Which local services is Highlands County, FL short of?

4 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; 3 have more. Counts include sole proprietors.

• Pet Care5 with employees + 49 without = 54 · 5.0 per 10k vs 4.7 nationally
  1.1× moreAbout average
• Cleaning Services12 with employees + 472 without = 484 · 44.8 per 10k vs 32.7 nationally
  1.4× moreMore than average
• Exterior & Building Services11 with employees + 64 without = 75 · 6.9 per 10k vs 4.1 nationally
  1.7× moreMore than average
• Landscaping & Lawn Care60 with employees + 333 without = 393 · 36.3 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.