Oakridge Business Loans, a small-business funding broker in Bellingham, WA, works with Anacortes owners in Skagit County by phone and online. ZIP 98221 had 742 employer establishments in 2023, with retail the largest sector. We help compare six funding types; approval and pricing rest with lending partners.
| Place type | City, Skagit County |
|---|---|
| ZIP 98221 employers | 742 establishments (Census ZBP 2023) |
| Under five employees | 59.4% of ZIP 98221 employers (same source) |
| Self-employed residents | 13.7% (±1.3) (ACS 2020-2024) |
| Nearest office | 1302 Commercial St, Bellingham, WA 98225, about 19.2 miles north-northeast (straight line) |
Anacortes, WA is a Skagit County, WA city
Anacortes sits about 19.2 miles south-southwest of the office, in Skagit County. Whatcom County figures used elsewhere on this site do not apply to it. Its postal ZIP, 98221, is larger than the city, which covers about 22.5 percent of the ZIP's land (U.S. Census Bureau 2020 ZCTA-to-place relationship file).
ZIP 98221 had 742 employer establishments in 2023, with 8,205 paid employees and an annual payroll of about $545.5 million; 59.4 percent had fewer than five employees (U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023).
A retail and service mix in ZIP 98221
| Sector | Establishments | Under 5 employees (share) |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 93 | 48.4% |
| Other services | 87 | 56.3% |
| Construction | 83 | 66.3% |
| Health care and social assistance | 77 | 54.5% |
| Accommodation and food services | 72 | 26.4% |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 66 | 81.8% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 41 | 85.4% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023.
Unlike most of the ZIP codes around Bellingham, WA, construction is not the largest sector here. Retail leads, followed by personal and repair services, then construction, health care and food service. Food-service employers are notably larger than the rest: only about a quarter have fewer than five employees.
Self-employment in Anacortes, WA
An estimated 13.7 percent of employed Anacortes residents were self-employed (plus or minus 1.3 points): 4.5 percent in incorporated businesses and 9.2 percent unincorporated (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates). Even at the low end of its margin, that is above Washington's 9.6 percent (plus or minus 0.1). Many of those owners run unincorporated businesses, where personal credit and clean separation of business accounts matter most to a lender.
Funding needs that fit the mix
- Shops buying stock ahead of sales: inventory financing.
- Restaurants replacing kitchen equipment or carrying a large payroll: equipment financing or working capital.
- Practices and service firms fitting out new space: a term loan.
Illustrations, not real clients.
Registering a Anacortes, WA business
At state level, Washington business licensing runs through the Department of Revenue's Business Licensing Service, and the department's license page describes city endorsements as additions to the state license (Washington State Department of Revenue business license page (dor.wa.gov, checked 2026-10-16)). Whether Anacortes requires its own endorsement, and how renewals work, is something to confirm with the city before you apply for funding, because partners often check registration status.
The Washington State licensing guide explains the UBI number and state license.
Working with the office from Anacortes, WA
The office is at 1302 Commercial St, Bellingham, WA 98225, about 19.2 straight-line miles north-northeast of Anacortes. Requests are handled by phone and online, so the distance does not change anything. The first conversation is about what the money is for; then we explain which funding types fit and introduce the request to lending partners.
Whatcom County business figures and the other communities we work with are on their own pages.
The Anacortes, WA owners we usually hear from
Oakridge Business Loans works with Anacortes, WA businesses in four sectors our partners have confirmed: contractors and construction trades, restaurants and food service, medical and dental practices and retailers and wholesalers that carry stock. Being in one of them does not decide the outcome; the partner does.
What to gather before you call
- Business checking statements covering roughly the last quarter or two
- Your most recent business tax return
- A year-to-date profit and loss statement and balance sheet
- A driver's license or passport for each owner
- Proof of ownership and business registration
- The equipment quote, contract or purchase order the funding is for
No two partners ask for exactly the same file, so use this as a checklist rather than a rule.
How a request moves forward
- You call (360) 370-4248 or send the short form (name, contact details and business name). When we speak, we ask what the money is for, how long you have been in business and roughly what the business brings in.
- We walk through the funding types that suit that purpose and the paperwork partners tend to ask for. Nothing goes out until you say so.
- After you give the go-ahead, we share the request with suitable lending partners, and each one decides on its own.
- When an offer arrives, weigh its full cost, how payments are scheduled and the conditions. Accepting is entirely your choice.
Our address: 1302 Commercial St, Bellingham, WA 98225.
By Oakridge Business Loans · Updated