Which local services is Stearns County, MN short of?

4 home-service categories, each counted per 10,000 residents and compared against the national rate. 4 have fewer businesses per resident than the country average; 0 have more. Counts include sole proprietors.

• Landscaping & Lawn Care69 with employees + 124 without = 193 · 11.9 per 10k vs 18.2 nationally
  1.5× fewerFewer than average
• Cleaning Services30 with employees + 317 without = 347 · 21.4 per 10k vs 32.7 nationally
  1.5× fewerFewer than average
• Pet Care8 with employees + 44 without = 52 · 3.2 per 10k vs 4.7 nationally
  1.5× fewerFewer than average
• Exterior & Building Services4 with employees + 44 without = 48 · 3.0 per 10k vs 4.1 nationally
  1.4× fewerFewer 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.