Key Takeaways
- Bankable funds E-1 Treaty Trader businesses from $25,000 up to $5,000,000 based on monthly business revenue
- Typical funding range is 1-3 months of average monthly revenue for working capital, up to 24 months for acquisition funding
- A business generating $150,000/month can typically access $150,000-$450,000 in initial funding
- Higher amounts require longer operating history, consistent revenue trends, and potentially additional documentation
- SBA's $5M maximum is now inaccessible to E-1 holders — Bankable matches that maximum without citizenship requirements
The most common question from E-1 Treaty Trader entrepreneurs evaluating Bankable is a simple one: how much can I actually get? The answer is not a single number — it is a range tied to your business's monthly revenue, operating history, and the specific use of funds. This guide explains exactly how funding amounts are calculated and what you can do to qualify for higher amounts.
How Bankable Calculates Maximum Funding for E-1 Holders
Bankable uses a revenue-multiple model to size advances. The baseline formula is:
- Average monthly revenue (from 6 months of bank statements) multiplied by
- A revenue multiple (1x to 24x depending on use case and qualification strength) equals
- The maximum advance amount (subject to the $5M cap)
Revenue Multiples by Use Case
| Use Case | Typical Revenue Multiple | Example ($100K/mo revenue) |
|---|---|---|
| Working capital | 1-3x monthly revenue | $100K – $300K |
| Equipment financing | 1-6x monthly revenue | $100K – $600K |
| Expansion capital | 3-12x monthly revenue | $300K – $1.2M |
| Business acquisition | 6-24x monthly revenue | $600K – $2.4M |
| Commercial real estate bridge | 6-18x monthly revenue | $600K – $1.8M |
Factors That Increase Your Maximum Funding Amount
- Higher and consistent monthly revenue: The primary driver. A business generating $300K/month can access 3x what a $100K/month business can access.
- Longer operating history: Businesses with 18+ months of US operating history typically qualify for higher multiples than newer operations.
- Positive revenue trend: Growing revenue (even modestly) signals business health and often unlocks higher multiples.
- Clear use of funds: Acquisition and expansion capital — which have measurable asset backing or projected revenue — often qualify for higher amounts than general working capital.
- Prior Bankable relationship: Returning customers with clean repayment history consistently qualify for larger advances on subsequent rounds.
- Strong personal credit: While not the primary factor, a credit score above 680 supports qualification for higher amounts and better factor rates.
What Determines Your Specific Amount
The fastest way to determine your specific maximum is to complete a Bankability Score assessment. The 5-minute process analyzes your business revenue, history, and funding need to produce a personalized range before you submit a full application. This eliminates guesswork and helps you plan your capital strategy accurately. Also see our guide on financing alternatives for E-1 Treaty Traders for context on how Bankable compares to other options at different funding levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
The maximum is $5,000,000. This matches the SBA 7(a) maximum that E-1 holders could previously access before the March 2026 rule change. Reaching the $5M level requires demonstrated monthly revenue of at least $400,000-$500,000 and a qualifying use case such as acquisition or multi-location expansion.
Bankable's minimum advance is $25,000. This covers immediate capital needs such as a single equipment purchase, initial inventory for a new product line, or 1-2 months of payroll bridging. For needs under $25,000, business credit cards or personal savings are typically more appropriate.
Yes. Many E-1 businesses access capital in sequential rounds. An initial $100K advance builds a Bankable relationship and repayment history. A second round (after 50-60% repayment of the first) might be $200K. A third might be $400K. Over 2-3 years, cumulative Bankable funding for a growing business can significantly exceed any single advance limit.
Yes. Some industries carry higher risk profiles that affect both approval rates and funding multiples. Professional services, technology, and established retail typically qualify for higher multiples. Food service, construction, and early-stage retail may qualify for lower multiples due to industry revenue volatility. Your Bankability Score assessment provides industry-adjusted estimates.
Operating history has a significant effect. Businesses with less than 6 months of US history typically access 1-2x monthly revenue. Businesses with 12-24 months of history access 2-4x. Businesses with 2+ years of consistent revenue history may access 6-12x for qualifying use cases like expansion or acquisition.
Yes. If Bankable's initial offer is lower than your need, you can request a review with additional documentation — such as longer bank statement history, signed contracts that justify larger capital deployment, or evidence of additional revenue not captured in the initial statement review. Approximately 20% of initial offers are increased upon request with supporting documentation.
No. Your visa category does not affect your funding maximum. Bankable evaluates all E-1 holders on the same business-revenue-based criteria regardless of which treaty country issued the visa or the specific industry of treaty commerce.
For amounts over $1M, Bankable typically requires: 12 months of business bank statements (vs. 6 for smaller amounts), a profit and loss statement for the last 12 months, evidence of the specific use of funds (acquisition agreement, expansion lease, equipment invoice), and often a business financial projection for 12 months post-funding.
In most cases, no. First-year startups without substantial US revenue history and demonstrable treaty commerce will typically access $25K-$250K based on business plan and projected revenue. The $5M level requires demonstrated revenue history. Fast-growing businesses can reach higher funding levels within 18-24 months of operations with consistent revenue growth.
The most effective ways to increase qualifying revenue are: grow actual monthly sales through marketing and market expansion (Bankable funds this), consolidate business bank accounts so all revenue is visible in one account (fragmented accounts understate apparent revenue), and use Bankable capital to fund revenue-generating activities that compound the qualification base in future rounds.