We are looking at either Chattanooga area in TN or Northwest Georgia to open a thrift store. We are relocating from NY and need advice. When it comes to the two states the taxes are very different and we cannot get a straight answer from anyone about where we would end up making more and paying less.

Visit your local library, reference desk, and ask a reference librarian for help in making a complete comparison of the two areas.

For your personal income, TN does not have any state taxes. GA has average state taxes.

You will need to look at individual locations for how hard or tough code enforcement may be on signs, or items on sidewalk ( locally where I am at, 5 miles down the road makes a difference in day and night.

Also what is important is also traffic, do studies on road traffic past possible locations.

Also were you from the area ? Some of the smaller towns in that area can be very "clandish" if you are first moving in to the area.