Selling a Business in McMinn County

McMinn County has 935 employer businesses, and 84% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows the local mix of industries and how a sale is handled here. The largest industries here are retail and repair, personal care and other services.

Areas in Tennessee

AndersonBedfordBentonBledsoeBlountBradleyCampbellCannonCarrollCarterChattanoogaCheathamChesterClaiborneClarksvilleClayClevelandCockeCoffeeCrockettCumberlandDavidson CountyDecaturDeKalbDicksonDyerFayetteFentressFranklinGibsonGilesGraingerGreeneGrundyHamblenHamiltonHancockHardemanHardinHawkinsHaywoodHendersonHenryHickmanHoustonHumphreysJacksonJackson CountyJeffersonJohnsonJohnson CityKingsport-BristolKnoxKnoxvilleLakeLauderdaleLawrenceLewisLincolnLoudonMaconMadisonMarionMarshallMauryMcMinnMcNairyMeigsMemphisMonroeMontgomeryMooreMorganMorristownNashvilleObionOvertonPerryPickettPolkPutnamRheaRoaneRobertsonRutherfordScottSequatchieSevierShelby CountySmithStewartSullivanSumnerTiptonTrousdaleUnicoiUnionVan BurenWarrenWashingtonWayneWeakleyWhiteWilliamsonWilson

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

McMinn County by the numbers

935

935

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

84%

84%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

3,735

3,735

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

17,156

17,156

EMPLOYMENT

$799 million

$799 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

449

449

BUSINESSES WITH 5 TO 49 EMPLOYEES

U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023 and Nonemployer Statistics 2024. Counts are employer establishments, meaning business locations with paid employees.

How McMinn County compares

  • McMinn County ranks 27th of 95 Tennessee counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 4.2% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 8% of employer businesses in McMinn County, compared with 4% in Tennessee.

  • 449 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • McMinn County ranks 27th of 95 Tennessee counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 4.2% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Manufacturing makes up 8% of employer businesses in McMinn County, compared with 4% in Tennessee.

  • 449 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 178 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 119 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 107 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 99 employer businesses

  • Finance and insurance: 74 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 178 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 119 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 107 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 99 employer businesses

  • Finance and insurance: 74 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in McMinn County

Retail, repair, personal care and other services, health care and social assistance, accommodation and food service

Every kind of business we sell in McMinn County

These are the industries in McMinn County and the number of employer businesses in each. Counts are employer businesses in the closest Census industry codes. Industries without a clean Census match are listed without a count, and a few industries share one Census category, so their counts match. A sale multiple is the price a business typically sells for as a multiple of its earnings. SDE means seller's discretionary earnings, which is the owner's pay plus the profit of the business. EBITDA means earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

Restaurants & Food

89 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

Medical Practices

62 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

Construction & Engineering

61 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

  • General Contracting: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Plumbing: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Civil Engineering: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Retail Stores

57 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

Financial & Professional Services

49 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

Manufacturing

47 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

43 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

  • Gas Stations: 39 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Automotive & Boat

30 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

  • Auto Repair: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Car Washes: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Logistics & Transportation

24 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

15 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

Energy & Utilities

14 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

Hospitality & Travel

12 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

  • Hotels: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Education & Childcare

10 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

  • Daycare Centers: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

9 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

Health & Fitness

6 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

Senior Care & Living

5 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

Beauty & Personal Care

4 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

  • Hair Salons: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Entertainment & Recreation

4 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

  • Golf Courses: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Home Services

4 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

Pet Services

4 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

These are the industries in McMinn County and the number of employer businesses in each. Counts are employer businesses in the closest Census industry codes. Industries without a clean Census match are listed without a count, and a few industries share one Census category, so their counts match. A sale multiple is the price a business typically sells for as a multiple of its earnings. SDE means seller's discretionary earnings, which is the owner's pay plus the profit of the business. EBITDA means earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

Restaurants & Food

89 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

Medical Practices

62 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

Construction & Engineering

61 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

  • General Contracting: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Landscaping: 15 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Plumbing: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Civil Engineering: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Roofing & Siding: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

Retail Stores

57 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

Financial & Professional Services

49 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

Manufacturing

47 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

43 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

  • Gas Stations: 39 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

  • Convenience Stores: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.5x SDE + Inventory.

Automotive & Boat

30 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

  • Auto Repair: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Auto Parts: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Car Dealerships: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

  • Car Washes: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.5x - 7.0x EBITDA.

Logistics & Transportation

24 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

15 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

Energy & Utilities

14 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

Hospitality & Travel

12 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

  • Hotels: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 12 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Education & Childcare

10 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

  • Daycare Centers: 10 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Wholesale & Distribution

9 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

Health & Fitness

6 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

Senior Care & Living

5 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

Beauty & Personal Care

4 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

  • Hair Salons: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.25x - 2.34x SDE.

Entertainment & Recreation

4 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

  • Golf Courses: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 8.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

Home Services

4 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

Pet Services

4 related employer businesses in McMinn County.

Working with owners in McMinn County

Business Advisors of America works with owners who are selling a business in McMinn County. Contact us to talk about a sale.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in McMinn County ask

How long does it take to sell a business in McMinn County?

The time depends on the price, the quality of the records and the number of qualified buyers.

How is a business valued in McMinn County?

Valuation starts with the earnings the business produces for an owner, then adjusts for assets, size, industry and the terms a buyer is likely to accept. The result is a range, and the asking price is set inside it.

Is the sale confidential?

Buyers are asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement before they see the name of the business or its financial statements.

FROM OUR BLOG

Guides for owners in McMinn County

October 3, 2025

Business Owners

Add-Backs: What Counts, What Does Not, and What Buyers Push Back On

Every add-back you can prove raises your sale price by two to three times its amount. Every add-back you cannot prove costs you credibility on all the others.

Read article

October 3, 2025

Business Owners

Add-Backs: What Counts, What Does Not, and What Buyers Push Back On

Every add-back you can prove raises your sale price by two to three times its amount. Every add-back you cannot prove costs you credibility on all the others.

Read article

March 5, 2026

Business Owners

Buyer Qualification: How We Screen Out the Buyers Who Cannot Close

Most inquiries on a business listing come from people who cannot close. Here is how they get screened out before they see your name or your financials.

Read article

March 5, 2026

Business Owners

Buyer Qualification: How We Screen Out the Buyers Who Cannot Close

Most inquiries on a business listing come from people who cannot close. Here is how they get screened out before they see your name or your financials.

Read article

February 9, 2026

Business Owners

The Confidential Information Memorandum: What Goes In It and Why

The CIM is the document a buyer reads before they decide to spend time on your business. Here is what it has to contain and the mistakes that cost sellers offers.

Read article

February 9, 2026

Business Owners

The Confidential Information Memorandum: What Goes In It and Why

The CIM is the document a buyer reads before they decide to spend time on your business. Here is what it has to contain and the mistakes that cost sellers offers.

Read article