Which local services is Portsmouth city, VA short of?

4 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; 0 have more. Counts include sole proprietors.

• Exterior & Building Services3 with employees + 24 without = 27 · 2.8 per 10k vs 4.1 nationally
  1.5×Fewer than average
• Pet Care5 with employees + 33 without = 38 · 3.9 per 10k vs 4.7 nationally
  1.2×Fewer than average
• Cleaning Services22 with employees + 278 without = 300 · 31.0 per 10k vs 32.7 nationally
  1.1×About average
• Landscaping & Lawn Care19 with employees + 171 without = 190 · 19.6 per 10k vs 18.2 nationally
  1.1×About 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.