Which local services is Watauga County, NC short of?

3 home-service categories, each counted per 10,000 residents and compared against the national rate. 0 have fewer businesses per resident than the country average; 3 have more. Counts include sole proprietors.

• Pet Care7 with employees + 25 without = 32 · 5.8 per 10k vs 4.7 nationally
  1.2× moreMore than average
• Cleaning Services7 with employees + 264 without = 271 · 48.9 per 10k vs 32.7 nationally
  1.5× moreMore than average
• Landscaping & Lawn Care43 with employees + 158 without = 201 · 36.3 per 10k vs 18.2 nationally
  2.0× 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.