Which local services is Howard County, IN short of?

3 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; 0 have more. Counts include sole proprietors.

• Cleaning Services10 with employees + 163 without = 173 · 20.6 per 10k vs 32.7 nationally
  1.6× fewerFewer than average
• Pet Care7 with employees + 33 without = 40 · 4.8 per 10k vs 4.7 nationally
  ≈About average
• Landscaping & Lawn Care28 with employees + 127 without = 155 · 18.5 per 10k vs 18.2 nationally
  ≈About 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.