Shorerock Loans, a small-business funding service in Marietta, Georgia, explains funding for Cobb County contractors and builders: lines of credit for draw gaps, equipment financing for trucks and machines, and how builder financing works. Census Bureau counts cover the county's construction employers.
At a glance
- Construction employers, Cobb County, GA
1,990 establishments, 35,732 employees (CBP 2023)
- Construction businesses without payroll
10,378 (Nonemployer Statistics 2024)
- Housing units permitted, Cobb County, GA
1,787 in 2025; 1,604 in 2024; 2,956 in 2023 (BPS)
Loan for Contractors in Marietta, GA
A contractor's funding need follows the job: materials ordered, crews paid, a draw requested, then a wait. Cobb County counted 1,990 construction employers with 35,732 employees and $3.23 billion in annual payroll in 2023, and 64.7% had fewer than five employees (County Business Patterns). For a crew that size, one slow draw can stall the next job.
The funding that fits depends on the gap. A single job's gap suits short-term working capital; gaps that repeat job after job suit a line of credit; a new truck or machine suits equipment financing.
Contractor Financing for Cobb County, GA Businesses
| Expense | Compare | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Materials before a draw | Line of credit or working capital | Draw again on the next job |
| Payroll while retainage is held | Line of credit | Retainage can tie up cash for months |
| A truck, trailer or skid steer | Equipment loan or lease | The machine secures it |
| Buying another contractor | Term loan | Check liens on its equipment |
Contractor Line of Credit Around Marietta, GA
Illustration only, invented figures: a remodeler finishes a $90,000 kitchen job with 10% retainage held until final inspection, so $9,000 waits (our arithmetic). The next job needs $14,000 of cabinets and tile this week. A line drawn for $14,000 and paid down as the next draw arrives keeps both jobs moving; interest runs only while the balance is out.
Builder Line of Credit Around Marietta, GA
Builders carry larger balances for longer. Cobb County had 517 residential building employers, 83.0% with fewer than five employees, and 165 nonresidential builders in 2023. A small homebuilder's line covers subcontractors and materials between bank draws; the construction loan on the house itself is a separate real estate product that Shorerock does not arrange.
What Is Builder Financing? The Short Answer for Cobb County, GA
People use the term builder financing for two separate products. One is a construction loan secured by the property being built, which is real estate lending. The other is business funding for the builder's company: a line of credit for operating costs, equipment financing for machines and working capital for payroll. This site covers the second.
HVAC Contractor Financing: How It Works in Marietta, GA
Cobb County had 210 plumbing, heating and air conditioning contractors with payroll in 2023, employing 4,129 people. Service vans and a stocked parts room are their big costs; vans can go on equipment financing, while parts can be funded through inventory financing or a line. Customer financing for homeowners is a separate program offered by consumer lenders, not something this site arranges.
Equipment that a Cobb County, GA crew finances
- Work trucks and dump trailers
- Skid steers, mini excavators and compactors
- Scaffolding, lifts and compressors
- Estimating and project software
Before a large purchase, note that business equipment is reported on the county's personal property return; the personal property return guide explains it.
Permits, zoning and a contractor's funding request
For a commercial build-out, a partner may want the permit or the application, the contract and the draw schedule. The zoning and permits guide explains where Marietta and Cobb County permits are handled.
What the Census Bureau counts for Cobb County, GA builders and trades
Employer counts by trade, 2023 (CBP): residential building 517, nonresidential building 165, building finishing 396, plumbing and HVAC 210, electrical 193 and roofing 66. Nonemployer Statistics, a separate program, counted 10,378 construction businesses without paid employees in 2024 with $1.04 billion in receipts.
Residential building permits in the county covered 2,956 units in 2023, 1,604 in 2024 and 1,787 in 2025 (Building Permits Survey). Those are housing units authorized, not commercial work.
Trade pages: painting and finishing contractors and landscaping. Funding: working capital, lines of credit and equipment financing. Permit and contractor counts for the county are on the Marietta, GA page. All industries: the industries page.
Lien waivers and subcontractor payments in a Cobb County, GA job file
When a general contractor pays subcontractors and suppliers, it collects lien waivers so the property owner's title stays clear; the owner or lender may hold the next draw until those waivers arrive. A partner reviewing a contractor's request may ask how draws are released and whether any waivers are outstanding. Keep a job file with the contract, the draw schedule, invoices, waivers and change orders.
Larger commercial bids and the cash they tie up
Moving from residential remodels to commercial work brings longer payment terms, retainage and sometimes bonding requirements. Bonding is a surety product, not funding, but the surety looks at the same financial statements a funding partner reads. Plan the working capital for the first commercial job before bidding it.
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