Which local services is Montgomery County, VA short of?

3 home-service categories, each counted per 10,000 residents and compared against the national rate. 2 have fewer businesses per resident than the country average; 1 has more. Counts include sole proprietors.

• Cleaning Services15 with employees + 189 without = 204 · 20.6 per 10k vs 32.7 nationally
  1.6× fewerFewer than average
• Landscaping & Lawn Care41 with employees + 91 without = 132 · 13.3 per 10k vs 18.2 nationally
  1.4× fewerFewer than average
• Pet Care7 with employees + 54 without = 61 · 6.2 per 10k vs 4.7 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.