The three largest of those industries in Georgia are gas stations with convenience stores (4,663 establishments), insurance agencies and brokerages (4,583), and accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms (4,548). WETYR buys qualifying Georgia businesses directly and confidentially, and, with an owner's OK, introduces Georgia owners to registry buyers whose buy box fits. Owners and buyers then deal directly with their own advisors.
The largest owner-operated industries in Georgia
Georgia ranks 4th in the country for gas stations with convenience stores, with 4,663 establishments, or 4.9% of the U.S. total, against 3.2% of the U.S. population. The fifteen largest Georgia categories follow.
| Industry | Establishments | Per 100k residents | Index vs U.S. | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gas stations with convenience stores | 4,663 | 43.5 | 1.50 | 4th |
| Insurance agencies and brokerages | 4,583 | 42.7 | 1.05 | 7th |
| Accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms | 4,548 | 42.4 | 1.04 | 6th |
| Dental practices | 3,560 | 33.2 | 0.81 | 12th |
| Landscaping and tree services | 3,191 | 29.8 | 0.85 | 13th |
| Plumbing and HVAC contractors | 3,017 | 28.1 | 0.85 | 10th |
| Electrical contractors | 2,400 | 22.4 | 0.91 | 10th |
| Childcare centers | 2,327 | 21.7 | 0.91 | 11th |
| IT services and computer systems design | 2,196 | 20.5 | 1.21 | 9th |
| General auto repair shops | 2,124 | 19.8 | 0.79 | 12th |
| Commercial cleaning and janitorial services | 2,038 | 19.0 | 0.95 | 10th |
| Physical therapy clinics | 1,389 | 13.0 | 0.87 | 10th |
| Home health care agencies | 1,388 | 12.9 | 1.13 | 8th |
| Staffing agencies | 1,360 | 12.7 | 1.25 | 6th |
| Pharmacies and drug stores | 1,286 | 12.0 | 0.96 | 10th |
Where Georgia is over and under the national average
Per resident, Georgia runs heaviest in gas stations with convenience stores (4,663 establishments, index 1.50, 4th nationally by count); pest control companies (634 establishments, index 1.33, 5th nationally by count); staffing agencies (1,360 establishments, index 1.25, 6th nationally by count). That top index of 1.50 means 50% more gas stations with convenience stores per Georgia resident than the U.S. average. Concentration like that usually points to an established local operator base.
At the other end, Georgia is thinnest in plate work and fabricated metal shops (index 0.42) and machine shops (index 0.57). A low index can mean an underserved market for a buyer building a platform, or simply that demand in Georgia is met from neighboring states.
Georgia counties with the most owner-operated businesses
| County or area | Establishments | Median household income | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fulton County | 6,428 | $86,267 | $398,300 |
| Gwinnett County | 6,107 | $82,296 | $307,300 |
| Cobb County | 4,678 | $94,244 | $346,000 |
| Dekalb County | 3,415 | $76,044 | $301,100 |
| Forsyth County | 1,845 | $131,660 | $451,100 |
| Chatham County | 1,597 | $66,171 | $256,400 |
| Cherokee County | 1,461 | $100,824 | $358,400 |
| Hall County | 1,129 | $74,153 | $277,900 |
| Henry County | 1,101 | $79,663 | $245,200 |
| Clayton County | 912 | $56,207 | $167,200 |
Fulton County, Gwinnett County, Cobb County hold 33% of the 51,579 tracked establishments across 151 Georgia counties or areas. Median household income runs from $38,255 in Ben Hill County to $131,660 in Forsyth County (3.4x), and that gap shows up in what customers pay.
Georgia metro markets
Atlanta, Columbus and Savannah are the 3 Georgia metros with dedicated WETYR city pages, linked below for gas stations with convenience stores and insurance agencies and brokerages.
- Atlanta, about 447,841 residents (Fulton County); nearest markets Decatur (6 mi), Marietta (17 mi)
- Columbus, about 202,824 residents (Muscogee County); nearest markets Opelika (24 mi), Montgomery (77 mi)
- Savannah, about 142,772 residents (Chatham County); nearest markets Beaufort (35 mi), Charleston (83 mi)
Working with WETYR in Georgia
WETYR buys Georgia businesses directly, with no listing and no broker commission, and, with your OK, introduces Georgia owners to registry buyers who fit.
Get a confidential valuation
Tell us a little about your business in Georgia. We reply with an indicative value range and whether we are a direct fit, within one business day. No obligation, no listing, nothing public.
Georgia business sale FAQ
How many small businesses are in the industries WETYR buys in Georgia?
U.S. Census County Business Patterns counts about 51,579 establishments in Georgia across the 37 owner-operated industries WETYR tracks, 9th among the 50 states. With roughly 10,722,325 residents, that works out to 48.1 establishments per 10,000 people versus 50.1 nationally. Georgia holds 3.12% of the U.S. total in these industries and 3.24% of the population.
Which industries are most common in Georgia?
By establishment count the largest are gas stations with convenience stores (4,663), insurance agencies and brokerages (4,583), and accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms (4,548). Gas stations with convenience stores alone makes up 9.0% of the state's tracked total. Relative to population, Georgia is most concentrated in gas stations with convenience stores, pest control companies and staffing agencies.
Does Georgia tax the gain when I sell my business?
Yes. Georgia taxes personal income, so the gain on a sale is generally subject to state tax in addition to federal tax. How much depends on structure: asset versus stock sale, how the purchase price is allocated, and whether part is paid over time. Model the after-tax number with a Georgia CPA before you accept a headline price.
Where in Georgia are most of these businesses located?
Fulton County leads with about 6,428 tracked establishments, followed by Gwinnett County (6,107) and Cobb County (4,678). Together the top three hold 33% of the state total. Median household income in Fulton County is $86,267 and the median home value is $398,300. The smallest tracked area is Taliaferro County with 3.
Sell by industry in Georgia
Other Southeast states
Sources
Census County Business Patterns (employer establishments, NAICS 2017); American Community Survey 5-year. Ranks and indexes: WETYR calculations, 50 states.