Which local services is Charles 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; 1 has more. Counts include sole proprietors.

• Cleaning Services28 with employees + 383 without = 411 · 23.9 per 10k vs 32.7 nationally
  1.4× fewerFewer than average
• Exterior & Building Services3 with employees + 66 without = 69 · 4.0 per 10k vs 4.1 nationally
  ≈About average
• Landscaping & Lawn Care40 with employees + 267 without = 307 · 17.8 per 10k vs 18.2 nationally
  ≈About average
• Pet Care11 with employees + 85 without = 96 · 5.6 per 10k vs 4.7 nationally
  1.2× 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.