Skybank Business Loans, a small-business funding service in Wausau, Wisconsin, explains financing for Marathon County contractors: new and used construction equipment, mini excavators, credit lines for materials and payroll between draws, and loans for independent contractors. The county had 365 construction employers in 2023 (CBP).
At a glance
- Construction employers, Marathon County, WI
365 (CBP 2023)
- With fewer than five employees
67.9% (CBP 2023)
- Construction businesses without paid employees
1,142 (Nonemployer Statistics 2024)
Contractors in Marathon County, WI, trade by trade
Financing for contractors here starts with 365 construction employers in Marathon County in 2023, with 2,860 employees and $225.4 million in payroll; 67.9% had fewer than five employees (CBP). Nonemployer Statistics counted 1,142 construction businesses without paid employees in 2024, a separate program.
| Trade | Employers | Fewer than 5 employees |
|---|---|---|
| Residential building | 81 | 69 |
| Plumbing, heating and AC | 54 | 31 |
| Building finishing | 46 | 31 |
| Other specialty trades | 39 | 27 |
| Electrical | 35 | 24 |
| Nonresidential building | 23 | 11 |
| Roofing | 11 | 7 |
New housing gives context for residential trades: the county authorized 348 new housing units in 2025, 408 in 2024 and 396 in 2023 (Building Permits Survey).
Construction equipment financing near Wausau, WI
Construction equipment financing covers excavators, skid steers, loaders, dump trucks, trailers, compactors and lifts. The machine secures the loan or lease, and a partner values it on make, model, year and hours. Equipment financing lays out loan versus lease; used machines need an inspection or the seller's maintenance records.
Independent contractor business loans: how it works in Wausau, WI
An independent contractor with no employees applies on the same records as a larger firm, scaled down: deposits in a business account, the tax return that shows contracting income, and existing truck or equipment payments. Keeping job income in a separate business account makes those deposits readable.
Construction company line of credit loan: how it works in Wausau, WI
A construction company line of credit carries materials and payroll between progress draws. Draw when the supplier invoice is due, repay when the draw or final payment clears. A partner reads contracts in hand, the receivables aging report and retainage held by customers. See the line of credit page for a worked example of two draws on one line.
How long can you finance a mini excavator as a Wausau, WI owner?
The partner sets the term in its offer, and it may follow the machine's expected working life and condition. A new mini excavator may carry a longer schedule than a high-hour used one. Compare offers on the total of payments, the down payment and what happens at the end of a lease.
How to finance a mini excavator as a Marathon County, WI owner
- Get a dealer quote or the private seller's listing with hours and serial number.
- Decide between a loan (you own it) and a lease (you use it for a term).
- Pull bank statements, the latest return and a list of current equipment payments.
- Call (715) 408-8962 or send the request with the quote amount.
Illustration only, invented figures: a $72,000 mini excavator with $7,000 down, financed over 60 months at an assumed annual rate of 9.5%, costs about $1,365 a month. In this invented example, the contractor checks that billable machine hours cover the payment in the slowest month.
Used heavy equipment financing: how it works in Wausau, WI
Used heavy equipment financing depends on the machine's condition and documentation. Bring the year, hours, serial number, inspection report and any service history. Some partners limit the age or hours they will finance; others ask for a larger down payment on older machines.
Crew wages and lumber bills between progress draws
Crews are paid every week; customers pay on draws or at completion. Working capital can carry a single long gap, and a line of credit carries repeating ones. Construction payroll in Marathon County came to about $78,812 per employee in 2023 by our arithmetic (CBP).
Buying an established Marathon County, WI contracting business
Buying a contractor means buying its equipment, its customer relationships and its licenses' continuity. The partner reads the seller's returns, the equipment list with values, backlog of signed work, and the buyer's experience. Confirm what licenses and registrations must be reissued.
Builders and specialty trades without employees in Marathon County, WI
Nonemployer Statistics counted 752 specialty trade contractors and 377 building contractors without paid employees in Marathon County in 2024. Those one-person and family operations finance trucks, trailers and tools the same way larger firms do, on a smaller scale, and they apply on the owner's business deposits and tax returns. Employer counts and nonemployer counts come from separate programs with different years, so they are not added together.
A sole contractor who keeps job income and personal spending in separate accounts gives a partner a clean view of the business's cash flow.
Records for a contractor request
- Three to six months of business bank statements
- The latest filed business tax return
- A year-to-date profit and loss statement
- Receivables aging and retainage held
- Signed contracts or backlog list
- Equipment list with payments
- Quotes for the machine being financed
Related: landscaping equipment financing, the industries list and the Wausau, WI figures.
By Skybank Business Loans ยท Updated
