The median asking price for a restaurant for sale on ListingLedge is $244,500, across 40 priced listings (n=40) as of September 2026, ranging $45K–$5.6M. Separately, 22 completed sales had a median sale price of $105,000 (n=22). Figures update automatically as inventory changes.
Asking price vs. sale price
Two numbers matter when you buy or sell a restaurant, and they are not the same. The asking price is what sellers request — a median of $244,500 today. The sale price is what buyers actually pay, which is commonly negotiated below asking; across the completed sales in this dataset the median was $105,000. We track the two separately and never blend them, because mixing asking and sold figures is the most common way restaurant “market data” gets distorted.
Median asking price by state
Priced restaurant-for-sale listings and median asking price by state, computed from current inventory. States with very few listings show a median that can swing sharply as listings come and go — treat small-sample rows as directional.
| State | Priced listings | Median asking |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 35 | $199,000 |
| North Carolina | 4 | $1,450,000 |
| Tennessee * | 1 | $700,000 |
* single-listing state — median equals that one listing's asking price.
What's driving the numbers
The spread between the lowest and highest asking prices is wide ($45K–$5.6M): the low end is typically an equipment-and-lease transfer for a small operation, while the high end usually includes real estate or an established multi-unit business. That is why the median — not the average — is the honest headline number; a single large listing pulls an average far above what a typical buyer pays. Because the dataset is still small, a handful of new listings or closings can move the median noticeably month to month, which is exactly why we recompute it live and date every edition.
What's on the market now
There are 43 restaurants actively listed for sale on ListingLedge, asking $45K–$5.6M. The mix spans turnkey second-generation spaces, operating businesses sold with their lease, and listings that include the underlying real estate — each listing states what its price includes. Browse all restaurants for sale →
What restaurants actually sold for
ListingLedge tracks 22 completed restaurant sales as a public record of what restaurants really sell for — median $105,000, ranging $27K–$1.0M — not just what sellers ask. Sold comps are kept separate from asking-price statistics. See recent restaurant sale prices →
Methodology & honest limitations
How these numbers are computed. Asking-price statistics are calculated live from restaurant-for-sale listings active on ListingLedge at the time the page loads; sold-comp figures come from a separately maintained record of completed sales. Medians are used instead of averages so outliers don't distort the picture, and asking and sold datasets are never mixed. Listing details are self-reported by sellers and their representatives; ListingLedge does not independently verify financials. The honest limitation: this is a small, growing sample (n=40 priced active listings, n=22 completed sales) reflecting listings on this platform — not every restaurant transaction in the market. Coverage is deepest where the platform has the most inventory today and expands into new states and categories (commercial kitchens, event spaces, hotels) as listings arrive. See our editorial standards & data methodology.
Regional deep dives
For a metro-by-metro breakdown of the market with the deepest coverage, see the South Carolina Restaurant Market Report. More state and category editions are added as inventory grows.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to buy a restaurant?+
As of September 2026, restaurants listed for sale on ListingLedge ask between $45K–$5.6M, with a median asking price of $244,500 across 40 priced listings (n=40). Separately, 22 completed sales in the dataset had a median sale price of $105,000 (n=22). Asking prices are what sellers request; sale prices are what buyers actually paid — the two are tracked separately and never blended.
What is the median asking price for a restaurant for sale?+
The median asking price is $244,500, computed from 40 priced restaurant-for-sale listings on ListingLedge as of September 2026 (n=40). The median (half ask less, half ask more) is more representative than the average, which a single large listing can distort.
What do restaurants actually sell for, versus the asking price?+
Across 22 completed restaurant sales tracked by ListingLedge, the median sale price was $105,000, ranging $27K–$1.0M (n=22). Final sale prices are commonly negotiated below asking. These sold comps are kept entirely separate from asking-price statistics.
Which markets does this report cover?+
As of September 2026, priced restaurant-for-sale inventory on ListingLedge spans South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Coverage is deepest where the platform has the most listings today and expands automatically as inventory grows into new states and categories (commercial kitchens, event spaces, and hotels).
How is this data collected?+
Every asking-price statistic is computed live from restaurant-for-sale listings active on ListingLedge at the time the page loads; sold-comp figures come from a separately maintained record of completed sales. Listing details are self-reported by sellers and their representatives and are not independently verified. This is a real but small, growing sample reflecting listings on this platform — not every transaction in the market.