Portland

Get the Cash Your Business Needs

When you need quick cash for your business, there is one good solution, invoice factoring, also known as accounts-receivable financing.

Our Portland invoice factoring programs work by selling your receivables to Scale Funding in exchange for same-day payment. We provide a competitive advance the day we receive your invoice, eliminating the cash-flow gap caused by slow-paying customers. Once your customer pays the invoice, 30 to 90-plus days later, we’ll deposit the remaining amount directly into your bank account, minus a small fee for our services.

While many turn to business loans or lines of credit to finance their business, it may not always be the right or available option. Here is a quick comparison of business loans and lines of credit versus our Portland accounts-receivable financing and invoice factoring programs.

Invoice Factoring	Business Loans & Lines of Credit
Quick, 15 minute approvals	Long, extensive approval process
Approvals dependent on your customers’ credit history	Approval based on your credit history
Same-day funding	Funding in 1-3 months
No monthly interest	Monthly interest paid
No limits – our financing programs grows as your sales increase	Limits – amount borrowed is capped
Free customer credit reports	No credit reporting on your customers
Does not create debt	Creates Debt

Why Scale Funding Instead of Other Factoring Companies in Portland?

While there are many factoring companies in Portland and throughout the state, many choose to work with Scale Funding because of our custom and flexible programs.

We understand that no matter the business stage (start-ups to well-established, growing companies) or financial situation (credit issues, tax problems or bankruptcy) that steady cash flow is essential to survive. Our custom Portland invoice factoring programs provide companies in a variety of situations with the cash they need to operate and grow.

Industry Expertise

For more than 20 years, Scale Funding has provided a cash-flow solution to a variety of industries. Some of the industries include:

Government Contractors: local, state, federal, defense, technology, security and more	Telecom & Wireless: cell tower maintenance, cell tower construction, fiber optic installation and more
Trucking & Freight: flatbeds, intermodal, hotshots, refrigerated trucks, heavy hauling and more	Oilfield Services: drilling, frac sand hauling, gravel haulers, roustabouts, site preparation and more
Staffing Agencies: general labor, administrative and clerical work, healthcare and medical and more	Renewable Energy: wind, water, solar, site preparation, site maintenance, site construction and more
Utility & Pipeline: construction, maintenance, utility locators, sewer construction and more	Heavy Construction: hdd, excavation, grading, crane operators, demolition contractors and more
Technology: data migration, network administration, software development, IT consulting and more	Many More: distribution, manufacturing, printing services, apparel, janitorial services and more

Portland

Portland, located in Multnomah County, is Oregon’s largest city. The city covers 145 square miles in the Willamette Valley region of the Pacific Northwest. The population of the Portland metropolitan area is over two million, with more than 600,000 people living in the city itself. Portland, OR was named after the city of the same name in the state of Maine. People began to settle here in the 1830s, partly because the area’s access to water made it easy to transport goods.

Portland operates with a commission-based government as well as Metro, which is the only directly elected metropolitan planning organization in the country. One of the things that makes the city government noteworthy is its land-use planning, along with its investment in public transportation. Recognized as one of the world’s most environmentally conscious cities in the world, Portland boasts high walkability, bicycle-friendly streets, farm-to-table dining, accessible public transportation, and many public parks. The climate is temperate, with cold, wet winters and warm, sunny summers. This climate is perfect for growing roses, hence the city’s nickname, “City of Roses.”

Portland lies 60 miles east of the Pacific Ocean at the northern end of the Willamette Valley, Oregon’s most populated area. Most of downtown Portland is comparatively flat, but the foothills of the Tualatin Mountains affect the northwest and southwest regions of the city. Portland also sits on top of the Boring Lavas Field, the aptly-named extinct volcanic field, but Mount St. Helens (which is active and located about 50 miles northeast of Portland) is visible on clear days.

History

Some histories of Portland start with Lewis and Clark exploring the region in 1805, but these accounts overlook other accounts of the Native Americans who lived in the Pacific Northwest long before. The Chinook tribe lived on trading, foraging, and fishing, and many landmarks in Portland, such as Multnomah Falls and the Willamette River, were named for these early inhabitants. However, when settlers from the Oregon Trail began making their homes in Portland, they started giving local areas names of their own. “Stumptown,” for example, was one of the city’s earliest nicknames because of the felled trees that covered the rapidly developing landscape.

