Thinking about starting a business in Knoxville, Tennessee? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Knoxville.
Before announcing to the world that you are going to start your own business, take inventory of your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.
Before you move forward with starting a business, be sure to do these three things:
Choosing a business that is right for you is very important. We recommend that you read Free Business Ideas.
Always keep in mind that your new business will be in Knoxville. Some businesses will do better in Knoxville than others. Don't forget to review Knoxville demographics to see if there's a market for what you want to sell.
Knoxville has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Knoxville demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Knoxville.
As a new Knoxville entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Knoxville for each business category. By looking at this chart, you can get
a general sense for how much competition there is in the business niche that
you are pursuing.
| Business Type |
# of
Businesses |
| Abrasive Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Adhesive Manufacturing |
2 |
| Advertising Agencies |
34 |
| Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
7 |
| Amusement Arcades |
4 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
7 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
2 |
| Architectural Services |
53 |
| Armored Car Services |
3 |
| Art Dealers |
9 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
7 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
10 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
82 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
12 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
7 |
| Ball and Roller Bearing Manufacturing |
1 |
| Barber Shops |
3 |
| Beauty Salons |
106 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
2 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
41 |
| Bituminous Coal Underground Mining |
1 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
4 |
| Boat Building |
3 |
| Boat Dealers |
6 |
| Book Publishers |
7 |
| Book Stores |
23 |
| Bowling Centers |
2 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
3 |
| Building Inspection Services |
2 |
| Burial Casket Manufacturing |
1 |
| Business Associations |
20 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
2 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
4 |
| Cafeterias |
10 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
3 |
| Car Washes |
20 |
| Carpet and Rug Mills |
1 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
10 |
| Caterers |
16 |
| Cement Manufacturing |
1 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
7 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
4 |
| Child and Youth Services |
14 |
| Child Day Care Services |
101 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
16 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
41 |
| Claims Adjusting |
15 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
9 |
| Coffee and Tea Manufacturing |
2 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
6 |
| Collection Agencies |
9 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
5 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
34 |
| Commercial Photography |
6 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
9 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
2 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
19 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
3 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
50 |
| Computer Training |
5 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
3 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Consumer Lending |
40 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
5 |
| Convenience Stores |
52 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
4 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
5 |
| Couriers |
8 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
2 |
| Credit Bureaus |
3 |
| Credit Unions |
48 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
3 |
| Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins |
2 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
38 |
| Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing |
1 |
| Dance Companies |
2 |
| Deep Sea Freight Transportation |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
13 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
15 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
3 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
27 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
2 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
12 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
6 |
| Discount Department Stores |
13 |
| Display Advertising |
4 |
| Document Preparation Services |
6 |
| Drafting Services |
2 |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
38 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
23 |
| Educational Support Services |
5 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
1 |
| Electrical Contractors |
74 |
| Electronic Shopping |
10 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
24 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
3 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
8 |
| Engineering Services |
143 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
25 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
5 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
23 |
| Facilities Support Services |
3 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
49 |
| Family Planning Centers |
3 |
| Farm Labor Contractors and Crew Leaders |
1 |
| Farm Management Services |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
14 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
18 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
2 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
45 |
| Flight Training |
2 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
24 |
| Flooring Contractors |
16 |
| Florists |
20 |
| Flour Milling |
1 |
| Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
3 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
19 |
| Food Service Contractors |
23 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
2 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
5 |
| Framing Contractors |
8 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
16 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
2 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Canning |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
4 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
284 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
26 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
13 |
| Furniture Stores |
53 |
| General Automotive Repair |
77 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
14 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
10 |
| General Rental Centers |
8 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
17 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
48 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
7 |
| Glove and Mitten Manufacturing |
1 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
14 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
19 |
| Graphic Design Services |
26 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
12 |
| Hardware Stores |
22 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
3 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
1 |
| Historical Sites |
2 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
14 |
| Home Centers |
10 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
12 |
| Home Health Care Services |
29 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
7 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
11 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
20 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
8 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
3 |
| Industrial Design Services |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
5 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
1 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
209 |
| Interior Design Services |
14 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
5 |
| Internet Service Providers |
6 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
3 |
| Investigation Services |
9 |
| Investment Advice |
24 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
2 |
| Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing |
3 |
| Janitorial Services |
88 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Jewelry Stores |
45 |
| Junior Colleges |
3 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
10 |
| Land Subdivision |
16 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
10 |
| Landscaping Services |
103 |
| Language Schools |
2 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
11 |
| Lime Manufacturing |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
309 |
| Linen Supply |
3 |
| Livestock Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
4 |
| Locksmiths |
8 |
| Logging |
1 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
3 |
| Machine Shops |
28 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
