Nashville sits at the crossroads of I-24, I-40, and I-65, which makes Davidson County and the surrounding Middle Tennessee counties high-traffic ground for fuel and convenience retail. Population growth and tourism keep volume strong at well-located sites, and Tennessee cap rates run roughly 5.4% to 5.75%, tighter than most weaker markets. Gas Station Trader is the fuel and C-store practice of Eagle Nest Property Group in Dallas, with brokerage handled through Eagle Nest Brokerage LLC, a licensed Texas broker, and more than 250 million dollars transacted. We bring underwriting, environmental, and financing discipline to every Nashville assignment, on both the buy and sell side. Reach us at info@eaglenestpg.com or 469.949.6467.
The Nashville fuel and C-store market
Nashville's value as a fuel market comes from its highway geometry. I-24, I-40, and I-65 converge in Davidson County, feeding commuter, tourist, and freight traffic to stations across the metro and into Williamson, Rutherford, and Sumner counties. A busy urban Nashville station can run 100,000 to 150,000 gallons of fuel per month, well above the US average of roughly 4,000 gallons per day.
Tennessee has about 5,800 fewer C-stores than the largest states, but Nashville's growth keeps demand for well-positioned sites high. Inside-store sales matter most: the C-store is about 30% of revenue but roughly 70% of profit, with in-store items carrying 20% to 40% margins. We track which Nashville corridors support those numbers. See our Tennessee gas stations for sale overview.
Buying a gas station in Nashville
Buyers in Nashville should underwrite fuel volume, in-store margin, and the lease or fee position before anything else. 2025 fuel gross margins averaged 40 cents per gallon or more, but net fuel profit is only a few cents per gallon, so the C-store and any branded supply agreement carry the deal. A small-to-medium station owner often nets about 70,000 to 100,000 dollars per year, and 100,000 to 500,000 dollars by site.
Financing a Nashville purchase usually runs through SBA 7(a), capped at 5 million dollars, with a 15% minimum equity injection and real estate terms up to 25 years. June 2026 rates run roughly 9% to 11.5% APR variable, with closings in 30 to 90 days. Start with our buyer services, the valuation calculator, and our how to buy a gas station guide.
Selling a gas station in Nashville
Sellers in Nashville benefit from the metro's growth and the relative scarcity of well-located fuel sites, but pricing has to be defensible. Business-only deals trade at 2.5x to 4.0x EBITDA, combined business-plus-real-estate deals at 4.0x to 7.0x, and roughly 8x with strong real estate in premium markets. A clean Phase I ESA under ASTM E1527-21, costing 1,800 to 3,500 dollars, removes a common point of friction since many lenders avoid underground storage tanks over CERCLA liability.
Broker commissions run 10% to 20% on business-only deals and about 6% to 10% when real estate is included, with sale timelines of 3 to 6 months. We prepare Nashville sellers with accurate financials and tank documentation up front. See seller services and our how to sell a gas station guide.
Values and cap rates in Tennessee
Tennessee gas station cap rates run roughly 5.4% to 5.75%, tighter than weaker markets at 6.0% to 6.5% or higher and close to the national average near 5.6%. Tenant credit drives the rate inside that band: 7-Eleven trades around 5.00% to 5.40%, Murphy USA near 5.13%, and Circle K around 5.35% to 5.65%. Strongest national credit such as Wawa prices tighter at 4.83% to 5.20%.
For Nashville investors, that means a single-tenant NNN station with solid credit and a long lease should price in the low-to-mid 5% range, while operator-run sites with shorter terms price wider. Model your number with our cap rate calculator, browse NNN gas stations, and read what is a good cap rate for a gas station.
