Every cannabis business for sale is built on one or more licenses, and the license type defines the business model. Here's a plain-English breakdown of the main California license types you'll see in our listings, and what each means for you as a buyer.
Storefront Retail
A storefront dispensary sells directly to consumers from a physical location. It's the most visible and often the most valuable license type — and the hardest to get, because most cities cap retail licenses or ban them outright. That scarcity is why storefront listings command premium prices, especially in major metros. Look closely at the lease: in retail, location and lease terms drive the valuation almost as much as the license.
Delivery (Non-Storefront Retail)
A delivery license sells to consumers without a public storefront. Lower rent, lower buildout, and a lower price of entry — delivery businesses are the most common first acquisition for new operators. Margins depend on marketing and route density. Many storefronts also carry a delivery permit, which is why you'll see combined "Storefront & Delivery" listings.
Cultivation
Cultivation licenses cover growing — indoor, outdoor, and mixed-light, in size tiers from specialty cottage up to large. Cultivation is a production business: yields, cost per pound and offtake relationships matter more than foot traffic. Real estate is often part of the deal, whether owned or leased, and utilities and canopy limits deserve close diligence. Regions like Calaveras, Humboldt and Santa Barbara each have very different cost structures and reputations.
Distribution
Distribution is the logistics layer: moving product between licensees, arranging testing, and remitting excise tax. It's the quiet workhorse license — lower glamour, steady B2B revenue, and it pairs naturally with cultivation or manufacturing. Many multi-license packages you'll see combine distribution with another activity for exactly that reason.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing licenses cover extraction, infusion and packaged-goods production, with license classes based on the extraction method (volatile solvents require the higher classification). Manufacturing rewards operators with brand and formulation experience, and equipment lists deserve careful review — the value of the deal often sits half in the license, half in the buildout.
Microbusiness and combined licenses
A microbusiness license bundles three or more activities (for example cultivation + manufacturing + retail delivery) under one roof. And many businesses simply hold several separate licenses. Combined operations sell as packages — you'll see listings like "Storefront, Delivery, Cultivation, Distribution & Manufacturing" that give a buyer an entire vertical supply chain in one purchase.
Which one is right for you?
It depends on your capital, your operating experience, and whether you want consumer-facing revenue or B2B production. If you're not sure, that conversation is literally our job. Contact Evergreen Broker and we'll walk through what's on the market at your budget — or browse everything currently for sale and filter by license type.