Which local services is Orange County, CA 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.

• Landscaping & Lawn Care738 with employees + 3087 without = 3825 · 12.1 per 10k vs 18.2 nationally
  1.5× fewerFewer than average
• Cleaning Services640 with employees + 8431 without = 9071 · 28.8 per 10k vs 32.7 nationally
  1.1× fewerAbout average
• Pet Care247 with employees + 1141 without = 1388 · 4.4 per 10k vs 4.7 nationally
  1.1× fewerAbout average
• Exterior & Building Services205 with employees + 1579 without = 1784 · 5.7 per 10k vs 4.1 nationally
  1.4× 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.