Ravenwood Business Loans of Waukegan, IL arranges small business funding through partners for owners in the city and across Lake County, IL. This page collects Census figures for ZIP 60085 and the county, explains what they do and do not describe, and points to the funding types and guides that fit local businesses.
| ZIP 60085 employers | 1,324 establishments (ZBP 2023) |
|---|---|
| ZIP 60085 employers with 1 to 4 staff | 59.6% (ZBP 2023) |
| Lake County, IL employers | 20,076 (CBP 2023) |
| Waukegan, IL residents working for themselves | 6.1% (ACS 2020-2024, +/- 1.0) |
A city address is not always a city business
ZIP 60085 is the main Waukegan, IL ZIP, but the two do not line up. About 85.3% of the ZIP's land lies inside the city, and only about 52.0% of the city's land lies in that ZIP; another 30.2% of the city sits in ZIP 60087 (2020 Census ZIP-to-place relationship file). Figures labeled ZIP 60085 below describe the ZIP, not city limits.
That matters for licenses, zoning and leases, so confirm with each office which municipality applies to an address that says Waukegan. The Waukegan, IL zoning, permits and contractor registration guide explains what to confirm before you sign.
ZIP 60085 in the 2023 ZIP Business Patterns
| Sector | Establishments | Share under 5 employees |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 203 | 51.2% |
| Accommodation and food services | 154 | 35.1% |
| Administrative, support and waste services | 145 | 77.9% |
| Health care and social assistance | 145 | 51.0% |
| Other services | 145 | 74.5% |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 109 | 78.9% |
| Construction | 101 | 81.2% |
In total the ZIP had 1,324 employer establishments with 20,283 paid employees and about $1.15 billion in annual payroll in 2023 (ZBP). Retail trade (203) and accommodation and food services (154) have the most establishments in the table above; see restaurant funding and inventory financing.
The county that surrounds Waukegan, IL
The county had 20,076 employer establishments, 337,069 paid employees and about $31.2 billion in annual payroll in 2023 (CBP). Professional, scientific and technical services had the most establishments (2,817), followed by health care and social assistance (2,301), retail trade (2,098) and construction (1,998).
Building activity is visible in permits: 1,468 new housing units were authorized in Lake County, IL in 2025, up from 819 in 2023 and 1,042 in 2024 (Building Permits Survey). That is the backdrop for contractor and builder funding. Health care and social assistance is the second-largest sector by establishments (2,301); see medical and dental practice funding.
Waukegan, IL residents who work for themselves
About 6.1% (+/- 1.0) of employed Waukegan, IL residents were self-employed in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey, compared with 9.5% (+/- 0.4) across Lake County, IL and 8.8% statewide. Of the city's figure, 2.8% ran incorporated businesses and 3.3% unincorporated ones. These are shares of working residents, not counts of businesses.
Working capital and small business financing in Waukegan, IL
Funding can match a few jobs: wages before customers pay, stock before it sells, a used machine, or a second site. The six funding types are compared on one page, and the industry pages cover fourteen local sectors.
Six nearby towns, each with its own page, from North Chicago, IL to Libertyville, IL, are listed on the service-area page.
Small business help in Waukegan, IL: public offices first
Advising, business registration and local licensing questions belong with public offices, not with a funding company. The right local contacts are still being confirmed for this page.
Until those are confirmed, start from the city and county home pages listed in public records, and ask the city clerk's office which license, if any, applies to your business.
Address
Ravenwood Business Loans, 1410 Grand Ave, Waukegan, IL 60085. Requests are handled by phone and online; the contact page has the phone number and the form.
Waukegan, IL sectors our partners fund
Owners in Waukegan, IL come from many trades and services, such as contractors and construction trades, restaurants and food service, medical and dental practices and retailers and wholesalers that carry stock. Partners review each request on its own merits.
Documents to have ready
- Business checking statements covering roughly the last quarter or two
- Business and personal tax returns for the latest year
- An up-to-date P&L and balance sheet, even if you prepare them yourself
- Government-issued ID for each owner
- Your articles of organization or incorporation and the EIN letter
- For equipment, the seller's quote with make, model and price
Partners differ in what they request; this list covers the usual ground.
What happens after you reach out
- Reach us at (847) 250-0440 or through the contact form. When we call back, the first questions are simple: what the funding is for, how long the business has operated and its rough revenue.
- You hear which options match the need and what a partner will likely want to review. We submit nothing without your approval.
- Once you agree, the request goes to partners that provide that type of funding. The credit decision belongs to each partner.
- Any offer comes from the partner. Read the total cost, the payment schedule and the terms before deciding; turning it down is always an option.
Owners in Waukegan, IL can start by phone or with the short online form; no office visit is needed.
By Ravenwood Business Loans · Updated
