Oceanmead Business Loans, a small-business funding service in Monroe, North Carolina, publishes this page of Census counts for Monroe and Union County, NC: employer and nonemployer businesses, establishment sizes, leading sectors, city self-employment and permits, with pointers to economic development and advising contacts and links to the industry pages.
At a glance
- Employer establishments, Union County, NC
5,732 (CBP 2023)
- Businesses without paid employees
26,484 (NES 2024)
- Self-employed residents, Monroe, NC
7.5% (+/- 1.6) (ACS 2020-2024)
A Census snapshot of Union County, NC businesses
| Measure | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Employer establishments | 5,732 | CBP 2023 |
| Paid employees (March pay period) | 66,082 | CBP 2023 |
| Annual payroll | $3.52 billion | CBP 2023 |
| Establishments under five employees | 3,609 (63.0%) | CBP 2023 |
| Businesses without paid employees | 26,484 | Nonemployer Statistics 2024 |
| Housing units permitted | 2,309 (2023), 2,334 (2024), 2,707 (2025) | Building Permits Survey |
Employer counts and nonemployer counts come from separate Census programs with different years and industry codes, so they are shown side by side and never added.
Union County, NC employer establishments by sector, top rows first
| Sector | Establishments | Employees | Under 5 employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | 985 | 10,163 | 67.8% |
| Retail Trade | 601 | 8,328 | 49.1% |
| Professional, scientific and technical | 671 | 2,434 | 83.0% |
| Other services | 571 | 3,548 | 66.4% |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 427 | 6,168 | 47.3% |
| Administrative, support and waste services | 420 | 3,802 | 64.5% |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 378 | 6,908 | 25.7% |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 327 | 629 | 90.8% |
| Wholesale Trade | 304 | 3,335 | 58.2% |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 280 | 2,853 | 74.3% |
| Manufacturing | 220 | 12,764 | 38.6% |
Construction leads the establishment count; manufacturing, with 220 establishments, has the largest payroll ($844.2 million). Sector pages: construction, retail, restaurants and the full list on the industries page.
Inside the City of Monroe, NC: ZIP 28110 and self-employment
ZIP 28110 had 1,509 employer establishments in 2023, with 22,849 employees and $1.33 billion in annual payroll; 53.5% had fewer than five employees (ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023). The ZIP and the city are not the same area: 74.1% of the city's land lies in ZIP 28110 and 24.0% in ZIP 28112, while the city covers 17.8% of ZIP 28110's land (2020 ZCTA-place relationship file).
In the American Community Survey, 7.5% (+/- 1.6) of Monroe, NC's employed residents were self-employed, against 10.7% (+/- 0.7) for Union County, NC and 9.8% (+/- 0.1) for North Carolina (ACS 2020-2024).
Monroe, NC economic development corporation: where to look first
An economic development corporation works on business recruitment, sites and expansion, and can point an owner to sites, incentives and partner agencies. Start with the City of Monroe, NC website, which lists city departments and contacts, and ask which organization handles economic development for Monroe, NC and Union County, NC.
Monroe, NC economic development council: a quick orientation
Councils, corporations and associations go by different names but cover similar ground: business attraction, workforce questions and site information. For an owner planning a move or an expansion, the useful questions are which sites are available, what the zoning allows and which permits apply.
Monroe, NC small business development center: the short version
North Carolina's Small Business and Technology Development Center runs offices across the state; the NC SBTDC locations page shows which one covers Union County, NC. Advisers can review a plan or a cash flow forecast before a funding request. Ask the center about any fees.
Monroe, NC economic development association in plain terms
Whatever the organization's name, the records a funding partner reads are the business's own: bank statements, tax returns and, for an expansion, the plan and the quotes. Entity and tax registrations sit with the NC Secretary of State Business Registration Division and the NC Department of Revenue registration page.
Monroe, NC chamber of commerce members: timing your funding around it
Chamber membership lists and events help owners find suppliers, clients and advisers. Membership does not change how a funding partner reviews a request, but contacts made there can help with references, landlords and contractors when you plan an expansion.
City of Monroe, NC economic development
The City of Monroe, NC handles zoning and permits inside city limits. Before signing a lease or starting a build-out, check the Monroe, NC zoning and permits guide. Equipment owners should also read the Union County, NC business personal property listing guide.
Oceanmead's Monroe, NC listing and phone line
Oceanmead Business Loans is listed at 2314 Katie Leigh Lane, Monroe, NC 28110, and takes requests by phone at (704) 937-1242 and through the online form. Nearby town pages are on the areas served page, and all six funding structures are compared on the business loans page.
Owners we work with around Monroe, NC
Partners review Monroe, NC enterprises in a broad mix of sectors, for example contractors and construction trades, restaurants and food service, medical and dental practices or retailers and wholesalers that carry stock. Every lending partner decides on its own terms, case by case.
Records and IDs before a Monroe, NC call
- Business account statements covering the past three to six months
- The most recent return filed for the company and, if requested, your personal return
- A driver's license, state ID or passport for each owner listed on the request
- State filing records for the company and the EIN confirmation letter
- A rundown of existing financing and what each one costs per month
- The purchase order for the equipment with the model and total price
The exact paperwork differs between partners, so use this list as a guide.
Next steps after a form from Monroe, NC
- Dial (704) 937-1242 or fill out the request form, noting what the money is for.
- The request is then sent on to partners whose products match the purpose you described.
- The reviewing partner reads the request and decides independently.
- Before you sign anything, weigh the full cost and the terms; you decide whether to accept.
Employers in Monroe, NC can start and finish a request by phone or through the form.
By Oceanmead Business Loans ยท Updated