The city expanded quickly, and adventurers and pioneers soon arrived from the East Coast. Two of them, Francis Pettygrove and Asa Lovejoy, decided on the name “Portland” with a coin toss. Pettygrove, who was from Portland, Maine, won the toss and named the city after his hometown. Today, visitors can still see the “Portland Penny” on display at the Oregon Historical Society Museum.

Given its location on the Willamette River and proximity to other bodies of water, Portland quickly became a shipping hub, but also a haven for sailors who drank heavily and indulged in other vices in the downtown area. According to legend, these sailors were sometimes kidnapped (or “shanghaied”) and then sold to sea captains looking for workers for Asia-bound ships.

World War II changed the city’s waterfront activities markedly, with the installation of hydroelectric bringing power to the region and local shipyards participating in the war effort. The population here began growing rapidly when local ports started building cargo ships for Great Britain and continued after the Pearl Harbor attack when these ports turned their attention to constructing aircraft carrier escorts for the US. Less than 100 years after its establishment, Portland had 360,000 residents.

People

There are numerous famous people who either were born in Portland or have called it home at one time or another. Many filmmakers, writers, musicians, and other artists hail from Portland, such as Matt Groening, the creator of The Simpsons. Groening was born in Portland in 1954. Chuck Palahniuk, the author of Fight Club, moved to the area after finishing journalism school at the University of Oregon. Gus Van Sant, award-winning director of movies such as Good Will Hunting and Finding Forrester lives in Portland and has also set movies here. Elliott Smith, a talented musician and songwriter until his death at age 34, spent much of his life living in Portland. Other recognizable people from Portland include James Beard, a famous food writer and chef; Courtney Love, actress, musician, and wife of the late Kurt Cobain; Beverly Cleary, author of many books for children and young adults; and Tonya Harding, ice skating champion known for her part in the 1994 Olympic scandal involving an attack on fellow skater Nancy Kerrigan.

Economy

In Portland’s early days, its economy was based on the Willamette and Columbia rivers and their Pacific Ocean access. The town supplied area farming communities as well as functioning as a regional shipping center. The freshwater port helped Portland grow into an essential part of the lumber industry, and several manufacturing businesses settled there thanks to transportation accessibility. Portland is now the third largest export tonnage port on the West Coast. The city’s long history of association with high-tech industries began in 1946 with Tektronix. Today, there are over 1,200 tech companies operating in Portland. Farsighted commercial planning and well-established support industries continue to attract computer, electronics, and other high-tech companies to the area.

Art and Culture

You can explore Oregon’s fascinating history at the Oregon History Museum, with a collection including more than 85,000 pieces (including the above-mentioned Portland Penny). The museum also features exhibits that teach visitors about local history. If you have little ones and would like to treat them to some educational fun, the Portland Children’s Museum is the perfect way to spend an afternoon. This fun-filled museum offers interactive exhibits such as building, arts and crafts from recycled materials, digging, animal care, water play, mazes, and more. Whether you take in a museum, art gallery, film, or play, there are lots of ways to enjoy Portland’s art and music scene.

Sightseeing

Portland offers adults and kids alike plenty of fun things to do. Families will love Oaks Amusement Park in the Sellwood neighborhood. Established in 1905, Oaks Park offers carnival thrills and family fun including rides, games, mini golf, roller skating, edible treats, and more – or bring a picnic and relax at a shaded picnic table overlooking the Willamette River. Another way to spend a day outdoors is at the Oregon Zoo, renowned for its elephant breeding program and conservation work. The zoo is home to over 30 threatened and 21 endangered species, summer concerts, a scenic train route, and other special events.

In the evening, be sure to check out the music scene, rich with A-list musicians including the Decemberists, Pink Martini, Wild Flag, and more. There are also a variety of venues hosting many different acts, from jazz to indie rock to folk and much more. Or dance the night away at McMenamins Crystal Ballroom, a historic venue featuring a unique floating dance floor. You can also take in the Oregon Symphony at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall along with other major acts such as the Black Crowes. In the summer, visit Edgefield to take advantage of the Concerts on the Lawn series that has featured bands ranging from Vampire Weekend to the Doobie Brothers.

There is enough entertainment variety in Portland to please everyone, whether they are just passing through or are long-term residents. Enjoy a comedy show, a bar or restaurant, a dance club, a park, a museum, an amusement park, a farmers market, or some quirky festival – no matter how you spend your time in the city, you’re sure to have a blast.