17 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
2 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
8 |
| Marinas |
5 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
15 |
| Masonry Contractors |
12 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
2 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
2 |
| Meat Markets |
4 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
1 |
| Media Representatives |
4 |
| Medical Laboratories |
15 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
12 |
| Metal Stamping |
1 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
3 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
3 |
| Mobile Food Services |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
31 |
| Motion Picture and Video Distribution |
1 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
17 |
| Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping |
5 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
11 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
5 |
| Museums |
7 |
| Music Publishers |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
2 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
12 |
| Nail Salons |
6 |
| Narrow Fabric Mills |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
37 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
23 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
8 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
16 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
15 |
| Office Administrative Services |
41 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
23 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
16 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
96 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
37 |
| Offices of Dentists |
177 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
253 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
21 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
5 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
10 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
28 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
2 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
3 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
19 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
6 |
| Paging |
4 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
5 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
28 |
| Paper (except Newsprint) Mills |
1 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
55 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
2 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
7 |
| Payroll Services |
8 |
| Periodical Publishers |
15 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
2 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
18 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
19 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
12 |
| Petroleum Refineries |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
55 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
23 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas |
1 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
3 |
| Political Organizations |
2 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Port and Harbor Operations |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
15 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Prepress Services |
3 |
| Private Mail Centers |
6 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
7 |
| Professional Organizations |
13 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
7 |
| Quick Printing |
12 |
| Radio Networks |
2 |
| Radio Stations |
17 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
6 |
| Real Estate Credit |
70 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
3 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
3 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
6 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
2 |
| Remediation Services |
6 |
| Repossession Services |
2 |
| Residential Property Managers |
36 |
| Residential Remodelers |
60 |
| Retail Bakeries |
7 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
4 |
| Roofing Contractors |
15 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
4 |
| Rope, Cordage, and Twine Mills |
1 |
| Sales Financing |
14 |
| Savings Institutions |
19 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
1 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
48 |
| Securities Brokerage |
43 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
15 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
5 |
| Shoe Stores |
48 |
| Siding Contractors |
10 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
11 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
54 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
36 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
8 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
3 |
| Solid Waste Combustors and Incinerators |
1 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
6 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
2 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
38 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
12 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
1 |
| Support Activities for Coal Mining |
2 |
| Support Activities for Forestry |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
21 |
| Taxi Service |
3 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
5 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
2 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
8 |
| Television Broadcasting |
9 |
| Temporary Help Services |
54 |
| Temporary Shelters |
9 |
| Testing Laboratories |
15 |
| Textile Bag Mills |
1 |
| Textile Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
7 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
8 |
| Timber Tract Operations |
1 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
14 |
| Tire Dealers |
29 |
| Tire Retreading |
2 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
34 |
| Tobacco Stores |
13 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
2 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
15 |
| Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing |
1 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
56 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
7 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
29 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
15 |
| Veterinary Services |
52 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
22 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
15 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
14 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
5 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
78 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
6 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
45 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
54 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
1 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
3 |
| Yarn Spinning Mills |
1 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
1 |
It's very important that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. The principal advantage of forming your new business as a legal entity is that it separates your business liabilities from your personal liabilities.
When forming a company, you will pick from many company types, such as a corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership or other structure.
Incorporating is a very popular way to form a business. A key decision is whether to form and S-Corp or a C-Corp, and you also must decide in which state you will incorporate. If you are starting a business in Tennessee, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Tennessee. In fact, you can incorporate in any state you would like to. For example, it's very popular to incorporate in Delaware, and incorporating in Nevada has become very trendy as well. Don't forget, though, that you will have to register as a foreign entity in all states that you do business in.
There are many nuances to forming a company. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as Registered Agents. You should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Knoxville, Tennessee, our web page covering Incorporating in Tennessee may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Tennessee.
To grow your Knoxville business, you'll need to have a good marketing plan.
We have some great resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. Transit Advertising is a good read to get your marketing juices flowing. There are many more articles on marketing on our site. Visit our Small Business Marketing resource section to see them all.
The best entrepreneurs recognize that they need to continually improve.
With your business being located in Knoxville, Tennessee, you should investigate some of the learning programs at local Tennessee educational institutions. You should also check if there are any Knoxville networking organizations.
You have a dream -- starting a business in Knoxville. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Knoxville and elsewhere to achieve real success. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Knoxville, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Knoxville.
