Contractor business loans help Loveland, Colorado builders and trade crews fund equipment, vans, materials and payroll between draws. The county's 2023 Census tally put construction employers at 1,371. This page covers equipment financing, a worked loan calculator, retainage, used equipment, cash flow statements and permits.
At a glance
- Construction employers, Larimer County, CO
1,371, 66.6% with fewer than five employees (Census County Business Patterns 2023)
- Construction businesses without paid employees
3,464 (Census Nonemployer Statistics 2024)
- New housing units authorized, 2025
2,436 (Census Building Permits Survey)
Financing for Contractors in a County of Small Construction Firms
Construction firms with a payroll numbered 1,371 in Larimer County, CO in 2023 (County Business Patterns), with 10,417 employees and $745.9 million in annual payroll; 66.6% had fewer than five employees (Census County Business Patterns 2023). Inside that total were 317 residential builders, 256 building finishing contractors, 185 plumbing and HVAC contractors, 143 electrical contractors, 132 other specialty trade contractors, 80 roofers and 61 nonresidential builders.
Nonemployer Statistics, a separate program, counted 3,464 construction businesses without paid employees for 2024, with $331.2 million in receipts (Census Nonemployer Statistics 2024). In ZIP 80537, construction had more employer establishments than any other sector, 254 (Census ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023).
Construction Equipment Financing for Skid Steers, Trailers and Mini Excavators
Illustration only, invented figures: a site crew buys a skid steer ($58,000), a mini excavator ($74,000) and an equipment trailer ($16,000), $148,000 in all. Each machine has a serial number, an hour meter and a resale market, which is what makes equipment financing work for contractors: the machine stands behind its own loan.
Attachments, such as buckets, augers and breakers, can be included with the machine in some deals; ask the partner. Loan and lease structures for site machines are on the equipment financing page.
A Construction Equipment Loan Calculator, Worked Two Ways
| Term (invented 9% annual rate) | Monthly payment | Total interest |
|---|---|---|
| 60 months | $3,072 | $36,334 |
| 84 months | $2,381 | $52,019 |
The longer term lowers the payment by about $691 a month and adds about $15,685 in interest (our arithmetic). A crew with steady work may prefer the shorter term; one adding machines faster than revenue may need the lower payment. The term should end before the machines wear out.
Retainage and Cash Flow on a Remodel Contract
Retainage is the share of each progress payment a client holds back until the job is finished. Illustration only, invented figures: on a $220,000 commercial remodel with 5% retainage, $11,000 (our arithmetic) stays with the client until completion, while the contractor has already paid the crew and suppliers for that work. Several jobs with retainage outstanding at once can tie up a real share of a contractor's cash.
A line of credit drawn against that gap and paid down when retainage is released fits the pattern. A partner will ask for the contracts and the payment schedules.
Payroll Between Draws for a Small Framing or Finish Crew
A crew of four paid weekly runs up wages long before a builder's draw arrives. Illustration only, invented figures: four workers at $32 an hour for 40 hours cost $5,120 a week (our arithmetic), so three weeks between draws means about $15,360 paid out before the money comes in. A revolving line drawn each week and paid down when the draw clears keeps that gap from falling on the owner's personal account.
A partner reading this request wants the draw schedule from the contract, the builder's payment history with the crew, and the crew's payroll records.
Used Construction Equipment Financing and Hour Meters
Used machines are read by hours as well as age. Illustration only, invented figures: a used mini excavator with 3,200 hours offered at $39,000 will be valued against similar machines, and a partner may set a shorter term than for a new one. An inspection report, the hour reading and proof of ownership from the seller help the request.
A Contractor Cash Flow Statement Partners Can Read
- Contracts in progress, with value, billed to date and retainage held.
- Expected payment dates for each draw.
- Weekly payroll and material commitments.
- Existing equipment loan and lease payments.
- Bonding capacity, if the business bids public work.
A one-page schedule like this tells a partner more than a year-end statement about whether the business can carry a new payment through the coming months.
Electrical and Plumbing Contractor Financing for Vans and Tools
Trade crews run on vans fitted out with shelving and tools. Illustration only, invented figures: a $52,000 upfitted service van over 60 months at an invented 10% annual rate costs about $1,105 a month (our arithmetic). The City of Loveland's building division lists contractor licensing on its permitting pages; confirm current licensing with the city before bidding work there.
New Housing Units Authorized in Larimer County, CO Since 2023
The Census Building Permits Survey counted 2,686 new housing units authorized in Larimer County, CO in 2023, 1,786 in 2024 and 2,436 in 2025; of the 2025 total, 985 were single-family units and 1,367 were in buildings of five or more units (Census Building Permits Survey). The figures count new residential units only, not remodels or commercial work, and say nothing about any one contractor's pipeline.
By Rowanrun Business Loans · Updated