Tennessee Business Startup Guides

Starting a Business in Nashville, Tennessee

Thinking about starting a business in Nashville, Tennessee? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Nashville.

What Business to Start

An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. We recommend that you read Business Ideas That Don't Make Sense.

For in-depth how-to guides on how to start specific businesses, browse our Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our Starting a Dance Club guide or our Starting a Tatoo Parlor guide.

Don't forget that Nashville is the place where you are starting a business. Think about what needs are currently being underserved in Nashville. A critical consideration is whether Nashville demographics mesh well with your startup concept.

Nashville, Tennessee Demographic Information

Nashville has an active business community that includes small businesses, mid-sized businesses and large businesses.

To give you a better feel for Nashville demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Nashville.

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
190962
5-9 Employees
76338
10-19 Employees
57915
20-49 Employees
45792
50-99 Employees
16524
100-249 Employees
10341
250-499 Employees
2754
500-999 Employees
810
1000+ Employees
594
All Nashville Businesses
402030

As a new Nashville entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Nashville 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
Advertising Agencies
47
Ambulance Services
4
Amusement Arcades
1
Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering
2
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
7
Apprenticeship Training
5
Armored Car Services
7
Art Dealers
12
Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing
1
Automobile Driving Schools
1
Automotive Exhaust System Repair
7
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
14
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
73
Baked Goods Stores
10
Barber Shops
3
Beauty Salons
122
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
3
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
51
Blood and Organ Banks
3
Boat Dealers
4
Book Stores
25
Books Printing
5
Bowling Centers
5
Breweries
2
Broom, Brush, and Mop Manufacturing
1
Building Inspection Services
3
Business and Secretarial Schools
2
Business to Business Electronic Markets
3
Cable and Other Program Distribution
6
Cafeterias
26
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
4
Canvas and Related Product Mills
3
Car Washes
36
Carpet and Rug Mills
2
Casino Hotels
1
Caterers
37
Cemeteries and Crematories
5
Charter Bus Industry
3
Child and Youth Services
36
Child Day Care Services
152
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
19
Claims Adjusting
13
Clothing Accessories Stores
11
Coffee and Tea Manufacturing
1
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
20
Collection Agencies
16
Commercial Bakeries
6
Commercial Flexographic Printing
3
Commercial Lithographic Printing
51
Commercial Photography
8
Commercial Screen Printing
11
Commodity Contracts Brokerage
2
Community Food Services
4
Computer and Software Stores
18
Computer Facilities Management Services
8
Computer Terminal Manufacturing
1
Computer Training
9
Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing
1
Confectionery and Nut Stores
3
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
3
Construction Machinery Manufacturing
1
Construction Sand and Gravel Mining
1
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
7
Convenience Stores
25
Convention and Trade Show Organizers
20
Convention and Visitors Bureaus
3
Copper Wire (except Mechanical) Drawing
1
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
4
Couriers
28
Credit Bureaus
5
Credit Card Issuing
1
Credit Unions
36
Curtain and Drapery Mills
1
Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins
3
Custom Computer Programming Services
73
Custom Roll Forming
1
Deep Sea Freight Transportation
1
Dental Laboratories
11
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
15
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
8
Digital Printing
2
Direct Life Insurance Carriers
44
Direct Mail Advertising
12
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
9
Discount Department Stores
7
Display Advertising
7
Document Preparation Services
10
Drafting Services
6
Dried and Dehydrated Food Manufacturing
1
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
60
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
21
Educational Support Services
17
Electrical Contractors
116
Electronic Auctions
2
Electronic Shopping
13
Elementary and Secondary Schools
41
Emergency and Other Relief Services
6
Engineering Services
127
Envelope Manufacturing
1
Environmental Consulting Services
12
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
16
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
23
Fabric Coating Mills
1
Facilities Support Services
15
Family Planning Centers
3
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
8
Fine Arts Schools
23
Finish Carpentry Contractors
21
Fish and Seafood Markets
2
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
46
Flat Glass Manufacturing
1
Floor Covering Stores
32
Flooring Contractors
27
Florists
35
Fluid Milk Manufacturing
2
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
17
Food Product Machinery Manufacturing
2
Food Service Contractors
77
Footwear Merchant Wholesalers
6
Formal Wear and Costume Rental
6
Framing Contractors
13
Freight Transportation Arrangement
40
Fruit and Vegetable Markets
5
Full-Service Restaurants
399
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
22
Furniture Stores
48
General Automotive Repair
108
General Freight Trucking, Local
27
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
12
General Rental Centers
14
General Warehousing and Storage
30
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
45
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
6
Grantmaking Foundations
21
Graphic Design Services
51
Greeting Card Publishers
1
Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing
1
Hardware Manufacturing
1
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
17
Hazardous Waste Collection
6
Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal
13
Heating Oil Dealers
1
Historical Sites
2
