Which local services is Alexander County, NC short of?

3 home-service categories, each counted per 10,000 residents and compared against the national rate. 0 have fewer businesses per resident than the country average; 2 have more. Counts include sole proprietors.

• Cleaning Services4 with employees + 109 without = 113 · 31.0 per 10k vs 32.7 nationally
  1.1× fewerAbout average
• Pet Care4 with employees + 22 without = 26 · 7.1 per 10k vs 4.7 nationally
  1.5× moreMore than average
• Landscaping & Lawn Care8 with employees + 124 without = 132 · 36.2 per 10k vs 18.2 nationally
  2.0× moreMore than average

What this doesn't tell you: These counts measure how many businesses exist, not how many customers want one. Fewer of something can mean an opening — or that there is less local demand for it. Treat a low number as a lead to check, not a verdict.

Sources: US Census County Business Patterns ↗ (businesses with employees) and Nonemployer Statistics ↗ (sole proprietors). Every figure here is the two added together.