The three largest of those industries in Tennessee are gas stations with convenience stores (3,192 establishments), insurance agencies and brokerages (2,536), and dental practices (2,189). WETYR buys qualifying Tennessee businesses directly and confidentially, and, with an owner's OK, introduces Tennessee owners to registry buyers whose buy box fits. Owners and buyers then deal directly with their own advisors.
The largest owner-operated industries in Tennessee
Tennessee ranks 10th in the country for gas stations with convenience stores, with 3,192 establishments, or 3.3% of the U.S. total, against 2.1% of the U.S. population. The fifteen largest Tennessee categories follow.
| Industry | Establishments | Per 100k residents | Index vs U.S. | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gas stations with convenience stores | 3,192 | 46.1 | 1.59 | 10th |
| Insurance agencies and brokerages | 2,536 | 36.6 | 0.90 | 19th |
| Dental practices | 2,189 | 31.6 | 0.77 | 19th |
| Landscaping and tree services | 1,902 | 27.5 | 0.78 | 22nd |
| Accounting, tax prep and bookkeeping firms | 1,846 | 26.7 | 0.65 | 23rd |
| Plumbing and HVAC contractors | 1,794 | 25.9 | 0.79 | 22nd |
| General auto repair shops | 1,303 | 18.8 | 0.75 | 22nd |
| Childcare centers | 1,221 | 17.6 | 0.74 | 21st |
| Electrical contractors | 1,207 | 17.4 | 0.71 | 21st |
| Commercial cleaning and janitorial services | 1,128 | 16.3 | 0.82 | 23rd |
| Pharmacies and drug stores | 899 | 13.0 | 1.04 | 12th |
| Staffing agencies | 870 | 12.6 | 1.23 | 14th |
| Site preparation and excavation contractors | 833 | 12.0 | 1.03 | 18th |
| Fitness centers and gyms | 725 | 10.5 | 0.88 | 19th |
| Physical therapy clinics | 707 | 10.2 | 0.68 | 22nd |
Where Tennessee is over and under the national average
Per resident, Tennessee runs heaviest in gas stations with convenience stores (3,192 establishments, index 1.59, 10th nationally by count); staffing agencies (870 establishments, index 1.23, 14th nationally by count); funeral homes (345 establishments, index 1.21, 15th nationally by count). That top index of 1.59 means 59% more gas stations with convenience stores per Tennessee resident than the U.S. average. More local operators usually means more comparable sales to price against.
At the other end, Tennessee is thinnest in flooring contractors (index 0.45) and laundromats and drycleaners (index 0.48). A low index can mean an underserved market for a buyer building a platform, or simply that demand in Tennessee is met from neighboring states.
Tennessee counties with the most owner-operated businesses
| County or area | Establishments | Median household income | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby County | 3,916 | $59,621 | $206,100 |
| Davidson County | 3,595 | $71,863 | $354,700 |
| Knox County | 2,558 | $68,580 | $248,200 |
| Hamilton County | 1,909 | $69,069 | $250,900 |
| Williamson County | 1,566 | $125,943 | $611,100 |
| Rutherford County | 1,313 | $78,291 | $305,100 |
| Sumner County | 912 | $81,883 | $332,700 |
| Wilson County | 756 | $89,462 | $358,900 |
| Montgomery County | 736 | $67,890 | $226,400 |
| Sullivan County | 674 | $54,357 | $173,000 |
Shelby County, Davidson County, Knox County hold 35% of the 28,921 tracked establishments across 94 Tennessee counties or areas. Median household income runs from $39,744 in Scott County to $125,943 in Williamson County (3.2x), so the county you serve moves the valuation inputs.
Tennessee metro markets
Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Clarksville and Murfreesboro are the 6 Tennessee metros with dedicated WETYR city pages, linked below for gas stations with convenience stores and insurance agencies and brokerages.
- Memphis, about 653,450 residents (Shelby County); nearest markets Jonesboro (60 mi), Jackson (77 mi)
- Nashville, about 634,464 residents (Davidson County); nearest markets Franklin (17 mi), Murfreesboro (31 mi)
- Knoxville, about 183,270 residents (Knox County); nearest markets Maryville (12 mi), Morristown (40 mi)
- Chattanooga, about 173,366 residents (Hamilton County); nearest markets Cleveland (26 mi), Rome (56 mi)
- Clarksville, about 142,357 residents (Montgomery County); nearest markets Nashville (41 mi), Franklin (50 mi)
- Murfreesboro, about 117,044 residents (Rutherford County); nearest markets Franklin (27 mi), Nashville (31 mi)
Working with WETYR in Tennessee
WETYR buys Tennessee businesses directly, with no listing and no broker commission, and, with your OK, introduces Tennessee owners to registry buyers who fit.
Get a confidential valuation
Tell us a little about your business in Tennessee. We reply with an indicative value range and whether we are a direct fit, within one business day. No obligation, no listing, nothing public.
Tennessee business sale FAQ
How many small businesses are in the industries WETYR buys in Tennessee?
U.S. Census County Business Patterns counts about 28,921 establishments in Tennessee across the 37 owner-operated industries WETYR tracks, 22nd among the 50 states. With roughly 6,923,772 residents, that works out to 41.8 establishments per 10,000 people versus 50.1 nationally. Tennessee holds 1.75% of the U.S. total in these industries and 2.10% of the population.
Which industries are most common in Tennessee?
By establishment count the largest are gas stations with convenience stores (3,192), insurance agencies and brokerages (2,536), and dental practices (2,189). Gas stations with convenience stores alone is 11.0% of the state's tracked total. Relative to population, Tennessee is most concentrated in gas stations with convenience stores, staffing agencies and funeral homes.
Does Tennessee tax the gain when I sell my business?
Tennessee has no state personal income tax, so an individual owner generally owes no state personal income tax on the gain from a sale. Entity-level state taxes, such as franchise or excise taxes, can still apply depending on how the business is organized, and federal capital gains and depreciation recapture apply as usual. Confirm the after-tax number with a Tennessee CPA before you sign a letter of intent.
Where in Tennessee are most of these businesses located?
Shelby County leads with about 3,916 tracked establishments, followed by Davidson County (3,595) and Knox County (2,558). Together the top three hold 35% of the state total. Median household income in Shelby County is $59,621 and the median home value is $206,100. The smallest tracked area is Van Buren County with 3.
Sell by industry in Tennessee
Other Southeast states
Sources
Census County Business Patterns (employer establishments, NAICS 2017); American Community Survey 5-year. Ranks and indexes: WETYR calculations, 50 states.