Glenpoint Finance, a small-business funding service in Dubuque, Iowa, publishes this page of Dubuque County census counts: employer and nonemployer businesses, establishment sizes, leading sectors, ZIP 52001 figures, self-employment and home permits, with links to industry pages, local guides and the nearby Iowa towns.
| Employer establishments, Dubuque County, IA | 2,804 (CBP 2023) |
|---|---|
| Employer locations in ZIP 52001 | 986 (ZBP 2023) |
| Businesses without payroll, Dubuque County, IA | 7,122 (NES 2024) |
| Self-employed residents, Dubuque County, IA | 8.3% (+/- 0.9) (ACS 2020-2024) |
| New homes permitted, Dubuque County, IA | 334 in 2025 (BPS) |
Dubuque County, IA business counts at a glance
Dubuque County had 2,804 employer establishments in 2023, employing 56,357 people with an annual payroll of $3.12 billion (County Business Patterns 2023). Almost half, 1,376 or 49.1%, had fewer than five employees. Only 11 establishments in the county had 500 or more.
| Employees | Establishments |
|---|---|
| 1 to 4 | 1,376 |
| 5 to 9 | 525 |
| 10 to 19 | 408 |
| 20 to 49 | 294 |
| 50 to 99 | 98 |
| 100 to 249 | 70 |
| 250 to 499 | 22 |
| 500 or more | 11 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023. Size classes count establishments (locations), not firms. The 500-or-more row is our sum of the 500-to-999 (7) and 1,000-or-more (4) classes.
Leading sectors in Dubuque County, IA
| Sector | Establishments | Employees | Annual payroll |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 387 | 7,020 | $218.0 million |
| Health care and social assistance | 342 | 8,410 | $459.9 million |
| Construction | 312 | 2,274 | $180.4 million |
| Other services | 264 | 2,029 | $65.3 million |
| Accommodation and food services | 239 | 4,402 | $95.2 million |
| Professional, scientific and technical | 185 | 1,898 | $143.1 million |
| Finance and insurance | 178 | 4,443 | $365.2 million |
| Wholesale trade | 163 | 2,390 | $163.4 million |
| Manufacturing | 156 | 10,191 | $748.0 million |
Manufacturing has fewer locations than retail but the most employees and the largest payroll in the county. Source: CBP 2023.
Restaurants, practices and repair shops
Three of the sectors with their own Glenpoint pages are summarized here. Full- and limited-service restaurants together numbered 137 employer establishments in 2023 (our sum of 71 full-service and 66 limited-service); notes for them are on the restaurant funding page. Offices of chiropractors, therapists, optometrists and other health practitioners numbered 99, and 67.7% had fewer than five employees; see chiropractic and therapy practice funding. Auto repair shops numbered 79; see auto repair shop funding. All fourteen industry pages are on the industries hub.
ZIP 52001 and the City of Dubuque, IA
ZIP 52001 had 986 employer establishments with 24,939 employees and $1.48 billion in payroll in 2023 (ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023). Health care and social assistance led with 148, followed by retail trade (113) and accommodation and food services (110). A ZIP is a postal area, not the city limits: the City of Dubuque covers about half (49.9%) of ZIP 52001's land.
In the City of Dubuque, 6.4% (+/- 1.0) of employed residents were self-employed, against 8.3% (+/- 0.9) county-wide and 10.2% (+/- 0.2) for Iowa (American Community Survey 2020-2024). The county share is below the state's; the city and county ranges overlap, so they should not be ranked.
Buying, leasing or expanding in Dubuque, IA
Owners searching for a Dubuque, Iowa business for sale or commercial property for sale can involve a term loan. Partners read the seller's records for an acquisition and the lease or purchase terms for a property. A downtown storefront, a shopping-district retail space or a shop building can bring its own permit questions; confirm with each office.
Start with the six funding structures or, for payroll and supplier gaps, working capital. Machines and fit-outs are covered under equipment loans and leases.
Local guides for Dubuque, IA owners
Before a build-out, read the Dubuque zoning and building permits guide. Trades that may involve state registration can read Iowa contractor registration from a borrower’s side. For advising and economic development contacts, see small business help in Dubuque County.
Official sites checked in October 2026: the City of Dubuque at cityofdubuque.org and Dubuque County at dubuquecounty.org (both checked 2026-10-18).
Where Glenpoint is listed in Dubuque, IA
Glenpoint Finance is listed at 963 Main St, Dubuque, IA 52001. Requests are handled by phone at (563) 208-6583 and through the online form, so you do not need to visit to start.
Owners in Peosta, Cascade, Bellevue and other nearby Iowa towns can see their own pages on the areas served page. More about Glenpoint is on the about page, and phone details are on the contact page.
Dubuque, IA sectors our partners fund
Owners in Dubuque, IA 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.
What to gather before you call
- Recent business bank statements (partners often ask for three to six months)
- Business and personal tax returns for the latest year
- An up-to-date P&L and balance sheet, even if you prepare them yourself
- Photo ID for every owner of the business
- A list of existing business debts and payments
- A written quote or invoice if the money is for equipment
No two partners ask for exactly the same file, so use this as a checklist rather than a rule.
How a request moves forward
- It starts with a call to (563) 208-6583 or the short contact form. On the phone we cover the purpose of the funds, time in business and approximate monthly 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.
- When an offer arrives, weigh its full cost, how payments are scheduled and the conditions. Accepting is entirely your choice.
Owners in Dubuque, IA can start by phone or with the short online form; no office visit is needed.
By Glenpoint Finance · Updated