What Des Moines, IA is underserved in
The biggest opening in Des Moines right now is basement waterproofing: about 2,210 searches a month across Polk County, and local companies pay $55.79 for each click. The three businesses at the top of Google Maps for it have a median of 38 reviews, which a newcomer can match with steady work. Too few searches here to build on: artificial turf installation, boat lift repair, crane rental, demolition contractor, dock builder, electrical panel upgrade, ev charger installation, grease trap cleaning, home addition, hurricane shutters, impact door installation, impact windows, land clearing, mobile home repair, pool installation, pool resurfacing, screen enclosure installation, screen enclosure repair, seawall repair, sewer line repair, sod installation, sprinkler repair, well drilling, well pump repair and whole house repipe. Some search numbers for this market look unusually high, so we are re-checking them. It is left out of our rankings until then.
Polk County, Iowa. Data from October 2026.
Top opportunities in Des Moines
| # | Business | Score | Searches/mo | Per click |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basement waterproofingFull market report, $29 | 75 | 2,210 | $55.79 |
| 2 | Kitchen remodelingFull market report, $29 | 74 | 2,040 | $34.80 |
| 3 | Fence installationFull market report, $29 | 59 | 2,310 | $17.13 |
| 4 | Bathroom remodelingFull market report, $29 | 58 | 2,500 | $45.02 |
| 5 | Deck builderFull market report, $29 | 52 | 2,830 | $19.00 |
41 more scored businesses for Des Moines are in the full list.
See every business in Des Moines
Starting one of these? Each full market report has the competitors with phone numbers, the keywords, and a market analysis section ready for a business plan or SBA loan.
Searches/mo: people in that county searching Google for the service each month. Per click: what local companies pay Google for one of those visitors. Search value/mo: a rough estimate of what that demand is worth to the businesses that win it. Leader reviews: median review count of the top 3 on Google Maps; lower means an easier market to break into.
Questions
What business should I start in Des Moines, IA?
In October 2026, basement waterproofing had the most room to grow in Des Moines: strong demand for the area and a score of 75 out of 100.
What is Des Moines underserved in?
Services with many local searches and few strong competitors. This month that list is led by basement waterproofing, kitchen remodeling, fence installation.
Other Iowa towns
How these numbers are made: methodology.
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