Active Local Businesses
2,853
Total Competition Pool
Market Size
125K
Total Metro Population
5-Year Growth Rate
+26.7%
🔥 Outpacing US(+0.1% avg)
Underserved Sectors
35
Niches with LQ < 0.8
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Showing 20 of 77 opportunities
| Niche Name | Solo Ratio | Market Scale | Competition (LQ) | Growth (5-Yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Offices of All Other Miscellaneous Health Practitioners | +85.5% | $174K PAY | 0.80 | +200.0% |
All Other Specialty Trade Contractors | +0.0% | $1.3M PAY | 1.30 | +183.3% |
Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists | +0.0% | $383K PAY | 1.37 | +175.0% |
Nail Salons | +86.2% | $117K PAY | 0.73 | +166.7% |
All Other General Merchandise Stores | +0.0% | $242K PAY | 1.08 | +150.0% |
Electric Power Distribution | +0.0% | $1.0M PAY | 6.07 | +140.0% |
Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers | +0.0% | $123K PAY | 2.21 | +120.0% |
General Freight Trucking, Local | +0.0% | $65K PAY | 0.93 | +116.7% |
Car Washes | +0.0% | $100K PAY | 2.14 | +116.7% |
Residential Remodelers | +0.0% | $117K PAY | 1.27 | +112.0% |
Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers | +0.0% | $101K PAY | 1.36 | +94.4% |
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | +0.0% | $943K PAY | 9.82 | +81.8% |
Food Service Contractors | +0.0% | $180K PAY | 2.10 | +72.7% |
Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Local | +0.0% | $332K PAY | 1.94 | +70.0% |
Veterinary Services | +0.0% | $348K PAY | 2.64 | +68.8% |
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors | +0.0% | $388K PAY | 0.84 | +66.7% |
General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload | +0.0% | $402K PAY | 0.83 | +66.7% |
Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses | +0.0% | $143K PAY | 1.11 | +58.3% |
All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | +0.0% | $176K PAY | 1.63 | +57.1% |
Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | +0.0% | $296K PAY | 2.81 | +57.1% |
Administrative data provides the map, but not the terrain. We recommend three specific validation steps for Ames:
Does the local population age or income level explain the "Supply Gaps"? (e.g., A gap in luxury services may be due to lower local income).
Verify local licensing requirements. High barriers to entry often protect "High Yield" sectors from new competition.
Investigate the "Momentum" sectors. Are existing businesses thriving, or is the growth due to high turnover and failure rates?