Marketplace › Metro Market Reports › Nashville
84
Hot
opportunity score

Nashville, TN Market Report

Music City boom with surging healthcare, technology, and hospitality sectors driving SMB M&A.

2.0M
Metro Population
+2.7%
Annual Growth
760
Listed Businesses
$490K
Median Asking Price

🏙️ Market Overview

2.0M metro
Population · +2.7%/yr growth
Top Industries:
• Healthcare
• Music & Entertainment
• Technology

📊 Acquisition Activity

760
businesses listed for sale
Avg. time on market: 3.6 months
Median asking price: $490K
Price range: $200K – $4.2M
2,100 active buyers

🏦 SBA Lending Snapshot — Nashville

25%
7(a) Approval Rate
$555K
Avg. Loan Size
Top Lenders
First Horizon Bank · Pinnacle Bank · Renasant Bank
SBA Performance: Very strong — HCA Healthcare and music/entertainment businesses attract lenders

📈 Business Valuation Multiples — Nashville

Industry SDE Multiple EBITDA Multiple Notes
Restaurant (FSR) 2.3x–3.1x 5.1x–6.6x Music Row and downtown dining; tourist traffic drives revenue
HVAC / Plumbing 2.6x–3.4x 5.7x–7.1x Rapid suburban development; humid summers; year-round demand
Dental 3.0x–3.8x 6.4x–7.9x Growing affluent population; strong employer insurance base
E-Commerce 2.0x–2.8x 4.5x–6.0x Music/entertainment e-commerce; creative industry digital products
Landscaping 2.1x–2.9x 5.1x–6.4x Suburban growth and commercial development active
Professional Services 2.6x–3.4x 5.7x–7.0x HCA healthcare spinoff driving demand for healthcare admin services
SDE = Seller's Discretionary Earnings (cash flow to owner). EBITDA = Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation, Amortization. Multiples based on comparable transactions and market data.

🔍 Top Industries — Nashville

🏥 Healthcare Services Very High
SDE 2.9x–3.7x SDE/EBITDA
HCA Healthcare HQ drives healthcare M&A. Medical billing, home health, and clinic groups very active. Strong SBA lender appetite for healthcare acquisitions.
🎵 Music & Entertainment High
SDE 2.3x–3.2x SDE/EBITDA
Recording studios, event production, and entertainment venues changing hands. Tourism recovery and bachelorette party economy driving demand. Seasonal creates buying opportunities.
🍽️ Hospitality & Food & Beverage High
SDE 2.3x–3.1x SDE/EBITDA
Nashville dining scene booming. National brands and local concepts both active. Broadway-adjacent restaurants command premium multiples. Buyer pool deep.

💼 Recent Notable Deals — Nashville

$580K
SBA 7(a)
Event Production Company
2.7x SDE — corporate events and weddings; $215K SDE · 2025
$520K
SBA 7(a)
HVAC Contractor (Franklin)
3.1x SDE — commercial contracts; 3-year average backlog · 2025
$880K
SBA 7(a)
Dental Practice (Brentwood)
3.5x SDE — affluent suburb; $250K SDE · 2024

📈 Growth Signals

⚠️ Key Risks

🎯 12-Month Acquisition Outlook — Nashville

Hot
12-month: Nashville stays one of the hottest secondary markets for SMB acquisitions. Healthcare, hospitality, and tech all driving deal flow. No state income tax attracting corporate relocations. Multiples still elevated but buyer pool deep and motivated.

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