Selling a Business in Rhea County

Rhea County has 541 employer businesses, and 87% 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 health care and social assistance.

Areas in Tennessee

AndersonBedfordBentonBledsoeBlountBradleyCampbellCannonCarrollCarterChattanoogaCheathamChesterClaiborneClarksvilleClayClevelandCockeCoffeeCrockettCumberlandDavidson CountyDecaturDeKalbDicksonDyerFayetteFentressFranklinGibsonGilesGraingerGreeneGrundyHamblenHamiltonHancockHardemanHardinHawkinsHaywoodHendersonHenryHickmanHoustonHumphreysJacksonJackson CountyJeffersonJohnsonJohnson CityKingsport-BristolKnoxKnoxvilleLakeLauderdaleLawrenceLewisLincolnLoudonMaconMadisonMarionMarshallMauryMcMinnMcNairyMeigsMemphisMonroeMontgomeryMooreMorganMorristownNashvilleObionOvertonPerryPickettPolkPutnamRheaRoaneRobertsonRutherfordScottSequatchieSevierShelby CountySmithStewartSullivanSumnerTiptonTrousdaleUnicoiUnionVan BurenWarrenWashingtonWayneWeakleyWhiteWilliamsonWilson

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Rhea County by the numbers

541

541

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

87%

87%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

2,136

2,136

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

9,145

9,145

EMPLOYMENT

$372 million

$372 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

239

239

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 Rhea County compares

  • Rhea County ranks 48th of 95 Tennessee counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 8.9% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 21% of employer businesses in Rhea County, compared with 16% in Tennessee.

  • 239 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Rhea County ranks 48th of 95 Tennessee counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 8.9% between 2018 and 2023.

  • Retail makes up 21% of employer businesses in Rhea County, compared with 16% in Tennessee.

  • 239 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 116 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 67 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 65 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 55 employer businesses

  • Finance and insurance: 41 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 116 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 67 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 65 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 55 employer businesses

  • Finance and insurance: 41 employer businesses

INDUSTRIES

What sells in Rhea County

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

Every kind of business we sell in Rhea County

These are the industries in Rhea 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

59 related employer businesses in Rhea County.

Medical Practices

35 related employer businesses in Rhea County.

Retail Stores

32 related employer businesses in Rhea County.

Construction & Engineering

31 related employer businesses in Rhea County.

  • General Contracting: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Civil Engineering: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

Financial & Professional Services

26 related employer businesses in Rhea County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

22 related employer businesses in Rhea County.

  • Gas Stations: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Automotive & Boat

18 related employer businesses in Rhea County.

  • Auto Parts: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Collision Repair: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Auto Repair: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

Logistics & Transportation

17 related employer businesses in Rhea County.

Manufacturing

12 related employer businesses in Rhea County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

8 related employer businesses in Rhea County.

Home Services

6 related employer businesses in Rhea County.

Hospitality & Travel

6 related employer businesses in Rhea County.

  • Hotels: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Education & Childcare

4 related employer businesses in Rhea County.

  • Daycare Centers: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Health & Fitness

4 related employer businesses in Rhea County.

  • Gyms & Health Clubs: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.

  • Yoga Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.

  • Pilates Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.

  • Personal Training Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.

These are the industries in Rhea 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

59 related employer businesses in Rhea County.

Medical Practices

35 related employer businesses in Rhea County.

Retail Stores

32 related employer businesses in Rhea County.

Construction & Engineering

31 related employer businesses in Rhea County.

  • General Contracting: 11 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

  • Plumbing: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x SDE.

  • HVAC Services: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.6x - 7.0x EBITDA.

  • Landscaping: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • Civil Engineering: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 7.0x - 11.0x EBITDA.

  • Masonry: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Equipment.

Financial & Professional Services

26 related employer businesses in Rhea County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

22 related employer businesses in Rhea County.

  • Gas Stations: 22 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Automotive & Boat

18 related employer businesses in Rhea County.

  • Auto Parts: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Collision Repair: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.5x - 5.0x EBITDA.

  • Auto Repair: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

  • Car Dealerships: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2x - 8x Blue Sky + Assets.

Logistics & Transportation

17 related employer businesses in Rhea County.

Manufacturing

12 related employer businesses in Rhea County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

8 related employer businesses in Rhea County.

Home Services

6 related employer businesses in Rhea County.

Hospitality & Travel

6 related employer businesses in Rhea County.

  • Hotels: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 6 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Education & Childcare

4 related employer businesses in Rhea County.

  • Daycare Centers: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.39x - 3.35x SDE.

Health & Fitness

4 related employer businesses in Rhea County.

  • Gyms & Health Clubs: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.44x - 2.93x SDE.

  • Yoga Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.07x - 2.50x SDE.

  • Pilates Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.10x - 3.00x SDE.

  • Personal Training Studios: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.00x - 2.80x SDE.

Working with owners in Rhea County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Rhea County ask

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

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

How is a business valued in Rhea 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 Rhea 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