Active Local Businesses
4,857
Total Competition Pool
Market Size
177K
Total Metro Population
5-Year Growth Rate
+6.6%
🔥 Outpacing US(+0.1% avg)
Underserved Sectors
51
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 112 opportunities
| Niche Name | Solo Ratio | Market Scale | Competition (LQ) | Growth (5-Yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Investment Advice | +0.0% | $184K PAY | 1.40 | +300.0% |
Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities | +0.0% | $533K PAY | 3.56 | +300.0% |
Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) | +0.0% | $281K PAY | 2.03 | +80.8% |
Offices of All Other Miscellaneous Health Practitioners | +89.9% | $5027.0M REV | 0.79 | +75.0% |
Siding Contractors | +0.0% | $193K PAY | 3.34 | +75.0% |
Flooring Contractors | +0.0% | $100K PAY | 1.37 | +71.4% |
Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services | +0.0% | $103K PAY | 0.65 | +61.9% |
All Other General Merchandise Stores | +0.0% | $200K PAY | 0.87 | +58.3% |
Residential Property Managers | +0.0% | $342K PAY | 0.93 | +47.4% |
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores | +0.0% | $59K PAY | 0.92 | +45.5% |
Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers | +0.0% | $77K PAY | 0.52 | +42.9% |
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services | +0.0% | $152K PAY | 1.37 | +41.7% |
Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists | +0.0% | $395K PAY | 1.14 | +38.1% |
Car Washes | +0.0% | $127K PAY | 1.15 | +37.5% |
Fine Arts Schools | +0.0% | $178K PAY | 1.89 | +36.4% |
Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance | +0.0% | $202K PAY | 3.35 | +33.3% |
Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers | +0.0% | $109K PAY | 0.71 | +31.8% |
Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) | +0.0% | $986K PAY | 2.27 | +27.3% |
Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels | +0.0% | $740K PAY | 1.83 | +27.0% |
Poured Concrete Foundation and Structure Contractors | +0.0% | $420K PAY | 3.04 | +26.9% |
Administrative data provides the map, but not the terrain. We recommend three specific validation steps for Iowa City:
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?