Which local services is McDowell County, NC short of?

2 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; 2 have more. Counts include sole proprietors.

• Cleaning Services13 with employees + 176 without = 189 · 42.0 per 10k vs 32.7 nationally
  1.3× moreMore than average
• Landscaping & Lawn Care16 with employees + 148 without = 164 · 36.5 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.