Nashville
Davidson County Clerk, Business Tax Division
In short
Davidson County Clerk, Business Tax Division issues 3 permits we publish for Nashville, last verified 2026-10-09. Each carries the fee as the agency publishes it, with a link to the schedule it was read from.
What this agency issues
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Business Tax License | Davidson County Clerk, Business Tax Division | A minimum tax of at least $22 a year applies once a business is required to register; per the Department of Revenue's Registration and Licensing page, the Minimal Activity License starts above $3,000 of gross receipts, so businesses under $3,000 need no license at all, and $3,000–$99,999 need only a Minimal Activity License. Rates above that vary 0.02%–0.1875% by classification. The Davidson County Clerk's own current page states the license fee itself is $30 for a business located within Nashville's old city limits (Urban Services District) and $15 for a business located elsewhere in Davidson County (General Services District). | annual, tied to the state business tax return | 2026-09-05 |
| Cosmetology / Barber Shop License | Davidson County Clerk, Business Tax Division | New shop, relocated shop, or change of ownership (cosmetology, barber, manicure, skin care, natural hair styling, eyelash services): $150. New dual shop: $200. Renewal: $75 ($100 for a dual shop). | set by the Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners | 2026-09-05 |
| Closing-Out (Going-Out-of-Business) Sale Licenseonly if it applies to you | Davidson County Clerk, Business Tax Division | $25 per day of the sale; not assessed against a bona fide merchant in business in the Urban Services District for at least two years who has paid privilege and ad valorem taxes, for a sale of no more than 45 days in a year | per sale | 2026-10-09 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
About each permit
Metro Business Tax License
Tennessee's business tax is a state-imposed tax administered through the local clerk — because Nashville/Davidson is consolidated, that is the Davidson County Clerk, operating as the Metro Clerk for business services. The Clerk's own current page confirms the local license-fee split directly: 'The license fee will be $30 if your business is located within Nashville city limits (Urban Service District – USD)... The license fee will be $15 if your business is located outside the Nashville city limits, but in Davidson County (General Service District – GSD).'
Cosmetology / Barber Shop License
A state shop license, not a distinct Metro-issued credential — no Metro-specific salon/barbershop license beyond this and the standard business tax registration was found.
Closing-Out (Going-Out-of-Business) Sale License
Metro Code § 6.92.010 A makes it unlawful 'in the urban services district' to advertise or conduct a retail sale represented as a bankrupt, insolvent, close-out, liquidation, fire or water damage sale, or any sale meant to suggest the merchandise is being sold out at a sacrifice, 'without first obtaining and filing with the Davidson County clerk a "closing-out sale license"'. Under § 6.92.010 B 'The fee for such license shall be twenty-five dollars for each day such sale is conducted', not assessed against a bona fide merchant who has been in business in the Urban Services District for at least two years and paid its privilege and ad valorem taxes, provided the sale runs no more than 45 days in a year. The Davidson County Clerk's Business Liquidation Sale Permit page says owners planning a going-out-of-business sale must obtain a Close Out Business Permit 'prior to any advertising related to the sale(s)' and return the application with the fees to the Clerk's Business Tax License department (DCCBusinessServ@nashville.gov). Chapter 6.92 also requires a statement, inventory and affidavit and sales records.
Contact
- Jurisdiction
- Nashville
- Phone
- (615) 862-6254
Contact details are taken from the agency’s own site or its published fee schedule. Where we have not verified a phone number we leave it blank rather than guess.
Sources
Every fee and term above was read from one of these government pages on the date shown.
- Apply for Business License — the Davidson County Clerk's own current page stating the $30 fee inside the Urban Services District and the $15 fee in the General Services District (page last updated by the Clerk April 14, 2026)Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Davidson County Clerk · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
- Business Liquidation Sale Permit — Davidson County ClerkMetropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Davidson County Clerk · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
- Metropolitan Code, Chapter 6.92 — Bankruptcy, Close-Out and Similar SalesMetropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County (Municode) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
- Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners — shop license feesTennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-05
- Tennessee Department of Revenue — business tax registration and licensingTennessee Department of Revenue · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
Other offices serving Nashville
- Metro Department of Codes and Building Safety
- Metro Public Health Department, Food Protection and Public Facilities Division
- Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure (NDOT), Permit Office
- Nashville Fire Department, Fire Marshal's Office
- Metro Water Services, Environmental Compliance (Grease Management)
- Metropolitan Beer Permit Board
The full permit list for this jurisdiction
Industry permit lists that include this agency
Tennessee jurisdictions
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.