Oakridge Business Loans, a small-business funding broker in Bellingham, WA, works with Ferndale owners by phone and online. ZIP 98248 had 765 employer establishments in 2023, led by construction, retail and manufacturing. We help compare six funding types; lending partners make credit decisions and set rates and terms.
| Place type | City, Whatcom County |
|---|---|
| ZIP 98248 employers | 765 establishments (Census ZBP 2023) |
| Under five employees | 57.5% of ZIP 98248 employers (same source) |
| Self-employed residents | 10.9% (±4.4) (ACS 2020-2024) |
| Nearest office | 1302 Commercial St, Bellingham, WA 98225, about 8.7 miles southeast (straight line) |
What ZIP 98248 measures
Ferndale is a Whatcom County city about 8.7 miles northwest of the office. Business counts for it come from its postal ZIP code, 98248, which is much larger than the city: Ferndale covers only about 9.8 percent of the ZIP's land (U.S. Census Bureau 2020 ZCTA-to-place relationship file). Read every figure below as ZIP 98248, not as the city limits.
In 2023, ZIP 98248 had 765 employer establishments with 9,545 paid employees and an annual payroll of about $614.2 million; 57.5 percent of the employers had fewer than five employees (U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023).
Contractors, manufacturers and wholesalers in ZIP 98248
| Sector | Establishments | Under 5 employees (share) |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 149 | 69.8% |
| Retail trade | 71 | 46.5% |
| Manufacturing | 68 | 25.0% |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 62 | 67.7% |
| Other services | 58 | 56.9% |
| Wholesale trade | 55 | 50.9% |
| Health care and social assistance | 51 | 52.9% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023.
Construction accounts for roughly one in five employer establishments in the ZIP, and most are very small. The mix is also more industrial than Bellingham's center: manufacturing and wholesale together outnumber retail, and only a quarter of the manufacturers have fewer than five employees. Larger crews mean larger payrolls to carry between customer payments.
Funding questions Ferndale, WA businesses tend to raise
- A specialty contractor buying a compact excavator or a service truck: equipment financing.
- A fabricator carrying payroll and materials until a commercial customer pays: working capital.
- A distributor buying stock ahead of orders: inventory financing.
These are illustrations of common needs, not descriptions of real clients.
Self-employment in Ferndale, WA
An estimated 10.9 percent of employed Ferndale residents were self-employed, with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 points (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates). The range is wide enough that it cannot be called higher or lower than the state's 9.6 percent.
Registering a Ferndale, 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 Ferndale 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.
Buying a Ferndale, WA business
Searches for Ferndale businesses for sale are common. An acquisition is usually financed with a term loan, supported by the seller's records of revenue and profit, and sometimes by seller financing.
Working with the office from Ferndale, WA
The office is at 1302 Commercial St, Bellingham, WA 98225, about 8.7 straight-line miles southeast of Ferndale. 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.
Ferndale, WA businesses we help
For Ferndale, WA owners, Oakridge Business Loans focuses on the sectors our lending partners have confirmed they fund: contractors and construction trades, restaurants and food service, medical and dental practices and retailers and wholesalers that carry stock. Approval is never automatic for any sector.
What to gather before you call
- Business checking statements covering roughly the last quarter or two
- Last year's filed tax return for the business
- A year-to-date profit and loss statement and balance sheet
- Photo ID for every owner of the business
- A list of existing business debts and payments
- For equipment, the seller's quote with make, model and price
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.
- If a partner makes an offer, you compare the total cost, payment schedule and terms. You are never obligated to accept.
Oakridge Business Loans is based at 1302 Commercial St, Bellingham, WA 98225.
By Oakridge Business Loans · Updated