Which minimum-wage tier applies in Orange or Dutchess County?

Under the state's 2026 schedule, counties outside New York City, Long Island and Westchester are in the $16 tier.

Do you fund Catskills seasonal businesses?

Seasonal owners can apply. Bank statements for about three months are typically reviewed, so be ready to explain the seasonal pattern.

Is the process different in Westchester than in Sullivan County?

No. The same application applies across the state, with FICO 500+ considered and a soft credit pull.

Can I apply as a sole proprietor with a home-based business?

Sole proprietors can apply, and no tax returns are required.

Working Capital in the Mid-Hudson Valley

Two economies in one region

Empire State Development's Mid-Hudson region includes Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, Ulster and Sullivan counties. The southern end sits close to New York City and feeds on commuters and office-park traffic. The northern and western end leans on river towns, farms, weekend visitors and the Catskills.

Owners in each half pay for different things at different times, which is why a single regional average tells you very little. Compare the two sides directly.

Suburban south versus river-and-mountain north

	Westchester, Rockland, Putnam	Orange, Dutchess, Ulster, Sullivan
Typical customer	Commuting households, professional offices, local service buyers	Weekend visitors, second-home owners, farms, local households
Revenue pattern	Relatively even, with school and holiday dips	Heavier in summer, fall foliage and holiday weekends
Largest fixed cost	Rent and payroll	Seasonal staffing and property upkeep
Money is usually for	Payroll gaps, equipment, a second location	Pre-season buildup, repairs, off-season bills

These are general patterns and not statistics. A plumber in Newburgh and a bakery in White Plains each know their own numbers better than any table does.

Payroll costs differ across the line

New York's 2026 minimum wage is $17 per hour in New York City, Long Island and Westchester, and $16 in the rest of the state, with increases indexed from 2027. Westchester therefore sits in the higher tier while the other Mid-Hudson counties are in the lower one. For a restaurant or retailer with a dozen hourly workers, even a one-dollar difference changes the weekly payroll that has to be covered before sales clear. That is one concrete reason to size working capital from your own payroll rather than from a neighbor's.

Where owners in this region tend to use it

Hospitality in the hills. Inns, camps, farms and restaurants stock up and staff up before the busy weekends.
Trades serving new construction and renovation. Materials and crew wages go out well before a final payment.
Small offices and clinics. Slow-paying insurers and commercial clients stretch the time between work and cash.
Specialty food and retail. Inventory is bought ahead of fall and holiday traffic.

One more point for owners near the Hudson: many businesses here sell to customers on both sides of a county line, or into New York City, so a late payment from a single large account can matter more than a slow week. Look at your receivables by customer, not just by month, before you decide how much cushion you need. A request sized to the real worst case is easier to carry than one sized to the average.

The practical details

We fund $25,000 to $5,000,000, funded in as little as 24 hours. We consider FICO 500+, review about three months of business bank statements and do not require tax returns. The pull is soft, the application takes about five minutes, and sole proprietors can apply. Begin at the application page.