Commercial Landscaping
- Retail stores585
- Ambulatory health care offices and clinics368
- Apartment property management firms164
- Churches and religious organizations111
- Commercial building owners and lessors102
Commercial trades market · Memphis, TN-MS-AR
Appointment setting for commercial contractors in Memphis
Memphis has 3,451 businesses with 20 or more people on site across the categories commercial trades sell to, and it leans toward warehousing and distribution and hotels more than the U.S. as a whole. Here is how each trade's market looks, where the buildings are and when to call.
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Trades in Memphis
How each commercial trade's market looks in Memphis
Ranked by larger buildings per contractor against up to 100 markets (only markets with 10 or more contractors in a trade are ranked; n/r means not ranked). A higher rank means more buildings worth calling for every competitor working them.
| Trade | Contractors | 1-yr change | Larger buildings | Per contractor | Rank | Eligible targets | Push months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Landscaping Largest buyer group: retail stores | 311 | -18 | 1,578 | 5.1 | #17 | · | Dec–Feb |
| Commercial Flooring Largest buyer group: ambulatory health care: physician, dental, outpatient and urgent care | 12 | -2 | 1,088 | 90.7 | #14 | · | Year-round |
| Commercial Construction Largest buyer group: manufacturing companies | 161 | -3 | 924 | 5.7 | #30 | 3,280 | Year-round |
| Commercial Painting & Coatings Largest buyer group: retail stores | 20 | +1 | 1,660 | 83.0 | #29 | · | Dec–Feb |
| Commercial Cleaning & Janitorial Largest buyer group: ambulatory health care: physician, dental, outpatient and urgent care | 280 | -40 | 1,156 | 4.1 | #41 | 1,012 | Year-round |
| Paving & Asphalt Largest buyer group: retail stores | 40 | +2 | 1,781 | 44.5 | #43 | · | Dec–Feb |
| Commercial HVAC & Mechanical Largest buyer group: medical and dental office buildings | 131 | -6 | 1,160 | 8.9 | #59 | 1,390 | Mar–May, Sep–Nov |
| Commercial Roofing Largest buyer group: retail stores | 28 | 0 | 1,669 | 59.6 | #59 | 3,280 | Dec–Feb |
| Fire Protection Largest buyer group: restaurants | 52 | +2 | 1,899 | 36.5 | #66 | · | Year-round |
| Commercial Electrical Largest buyer group: retail stores | 148 | -11 | 1,372 | 9.3 | #73 | · | Year-round |
Who each program calls
The industries each Memphis trade program prospects into
Every trade has its own target list. Here are the five largest target industries for each program in the Memphis metro, with local location counts; each guide lists all ten and who your SDR asks for.
Commercial Flooring
- Ambulatory health care: physician, dental, outpatient and urgent care368
- Apartment and multifamily management companies164
- Warehousing and distribution134
- Owner-occupied and owner-managed commercial buildings102
- Senior living and skilled nursing102
Commercial Construction
- Manufacturing companies308
- Churches and religious organizations111
- Commercial building owners and developers102
- Senior living operators102
- Hotel owners and management groups83
Commercial Painting & Coatings
- Retail stores585
- Manufacturing plants308
- Apartment and multifamily management companies164
- Warehousing and distribution134
- Owner-occupied and owner-managed commercial buildings102
Commercial Cleaning & Janitorial
- Ambulatory health care: physician, dental, outpatient and urgent care368
- Manufacturing plants308
- Senior living and skilled nursing102
- Owner-occupied and owner-managed commercial buildings102
- Private K-12 schools80
Paving & Asphalt
- Retail stores585
- Ambulatory health care offices and clinics368
- Apartment property management firms164
- Warehousing and distribution134
- Truck transportation companies132
Commercial HVAC & Mechanical
- Medical and dental office buildings368
- Manufacturing plants308
- Warehousing and distribution134
- Senior living and skilled nursing102
- Hotels83
Commercial Roofing
- Retail stores585
- Manufacturing plants308
- Apartment property management firms164
- Warehousing and distribution134
- Churches and religious organizations111
Fire Protection
- Restaurants946
- Manufacturing plants308
- Apartment management companies164
- Warehousing and distribution134
- Senior living and skilled nursing102
Commercial Electrical
- Retail stores585
- Manufacturing plants308
- Warehousing and distribution134
- Senior living and skilled nursing102
- Commercial building owners102
Locations with 20 or more employees, U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023. Property management and similar categories count every company, whatever its size.
What's being built
The projects shaping Memphis
Named, sourced projects current as of 2026-09, and the trades each one puts to work.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital research tower
$810 millionAnnounced 2026; completion 2029
A 17-story, 865,000-square-foot research center with 130 lab spaces on St. Jude's campus in the Pinch District of Memphis.
Thirteen floors of labs mean large HVAC, exhaust, electrical and fire protection scopes through 2029, then flooring and finishes floor by floor.
