Which local services is District of Columbia short of?

4 home-service categories, each counted per 10,000 residents and compared against the national rate. 3 have fewer businesses per resident than the country average; 1 has more. Counts include sole proprietors.

• Landscaping & Lawn Care22 with employees + 224 without = 246 · 3.6 per 10k vs 18.2 nationally
  5.1× fewerFewer than average
• Exterior & Building Services4 with employees + 108 without = 112 · 1.6 per 10k vs 4.1 nationally
  2.5× fewerFewer than average
• Cleaning Services115 with employees + 1038 without = 1153 · 16.8 per 10k vs 32.7 nationally
  1.9× fewerFewer than average
• Pet Care42 with employees + 995 without = 1037 · 15.1 per 10k vs 4.7 nationally
  3.2× 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.