Which local services is Whatcom County, WA 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.

• Cleaning Services85 with employees + 487 without = 572 · 24.6 per 10k vs 32.7 nationally
  1.3× fewerFewer than average
• Exterior & Building Services14 with employees + 66 without = 80 · 3.4 per 10k vs 4.1 nationally
  1.2× fewerFewer than average
• Landscaping & Lawn Care111 with employees + 258 without = 369 · 15.9 per 10k vs 18.2 nationally
  1.1× fewerAbout average
• Pet Care29 with employees + 110 without = 139 · 6.0 per 10k vs 4.7 nationally
  1.3× 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.