The edge of the state
Wikipedia places Del Norte County at the far northwest corner of California, along the Pacific and next to the Oregon border. The 2020 census counted 27,743 people, down from 28,610 in 2010, and Crescent City is the county seat and only incorporated city. The county describes itself as rural, with giant coast redwoods, and Wikipedia says some exceed 350 feet. It was settled in part by Azorean Portuguese dairy farmers, which may explain the local pronunciation: Del Nort, not Del Nor-teh. Redwood National Park and the Del Norte Coast Redwoods, Jedediah Smith Redwoods and Tolowa Dunes state parks are within it.
A working harbor
Per Wikipedia, Crescent City Harbor serves as a commercial fishing port for salmon, shrimp, tuna, cod and Dungeness crab boats, and nearly half the Dungeness crab served in California restaurants is off-loaded there. It also hosts fishing and non-fishing businesses and pleasure boat docks. A fishing business's costs, such as fuel, bait, traps, repairs and crew shares, arrive before a catch is sold, and the catch depends on weather and season. See business funding in Crescent City for the city page.
Remote means planning for repairs
- Wikipedia lists US 101 (including Last Chance Grade), US 199 and State Routes 169 and 197 as the main highways. Supplies and parts typically travel a long way, so a missing part can mean days of downtime.
- Air service is limited: Wikipedia mentions one daily round trip flight to Oakland and Los Angeles.
- Visitors to the parks arrive on a seasonal curve, so lodging, restaurants and outfitters earn unevenly.
Combine those and you get the cash pattern: stock up and repair in the quiet months, earn most of the year in a few busy ones.
Illustration, not a quote
For illustration only, a harbor repair shop with $16,000 in monthly costs may see two thin months in a row when weather limits fishing. If the shop needs a $40,000 piece of equipment before the next season, the question is whether its payment fits the quiet months, not only the busy ones. Round numbers, not our terms.
A habit that makes any file clearer
A tip for owners in remote areas: keep spare parts and critical consumables on a short list with their costs and lead times. When a part has to travel a long way, a list turns an emergency into a planned purchase, and the quote you attach to an application is clearer. Also keep one business account separate from personal spending.
Questions worth settling before you apply
- Which month is your slowest, and what do fixed costs look like in it?
- Which single piece of equipment would stop the business if it failed?
- How long does a replacement take to arrive, and what does it cost?
- Who are your largest customers, and how long do they take to pay?
Having those four answers makes the application straightforward and makes the decision about how much to request easier.
What funding looks like
What we offer is the same everywhere in the state: funding from $25,000 to $5,000,000, in as little as 24 hours once approved. We consider FICO scores of 500 and above, ask for about three months of business bank statements, do not require tax returns, and use a soft credit pull on a roughly five-minute application. Sole proprietors can apply.
Apply here and describe your season, location and typical costs.