Which local services is Madison County, AL 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.

• Exterior & Building Services11 with employees + 126 without = 137 · 3.3 per 10k vs 4.1 nationally
  1.2× fewerFewer than average
• Cleaning Services90 with employees + 1178 without = 1268 · 30.6 per 10k vs 32.7 nationally
  1.1× fewerAbout average
• Pet Care32 with employees + 178 without = 210 · 5.1 per 10k vs 4.7 nationally
  1.1× moreAbout average
• Landscaping & Lawn Care125 with employees + 881 without = 1006 · 24.3 per 10k vs 18.2 nationally
  1.3× 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.