell within **90–180 days**. Sacramento and East Bay restaurants tend to move faster than the statewide average due to strong buyer demand. The single biggest factor in time-to-sale is getting the valuation right from the start — overpriced listings stall, lose momentum, and sell for less. Who is the restaurant broker for Sacramento and the East Bay? + Jim Pate of **Restaurant Deal Brokers** is the dedicated restaurant broker for Sacramento, the East Bay's 680 corridor, and the North Bay. He is a Certified Business Broker (CBB, DRE #02067466), U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, and former restaurant owner with **40+ years in the restaurant business**. Jim is rated **5.0 stars across 47+ verified client reviews** and can be reached directly at (916) 250-2012. Is selling my restaurant confidential? + Yes. Jim uses a fully confidential process — **NDAs are required before any buyer sees your financials or location**. Your staff, customers, suppliers, and landlord won't know your restaurant is for sale until you're ready to close. This protects revenue and team retention during the sale process. Do I need a specialized broker to sell a restaurant? + Yes. Restaurant sales involve **ABC liquor license transfers, lease assignments, health permit transfers, and SBA financing** — none of which a general business broker handles regularly. A specialized restaurant broker like Jim manages these alongside the buyer, landlord, lender, and escrow simultaneously, which is why generalist brokers see deals collapse where Jim closes them. What is a Broker's Opinion of Value (BOV)? + A Broker's Opinion of Value is a **market-based estimate of what your restaurant would realistically sell for**, grounded in your actual financials, lease terms, and current buyer demand. Unlike a formal appraisal, a BOV from Jim is fast (24-hour turnaround), free, and confidential — and it's the right starting point for any owner thinking about selling. Does Jim Pate help with SBA financing? + Jim doesn't provide SBA loans, but **positioning your restaurant to be SBA-eligible** is one of the highest-leverage things he does for sellers. SBA-qualified buyers represent the majority of restaurant buyers in California, and SBA-eligibility typically expands your buyer pool significantly and supports a stronger sale price. Jim coordinates directly with SBA preferred lenders during the deal. Does Jim cover the East Bay and North Bay, or only Sacramento? + Jim covers **Sacramento, the East Bay's 680 corridor** (Walnut Creek, Pleasanton, Concord, Dublin, Danville, San Ramon, Livermore, Brentwood), and the **North Bay** (Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Novato, San Rafael, Napa, Sonoma). He has closed restaurant deals across all three regions and maintains active buyer networks in each. Call Jim directly at (916) 250-2012. Let's talk ## If you're thinking about selling, *let's talk.* No pressure. No obligation. Just a clear understanding of your options and what your restaurant is truly worth — straight from a broker who's been in your kitchen. [Get My Free Valuation →](https://hire.restaurantdealbrokers.com/en/) [📞 Or Schedule a Call](https://meetings.hubspot.com/jim474/restaurant-evaluation-exit-strategy-) ✓100% Confidential ✓No Upfront Fees ✓Your Staff Won't Know ✓24-Hour Response [Call (916) 250-2012](tel:+19162502012) [Get Free Valuation →](https://hire.restaurantdealbrokers.com/en/) ![Restaurant Deal Brokers](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logo_horizontal_reversed.png?height=48&name=logo_horizontal_reversed.png) Northern California's Restaurant Exit Specialist. Serving Sacramento, East Bay, North Bay, and Northern California. [(916) 250-2012](tel:+19162502012) [Free Evaluation →](https://hire.restaurantdealbrokers.com/en/) CBB Certified CABB Member U.S. Veteran DRE #02067466 #### Service Areas - [Sacramento Region](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/restaurant-broker-sacramento-region) - [East Bay Corridor](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/restaurant-broker-east-bay) - [North Bay](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/restaurant-broker-north-bay) - [Northern California](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/restaurant-broker-northern-california) #### Quick Links - [About Jim](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/about) - [Listings](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/listings) - [Insights](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/insights) - [Free Evaluation](https://hire.restaurantdealbrokers.com/en/) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/privacy) © 2026 Restaurant Deal Brokers · Jim Pate · DRE #02067466 · Licensed in California - [Sacramento](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/restaurant-broker-sacramento-region) - [East Bay](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/restaurant-broker-east-bay) - [North Bay](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/restaurant-broker-north-bay) - [Northern CA](https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/restaurant-broker-northern-california) [(916) 250-2012](tel:+19162502012) [Free Evaluation](https://hire.restaurantdealbrokers.com/en/) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/#website", "@type" : "WebSite", "description" : "Northern California's dedicated restaurant brokerage — Certified Business Broker Jim Pate helps restaurant owners sell confidentially in Sacramento, East Bay, and North Bay.", "inLanguage" : "en-US", "name" : "Restaurant Deal Brokers", "publisher" : { "@id" : "https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/#jim-pate" }, "url" : "https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/#webpage", "@type" : "WebPage", "about" : { "@id" : "https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/#jim-pate" }, "breadcrumb" : { "@type" : "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement" : [ { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : "https://www.restaurantdealbrokers.com/", "name" : "Home", "position" : 1 } ] }, "dateModified" : "2026-05-31", "description" : "Jim Pate is Northern California's dedicated restaurant broker. 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Most independent restaurants sell for 1.5–3× SDE, with strong concepts in prime Sacramento, East Bay, and North Bay locations commanding premiums. Jim Pate offers a free confidential Broker's Opinion of Value — no obligation, 24-hour turnaround." }, "name" : "How much is my restaurant worth in California?" }, { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "With correct pricing and a qualified buyer pool, most California restaurants sell within 90–180 days. Sacramento and East Bay restaurants tend to move faster than the statewide average due to strong buyer demand. The single biggest factor in time-to-sale is getting the valuation right from the start — overpriced listings stall, lose momentum, and sell for less." }, "name" : "How long does it take to sell a restaurant?" }, { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Jim Pate of Restaurant Deal Brokers is the dedicated restaurant broker for Sacramento, the East Bay's 680 corridor, and the North Bay. He is a Certified Business Broker (CBB, DRE #02067466), U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, and former restaurant owner with 40+ years in the restaurant business. Jim can be reached directly at (916) 250-2012." }, "name" : "Who is the restaurant broker for Sacramento and the East Bay?" }, { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Yes. Jim uses a fully confidential process — NDAs are required before any buyer sees your financials or location. 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SBA-qualified buyers represent the majority of restaurant buyers in California, and SBA-eligibility typically expands your buyer pool significantly and supports a stronger sale price. Jim coordinates directly with SBA preferred lenders during the deal." }, "name" : "Does Jim Pate help with SBA financing?" }, { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Jim covers Sacramento, the East Bay's 680 corridor (Walnut Creek, Pleasanton, Concord, Dublin, Danville, San Ramon, Livermore, Brentwood), and the North Bay (Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Novato, San Rafael, Napa, Sonoma). He has closed restaurant deals across all three regions and maintains active buyer networks in each. Call Jim directly at (916) 250-2012." }, "name" : "Does Jim cover the East Bay and North Bay, or only Sacramento?" } ] } ```