HMO Medical Centers
2
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
22
Home Centers
6
Home Health Care Services
36
Home Health Equipment Rental
8
Homes for the Elderly
14
Household Appliance Stores
8
Human Rights Organizations
15
Ice Manufacturing
1
Industrial Building Construction
2
Industrial Gas Manufacturing
1
Industrial Launderers
8
Industrial Mold Manufacturing
2
Inland Water Freight Transportation
4
Institutional Furniture Manufacturing
1
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
294
Interior Design Services
29
Internet Service Providers
9
Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation
4
Investigation Services
7
Investment Advice
48
Iron and Steel Mills
1
Iron Foundries
2
Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing
1
Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing
2
Jewelry Stores
46
Junior Colleges
6
Kidney Dialysis Centers
12
Land Subdivision
19
Landscape Architectural Services
18
Landscaping Services
111
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
10
Libraries and Archives
2
Limited-Service Restaurants
406
Limousine Service
2
Linen Supply
2
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
10
Locksmiths
4
Luggage Manufacturing
1
Machine Shops
11
Mail-Order Houses
15
Manifold Business Forms Printing
2
Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers
4
Marinas
1
Marine Cargo Handling
2
Marking Device Manufacturing
2
Masonry Contractors
33
Mattress Manufacturing
3
Meat Markets
6
Meat Processed from Carcasses
1
Media Buying Agencies
4
Media Representatives
8
Men's Clothing Stores
29
Metal Heat Treating
1
Metal Stamping
1
Metal Window and Door Manufacturing
1
Miscellaneous Intermediation
13
Mobile Food Services
4
Monetary Authorities-Central Bank
1
Motion Picture and Video Production
62
Motor and Generator Manufacturing
1
Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing
1
Motor Vehicle Towing
17
Motorcycle Dealers
7
Museums
9
Music Publishers
85
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
9
Musical Instrument Manufacturing
6
Nail Salons
7
Natural Gas Distribution
2
New Car Dealers
36
New Housing Operative Builders
13
News Syndicates
3
Nonresidential Property Managers
29
Nursing Care Facilities
18
Office Administrative Services
59
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
26
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
22
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
111
Offices of Chiropractors
44
Offices of Lawyers
435
Offices of Optometrists
24
Offices of Other Holding Companies
17
Offices of Podiatrists
12
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
34
One-Hour Photofinishing
6
Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing
4
Optical Goods Stores
26
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
3
Packaging and Labeling Services
4
Packing and Crating
2
Paging
3
Paint and Coating Manufacturing
3
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
15
Paper Industry Machinery Manufacturing
1
Parking Lots and Garages
80
Passenger Car Rental
34
Payroll Services
15
Periodical Publishers
34
Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing
2
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
14
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
8
Petroleum Refineries
1
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
72
Photography Studios, Portrait
16
Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas
1
Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing
2
Political Organizations
13
Poultry Processing
1
Prepress Services
12
Printing Ink Manufacturing
9
Private Mail Centers
11
Professional Employer Organizations
8
Professional Organizations
46
Public Relations Agencies
42
Radio Networks
11
Radio Stations
39
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing
9
Real Estate Credit
77
Real Estate Investment Trusts
12
Record Production
14
Recreational Goods Rental
1
Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage
2
Reinsurance Carriers
2
Remediation Services
8
Repossession Services
4
Residential Property Managers
88
Residential Remodelers
73
Retail Bakeries
4
Roofing Contractors
20
Rooming and Boarding Houses
9
Sales Financing
14
Satellite Telecommunications
2
Savings Institutions
1
Sawmills
2
Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation
18
Securities Brokerage
59
Security Guards and Patrol Services
41
Septic Tank and Related Services
2
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
3
Shoe Stores
62
Siding Contractors
13
Sign Manufacturing
18
Small Arms Ammunition Manufacturing
1
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
49
Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing
1
Soft Drink Manufacturing
3
Software Publishers
15
Software Reproducing
2
Solid Waste Collection
13
Sound Recording Studios
52
Special Needs Transportation
4
Sporting Goods Stores
35
Sports and Recreation Instruction
9
Sports Teams and Clubs
4
Spring (Light Gauge) Manufacturing
2
Steel Wire Drawing
1
Tax Preparation Services
30
Taxi Service
4
Telecommunications Resellers
8
Telemarketing Bureaus
10
Telephone Answering Services
4
Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing
1
Television Broadcasting
8
Temporary Shelters
7
Testing Laboratories
11
Textile Machinery Manufacturing
2
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters
14
Thread Mills
2
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors
14
Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers
8
Tire Retreading
3
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
22
Tobacco Stores
11
Toilet Preparation Manufacturing
1
Tortilla Manufacturing
1
Tour Operators
11
Tradebinding and Related Work
13
Travel Agencies
38
Used Car Dealers
83
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
11
Used Merchandise Stores
54
Vending Machine Operators
25
Veterinary Services
34
Video Tape and Disc Rental
29
Voluntary Health Organizations
29
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
3
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems
3
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
105
Window Treatment Stores
1
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
50
Women's Clothing Stores
76
Wood Preservation
1
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing
2
Zoos and Botanical Gardens
2

