Which local services is Carroll County, MD short of?

4 home-service categories, each counted per 10,000 residents and compared against the national rate. 1 has fewer businesses per resident than the country average; 2 have more. Counts include sole proprietors.

• Cleaning Services30 with employees + 331 without = 361 · 20.4 per 10k vs 32.7 nationally
  1.6× fewerFewer than average
• Exterior & Building Services15 with employees + 49 without = 64 · 3.6 per 10k vs 4.1 nationally
  1.1× fewerAbout average
• Landscaping & Lawn Care131 with employees + 328 without = 459 · 26.0 per 10k vs 18.2 nationally
  1.4× moreMore than average
• Pet Care22 with employees + 151 without = 173 · 9.8 per 10k vs 4.7 nationally
  2.1× 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.