Wheatmead Funding, a small-business funding broker in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, works with Altoona, WI owners by phone and online. Altoona's ZIP 54720 had 222 employer establishments in 2023, and the city covers 88.9 percent of that ZIP's land. Finance, health care and retail lead the sector mix. Lending partners decide every request.
| County | Eau Claire County, WI |
|---|---|
| Distance | About 3 miles ESE of Eau Claire, WI |
| ZIP 54720 employers | 222 establishments (ZBP 2023) |
| ZIP 54720 payroll | About $176.3 million (ZBP 2023) |
| City share of ZIP land | 88.9% (2020 relationship file) |
ZIP 54720 follows the town closely
The City of Altoona covers 88.9 percent of ZIP 54720's land, and 89.2 percent of the city lies in that ZIP; most of the remainder sits in ZIP 54701, the Eau Claire office ZIP (U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA-to-place relationship file). That makes ZIP 54720 a reasonable stand-in for Altoona, though it is still a ZIP figure, not a city count.
In 2023, ZIP 54720 had 222 employer establishments, 3,416 paid employees and about $176.3 million in annual payroll; 46.4 percent of the establishments had fewer than five employees (U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023).
Sector mix in ZIP 54720
| Sector | Establishments | Under 5 employees |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 40 | 22.5% |
| Finance and insurance | 30 | 53.3% |
| Retail trade | 28 | 50.0% |
| Other services | 25 | 52.0% |
| Construction | 18 | 33.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 18 | 22.2% |
Finance and insurance ranks second, and just over half of those 30 offices had fewer than five employees. Retailers and food service businesses, two sectors our partners fund, together account for 46 establishments.
Self-employment in Altoona, WI
About 7.1 percent of employed Altoona residents were self-employed, with a wide margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 points (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates). The range overlaps both the county and state figures, so it shows a similar level of self-employment rather than a difference.
What Altoona, WI owners usually need
Because Altoona is in Eau Claire County, county figures apply here as context: 45.2 percent of Eau Claire County employers had fewer than five employees in 2023 (U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023). Small employers typically ask about working capital for wages, equipment for a kitchen or store, and stock for retail shelves.
Reaching Wheatmead Funding from Altoona, WI
Owners in Altoona work with Wheatmead Funding by phone and online from 207 S Barstow St, Eau Claire, WI 54701. County-wide context for the office city is on the Eau Claire, WI page, and the other towns we serve are listed on the service areas page.
Altoona, WI sectors our partners fund
Our partners have confirmed appetite for four kinds of business: contractors and construction trades, restaurants and food service, medical and dental practices, and retailers and wholesalers that carry stock. If your Altoona, WI business is something else, call and ask before you spend time on paperwork.
What to gather before you call
- The last three to six months of business bank statements
- Current financial statements: profit and loss plus a balance sheet
- A driver's license or passport for each owner
- Proof of ownership and business registration
- Details of any loans, leases or advances the business already carries
- For equipment, the seller's quote with make, model and price
Partners differ in what they request; this list covers the usual ground.
From first call to a partner's decision
- You call (534) 202-5331 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 explain which funding types fit that use and what partners usually need to see. Nothing is submitted without your go-ahead.
- With your permission, we take the request to lending partners that offer that kind of funding. Each partner reviews it and makes its own credit decision.
- If a partner makes an offer, you compare the total cost, payment schedule and terms. You are never obligated to accept.
Wheatmead Funding is based at 207 S Barstow St, Eau Claire, WI 54701.
By Wheatmead Funding · Updated