Nolan Scott Team

83% of Israelis and 83% of Nigerians view America favorably. Across much of the developing world, majority-favorable sentiment toward the U.S. remains strong. And for many of those people, buying a business is the front door.

India at 62% favorable, Philippines at 61%, and Vietnam at 64% represent massive populations with positive views of American opportunity.

Even in countries with mixed sentiment like Mexico at 43% and Brazil at 54%, demand to live and work in the U.S. remains strong.

The Netherlands, Sweden, and Norway rank lowest in favorability but highest in quality of life, meaning migration interest from those countries is driven by opportunity rather than necessity.

What most people do not realize is that purchasing an existing business in the U.S. is one of the most practical pathways to living here. Visa programs like the E-2 allow foreign nationals from treaty countries to obtain residency by investing in and operating a U.S. business. A profitable service company in Atlanta or Chattanooga generating $500K to $2M in revenue is exactly the kind of acquisition that qualifies. For business brokers in the Southeast, international buyers represent a growing and motivated segment. These are not casual shoppers. They are buyers with capital, operational experience, and a personal stake in making the business succeed because their ability to stay in the country depends on it.

America's reputation abroad is not just a polling question. It is a buyer pipeline for every business broker with listings worth showing.

Tennessee carries $1,952 in state debt per resident, the lowest in the country. Connecticut carries $26,187. That is a 13x difference.

Georgia sits at $4,503, well below states like Illinois at $17,391 and New Jersey at $22,968.

Connecticut has more total state debt than Florida despite having one-sixth the population.

States buried in pension shortfalls eventually pass those costs to residents through higher taxes or reduced services. Tennessee's conservative borrowing and top credit rating keep taxes low and the business climate predictable. For anyone buying or operating a business in the Southeast, that fiscal stability protects the long-term value of your investment in ways that do not show up on a P&L but absolutely show up at exit.

State debt is the bill that has not arrived yet. Tennessee's is the smallest in America.

Immigration drove 81% of U.S. population growth from 2021 to 2025. Regardless of where you stand on the issue, the economic math is worth understanding.

In 14 states, immigration was the only reason the population grew at all, fully offsetting declining birth rates and domestic outflows.

Tennessee grew by 387,340 with just 30% from immigration, meaning its growth stands on its own fundamentals.

Georgia added 570,153 with 41% from international migration.

Population growth fuels housing demand, business revenue, and tax bases. With immigration projected to drop 80% in 2026, states heavily dependent on international inflows face real exposure. Tennessee and Georgia are better positioned than most because their growth comes from multiple sources, not just one.

Most business owners have never sat down and honestly asked themselves if their business could run without them.

That question is the first thing a buyer asks.

Transferability. Recurring revenue. A-team. Documentation. EBITDA.

These are the five things that determine what your business is actually worth at exit. Not revenue. Not years in business. Not how hard you worked.

Take the free TRADE Exit Score and find out where you stand in 6 minutes.

👉 https://www.nolanscottteam.com/scorecard