Action News 5, 2026-02-20 →Regional One Health hospital campus
Nearly $1 billionSchematic design; construction 2027 to 2030
A new hospital campus of more than 600,000 square feet and 315-plus beds in Memphis, replacing seven existing buildings with a bed tower, trauma and burn unit and expanded emergency department.
Construction starts in 2027 under a Turner, Flintco, Nickson and Fifer joint venture, so mechanical, electrical, fire protection and roofing subcontract packages will be bid over the next year.
Engineering News-Record, 2026-09-03 →xAI Southaven data center (MACROHARDRR)
$20 billionAnnounced January 2026; operations starting 2026
An xAI data center on Stateline Road in Southaven, DeSoto County, Mississippi, the company's third facility in the Memphis area.
Data center fit-out is dominated by electrical distribution, cooling and fire suppression, and running sites need ongoing mechanical and electrical service.
Action News 5, 2026-01-08 →Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium renovation
Over $200 millionPhase two completed for the 2026 season
A rebuild of the west side of the University of Memphis football stadium in Memphis, replacing about 15,000 seats with suites and a plaza.
With the west tower done, the stadium needs suite and concourse cleaning, HVAC service for premium spaces and upkeep of the new plaza.
FOX13 Memphis, 2026-06-17 → Where the buyers cluster
The owners that anchor Memphis
Health systems, campuses, large employers and industrial parks hold the biggest concentrations of commercial buildings here. Each fact links to its source, checked 2026-10.
Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare
Memphis, Shelby County
Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare describes itself as a health system that includes six hospitals, plus ambulatory surgery centers, outpatient facilities and physician practices in the greater Memphis area.
Six hospital campuses plus a spread of surgery centers and outpatient clinics means mechanical, life-safety, cleaning and grounds work across many buildings under one system owner.
Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare →University of Memphis
Memphis, Shelby County
The University of Memphis, founded in 1912, says it welcomes more than 21,000 students to campus every year.
A large urban campus with classroom, lab, housing and athletic buildings, parking lots and grounds that need recurring maintenance and capital work.
University of Memphis →FedEx World Hub
Memphis, Shelby County
FedEx says its Memphis World Hub is the largest sort facility in its global network, with 13,000 team members.
The hub spans 940 acres of sort buildings, conveyor systems, aircraft ramps and parking, a large industrial footprint for electrical, mechanical, paving and cleaning work.
FedEx Newsroom →Memphis International Airport
Memphis, Shelby County
Memphis International Airport reported total cargo handled of 6.54 billion pounds in 2025.
The Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority runs terminals, parking, cargo ramps and support buildings, and posts bids and construction projects on its own site.
Memphis International Airport →International Port of Memphis
Memphis, Shelby County
The Port of Memphis says it ranks as the sixth largest inland port in the United States.
Its harbors connect two industrial parks, Pidgeon Industrial Park and President's Island, where plants, terminals and warehouses carry roofs, yards and electrical systems.
Port of Memphis →Crossroads Distribution Center
Olive Branch, DeSoto County
The DeSoto Times described Crossroads Distribution Center in 2019 as a 475-acre, master-planned industrial park totaling over 7 million square feet.
Big-box Class A warehouses on the Mississippi side of the metro, each with large roofs, truck courts, dock areas and fire sprinkler systems.
DeSoto Times →Memphis-Shelby County Schools
Memphis, Shelby County
Wikipedia, citing the district, states that MSCS contains 214 schools in Shelby County, 158 of them directly operated by MSCS.
The district owns school buildings, kitchens, gyms, fields and parking lots that need roofing, HVAC, flooring and grounds work.
Wikipedia → The local business base
Who the buyers are in Memphis
Compared with the national mix, Memphis over-indexes on warehousing and distribution, hotels and private K-12 schools. The fastest-growing categories over the past year: colleges and universities (+5) and grocery stores (+3).
| Category | Sites with 20+ | All establishments | vs. U.S. mix | 1-yr change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurants | 946 | 2,482 | 1.40x | -50 |
| Retail stores | 585 | 4,218 | 1.64x | -142 |
| Medical, dental and outpatient offices | 368 | 2,106 | 1.14x | -73 |
| Wholesale distributors | 317 | 1,398 | 1.18x | -283 |
| Manufacturing plants | 308 | 783 | 1.10x | -114 |
| Warehousing and distribution | 134 | 260 | 4.71x | -21 |
| Trucking companies | 132 | 686 | 1.54x | -93 |
| Churches and religious organizations | 111 | 879 | 0.30x | -4 |
| Senior living and nursing | 102 | 172 | 0.78x | -16 |
| Grocery stores | 96 | 606 | 1.38x | +3 |
| Hotels | 83 | 284 | 2.15x | -16 |
| Private K-12 schools | 80 | 101 | 1.94x | 0 |
| Bank and credit union offices | 58 | 837 | 1.66x | -37 |
| Auto dealerships | 56 | 158 | 1.49x | -11 |
| Hospitals | 30 | 32 | 1.03x | 0 |
| Apartment and residential property managers | 15 | 164 | 1.16x | -15 |
| Golf courses and country clubs | 11 | 26 | 1.11x | -2 |
| Commercial property managers | 7 | 46 | 0.94x | -9 |
| Colleges and universities | 6 | 16 | 0.77x | +5 |
| Nonresidential building owners | 3 | 102 | 1.02x | -10 |
| Hosting and data processing companies | 3 | 37 | 0.58x | -31 |
Territory
Where the business sites are
Shelby County, DeSoto County and Crittenden County hold 96% of the metro's larger business sites. Most programs start in those counties and add the outer 5 counties for larger accounts, depending on how far your crews travel.
