Selling a Business in Scott County

Scott County has 351 employer businesses, and 90% of them have fewer than 20 employees. This page shows the local mix of industries and how a sale is handled here.

LOCAL SNAPSHOT

Scott County by the numbers

351

351

EMPLOYER BUSINESSES

90%

90%

SMALL EMPLOYER SHARE

1,629

1,629

BUSINESSES WITH NO EMPLOYEES

4,173

4,173

EMPLOYMENT

$157 million

$157 million

ANNUAL PAYROLL

176

176

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 Scott County compares

  • Scott County ranks 58th of 95 Tennessee counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 7.0% between 2018 and 2023.

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

  • 176 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

  • Scott County ranks 58th of 95 Tennessee counties and county equivalents for employer businesses.

  • The number of employer businesses grew 7.0% between 2018 and 2023.

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

  • 176 employer businesses here have 5 to 49 employees.

Industry mix

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 78 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 51 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 37 employer businesses

  • Construction: 34 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 32 employer businesses

The largest industries by number of employer businesses:

  • Retail: 78 employer businesses

  • Health care and social assistance: 51 employer businesses

  • Repair, personal care and other services: 37 employer businesses

  • Construction: 34 employer businesses

  • Accommodation and food service: 32 employer businesses

Every kind of business we sell in Scott County

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Scott County. 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

30 related employer businesses in Scott County.

Retail Stores

24 related employer businesses in Scott County.

Medical Practices

23 related employer businesses in Scott County.

Construction & Engineering

22 related employer businesses in Scott County.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • General Contracting: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

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

  • Landscaping: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

18 related employer businesses in Scott County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

16 related employer businesses in Scott County.

  • Gas Stations: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Automotive & Boat

13 related employer businesses in Scott County.

  • Auto Parts: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Auto Repair: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

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

Logistics & Transportation

13 related employer businesses in Scott County.

Financial & Professional Services

7 related employer businesses in Scott County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

7 related employer businesses in Scott County.

Health & Fitness

4 related employer businesses in Scott County.

Energy & Utilities

3 related employer businesses in Scott County.

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in Scott County.

  • Hotels: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

We sell businesses in every one of these industries in Scott County. 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

30 related employer businesses in Scott County.

Retail Stores

24 related employer businesses in Scott County.

Medical Practices

23 related employer businesses in Scott County.

Construction & Engineering

22 related employer businesses in Scott County.

  • Foundation & Site Prep: 8 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 4.0x EBITDA + Fleet.

  • General Contracting: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x SDE.

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

  • Landscaping: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 5.0x SDE.

  • Electrical: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 4.0x - 8.0x EBITDA.

Manufacturing

18 related employer businesses in Scott County.

Gas Stations & Convenience

16 related employer businesses in Scott County.

  • Gas Stations: 16 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 3.0x - 4.5x EBITDA + Real Estate.

Automotive & Boat

13 related employer businesses in Scott County.

  • Auto Parts: 5 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE + Inventory.

  • Auto Repair: 4 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.5x - 3.2x SDE.

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

Logistics & Transportation

13 related employer businesses in Scott County.

Financial & Professional Services

7 related employer businesses in Scott County.

Pharmacies & Medical Supply

7 related employer businesses in Scott County.

Health & Fitness

4 related employer businesses in Scott County.

Energy & Utilities

3 related employer businesses in Scott County.

Hospitality & Travel

3 related employer businesses in Scott County.

  • Hotels: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 2.6x - 5.1x EBITDA.

  • Motels: 3 employer businesses here. Typical sale multiple: 1.1x - 2.5x SDE.

Working with owners in Scott County

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions owners in Scott County ask

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

The time depends on the price, the quality of the records and the number of qualified buyers. Many sales take six months or longer from the start of the process to closing.

How is a business valued in Scott 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 Scott 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