Which local services is Lafayette Parish, LA 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; 3 have more. Counts include sole proprietors.

• Pet Care21 with employees + 59 without = 80 · 3.2 per 10k vs 4.7 nationally
  1.5× fewerFewer than average
• Exterior & Building Services15 with employees + 104 without = 119 · 4.8 per 10k vs 4.1 nationally
  1.2× moreMore than average
• Cleaning Services64 with employees + 1194 without = 1258 · 50.2 per 10k vs 32.7 nationally
  1.5× moreMore than average
• Landscaping & Lawn Care82 with employees + 627 without = 709 · 28.3 per 10k vs 18.2 nationally
  1.6× 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.