| County | Larger business sites |
|---|---|
| Shelby County | 2,558 |
| DeSoto County, Mississippi | 512 |
| Crittenden County, Arkansas | 88 |
| Tipton County | 40 |
| Marshall County, Mississippi | 30 |
| Fayette County | 29 |
| Tate County, Mississippi | 20 |
| Tunica County, Mississippi | 12 |
Climate and timing
Memphis's year, month by month
Outdoor trades (roofing, paving, landscaping, exterior painting) work the months with lows of 40°F or above and sell in the months before. HVAC sells ahead of its heating and cooling peaks. Each trade page has its own calendar.
- Jan50° / 32°Off-season
- Feb55° / 35°Off-season
- Mar63° / 42°Outdoor season
- Apr73° / 50°Outdoor season
- May81° / 60°Outdoor season
- Jun88° / 68°Outdoor season
- Jul91° / 71°Outdoor season
- Aug90° / 69°Outdoor season
- Sep85° / 63°Outdoor season
- Oct74° / 51°Outdoor season
- Nov62° / 41°Outdoor season
- Dec53° / 34°Off-season
Working in Tennessee
Contractor licensing in Tennessee
Tennessee requires a contractor's license before bidding or contracting on projects of $25,000 or more, issued by classification with a monetary limit. Electrical, mechanical, plumbing, HVAC and roofing subcontractors also need the license at $25,000 or more, and masonry at $100,000 or more.
Trade-by-trade rules are on each trade page. Confirm with Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors. Checked 2026-09-30.
Hiring locally
What an in-house SDR costs in Memphis
Before you hire a sales development rep in Memphis, price the whole job, not just the salary. Here is the local pay for sales representatives, and what a first year really costs once you add commission, payroll taxes and benefits, tools, recruiting and the manager time it takes to coach them.
- $59,140median pay for a sales rep in the Memphis metro
- $41,200 to $80,100middle half of local pay (25th to 75th percentile)
- 3,330people in the role locally, all competing for the same hires
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services and travel (SOC 41-3091).
In-house SDR, first year$119,275
Abstrakt Growth program, full-time SDR, 12 months$102,000
In-house adds $15,000 commission, 25% payroll taxes and benefits, $500/month tools, $5,000 recruiting and 4 manager hours a week at $75/hour, before ramp time or turnover. Abstrakt includes the SDR, management, tools and data.
How Abstrakt works in Memphis
Outsourced appointment setting, one trade per market
Abstrakt's U.S.-based business development reps build a Memphis target list around your trade, service area and ideal buildings, work it by phone, email, LinkedIn and direct mail, and book meetings with the people who sign. We will not run the same program for a direct competitor in your territory.
Selling into Tennessee? See the Tennessee outbound calling rules: do-not-call lists, calling hours and registration, so you know what a program here has to handle.
Memphis commercial trades, answered
Does Abstrakt set appointments for commercial contractors in Memphis?
Yes. Abstrakt runs outsourced appointment setting for commercial trades across the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro: our U.S.-based business development reps call the buildings, qualify the opportunity and book meetings with the person who signs. We run one program per trade per market.
Which commercial trades have the most room to grow in Memphis?
Measured by larger buildings per contractor against the 100 markets we track (where a trade has at least 10 local contractors), commercial Landscaping (#17), commercial Flooring (#14) and commercial Construction (#30) rank best in Memphis.
What kinds of businesses are concentrated in Memphis?
Compared with the national mix, Memphis has more warehousing and distribution (4.71x), hotels (2.15x) and private K-12 schools (1.94x). Those industries are the best-represented buyers for trades that serve them.
Which counties make up the Memphis market?
The metro covers 8 counties. Shelby County, DeSoto County and Crittenden County hold 96% of the larger business sites, so most programs start there.
Sources and method
- Contractors and business-category change and concentration: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, private ownership, 2025 Q2, Memphis, TN-MS-AR.
- Business sites by size and county: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023. Suppressed size classes count as zero.
- Climate: NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county monthly series, 1991-2020 averages.
- Projects: sources linked on each project card.
- Anchor owners: sources linked on each card, read 2026-10.
- Eligible targets: Abstrakt territory record counts, 2026-10; estimated decision-maker records Abstrakt can prospect per program, shown for HVAC, roofing, construction and cleaning.
- Photo: Hernando de Soto Bridge over the Mississippi River in Memphis, by Emily Finch on Unsplash.
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