Which local services is Richland County, SC 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; 1 has more. Counts include sole proprietors.

• Pet Care32 with employees + 128 without = 160 · 3.8 per 10k vs 4.7 nationally
  1.3× fewerFewer than average
• Exterior & Building Services14 with employees + 127 without = 141 · 3.3 per 10k vs 4.1 nationally
  1.2× fewerFewer than average
• Cleaning Services134 with employees + 1228 without = 1362 · 32.0 per 10k vs 32.7 nationally
  ≈About average
• Landscaping & Lawn Care100 with employees + 806 without = 906 · 21.3 per 10k vs 18.2 nationally
  1.2× 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.