Which local services is Smith County, TX 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 Care12 with employees + 85 without = 97 · 3.9 per 10k vs 4.7 nationally
  1.2× fewerFewer than average
• Cleaning Services41 with employees + 839 without = 880 · 35.8 per 10k vs 32.7 nationally
  1.1× moreAbout average
• Landscaping & Lawn Care101 with employees + 578 without = 679 · 27.6 per 10k vs 18.2 nationally
  1.5× moreMore than average
• Exterior & Building Services17 with employees + 138 without = 155 · 6.3 per 10k vs 4.1 nationally
  1.5× 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.