Should You Franchise?

Examine a list of Nashville businesses and you'll notice that many local entrepreneurs have gone the franchising route. But is franchising the right option for you?

Most business experts recommend that you consider franchising as an option. We have many articles on franchises, such as Evaluating Franchise Opportunities. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.

To learn about specific franchise opportunities, check out our Franchise Directory.

Sample franchise opportunities include Subway Franchises and Starbucks Franchises. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Accounting Franchises and Moving Franchises.

Note on Nashville Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Nashville.

Selecting a Name For Your Venture

A big decision when starting a company is choosing a company name. Believe it or not, choosing a good company name can be a big contributor to your business success.

We strongly advocate that you make sure the ".com" domain name is available for your company name. Every business needs a strong Web presence these days, and having a non ".com" domain means somebody else may outrank you in the search results for your own company name.

Numerous company naming issues are discussed in more detail in this article: Branding Advice.

On a final note, given that you are starting a business in Nashville, it's very important that you make sure no other Tennessee company is using the business name you want to use.

Don't Forget to Create a Business Plan

Creating a business plan is vital to the health of your new business. Indeed, your business plan is your game plan for how you hope to grow your business. Failure to write a business plan

To learn more about business plans, read Business Plan Contests. You can also get free counseling sessions provided by your local SCORE chapter in Tennessee.

Letting the World Know You Exist

Whether your goal is to attract Nashville customers or you plan on selling elsewhere, you'll need to have a good marketing plan.

There are myriad resources on this site to help you with your marketing plan. Holiday-Powered Marketing 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.

Never Give Up

You have a dream -- starting a business in Nashville. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.

If you choose the right business and love what you do, you will greatly increase your odds of success.

We are here to help Nashville businesses to be successful. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Nashville, neighborhood development and overall economic health.

More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Nashville, Tennessee

Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Nashville.

More Startup Articles for Tennessee Cities

Starting a Business in Murfreesboro
Starting a Business in Newport

Browse All Business Startup Guides for Tennessee
Starting a Business Guides for Other States

 

 

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