Active Local Businesses
9,675
Total Competition Pool
Market Size
367K
Total Metro Population
5-Year Growth Rate
+7.4%
🔥 Outpacing US(+0.1% avg)
Underserved Sectors
113
Niches with LQ < 0.8
Viewing all opportunities. Use the View Mode toggle above to filter by business model, or search to find specific niches.
Showing 20 of 171 opportunities
| Niche Name | Solo Ratio | Market Scale | Competition (LQ) | Growth (5-Yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tobacco Stores | +0.0% | $46K PAY | 1.99 | +129.4% |
Nail Salons | +92.9% | $12742.0M REV | 0.63 | +110.0% |
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars | +14.3% | $160K PAY | 0.96 | +105.3% |
Other Services to Buildings and Dwellings | +0.0% | $284K PAY | 0.70 | +100.0% |
Barber Shops | +92.8% | $170K PAY | 0.81 | +100.0% |
All Other Outpatient Care Centers | +0.0% | $449K PAY | 0.52 | +100.0% |
New Single-Family Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) | +0.0% | $199K PAY | 1.96 | +77.0% |
Convenience Stores | +0.0% | $53K PAY | 0.86 | +76.5% |
Process, Physical Distribution, and Logistics Consulting Services | +0.0% | $6.6M PAY | 1.57 | +71.4% |
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services | +0.0% | $174K PAY | 1.12 | +68.8% |
RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Campgrounds | +0.0% | $130K PAY | 2.87 | +66.7% |
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) | +0.0% | $153K PAY | 0.54 | +66.7% |
Motor Vehicle Towing | +0.0% | $391K PAY | 1.07 | +66.7% |
Medical Laboratories | +0.0% | $686K PAY | 0.95 | +66.7% |
Investment Advice | +0.0% | $106K PAY | 0.85 | +58.3% |
Interior Design Services | +0.0% | $74K PAY | 0.68 | +57.1% |
Boat Dealers | +31.3% | $775K PAY | 3.27 | +57.1% |
General Warehousing and Storage | +0.0% | $5.2M PAY | 1.41 | +57.1% |
All Other Health and Personal Care Stores | +0.0% | $245K PAY | 1.94 | +50.0% |
Drywall and Insulation Contractors | +0.0% | $432K PAY | 0.93 | +50.0% |
Administrative data provides the map, but not the terrain. We recommend three specific validation steps for Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton:
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?