Which local services is Montgomery 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; 2 have more. Counts include sole proprietors.

• Pet Care9 with employees + 48 without = 57 · 2.5 per 10k vs 4.7 nationally
  1.9× fewerFewer than average
• Exterior & Building Services7 with employees + 74 without = 81 · 3.6 per 10k vs 4.1 nationally
  1.1× fewerAbout average
• Cleaning Services54 with employees + 853 without = 907 · 40.1 per 10k vs 32.7 nationally
  1.2× moreMore than average
• Landscaping & Lawn Care38 with employees + 685 without = 723 · 32.0 per 10k vs 18.2 nationally
  1.8× 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.