Key Takeaways
- E-2 visa business owners qualify for equipment financing with the equipment serving as collateral
- Restaurant equipment, auto repair tools, medical devices, HVAC units, and manufacturing machinery all qualify
- Equipment financing typically has lower rates than working capital because of asset backing
- No green card required — the equipment and your business revenue are the underwriting basis
- Funding from $25K to $5M for equipment purchases with 48-hour preliminary decisions
Equipment financing is the most structurally favorable type of business lending available to E-2 visa holders: the equipment itself serves as collateral, reducing the lender’s risk and resulting in lower rates compared to unsecured working capital. Your credit score, immigration status, and personal financial history matter less when a $200,000 commercial HVAC system or a $150,000 restaurant kitchen package backs the loan. The equipment’s resale value provides security that general business lending lacks.
For E-2 investors, equipment financing is particularly valuable because it covers the capital-intensive purchases that often define E-2 investments: commercial kitchen buildouts, medical diagnostic equipment, manufacturing machinery, auto repair lifts, and salon chairs. These are exactly the categories that constitute your “substantial investment” for E-2 purposes — and Bankable can refinance or finance additional equipment as your business grows beyond the original E-2 investment pool.
Equipment Categories by Industry
- Restaurant and food service: Commercial ovens, refrigeration, dishwashers, ventilation hoods, POS systems
- Auto repair: Two-post and four-post lifts, alignment machines, brake lathes, diagnostic equipment
- Medical and dental: Digital X-ray, CBCT, dental chairs, medical imaging, diagnostic analyzers
- Manufacturing: CNC machines, injection molding, industrial ovens, packaging lines, conveyors
- HVAC and trades: Service vehicles, specialized tools, test equipment, and diagnostic devices
- Fitness: Cardio machines, strength equipment, studio reformers and specialty gear
How Equipment Financing Works Through Bankable
Bankable evaluates equipment financing applications based on three factors: the equipment’s value and resale market, your business’s revenue (to assess ability to service the payment), and your operating history. We typically do not require personal real estate as collateral for equipment loans — the equipment itself is sufficient security for most categories.
Equipment Financing Guide
Complete guide to equipment financing options and rates through Bankable.
Learn More →Restaurant Equipment
Specific equipment financing for food service and restaurant operations.
Learn More →Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. E-2 business owners with documented revenue and an identified equipment purchase qualify for Bankable equipment financing. No green card required.
Restaurant equipment, medical devices, dental chairs, HVAC units, auto repair lifts, manufacturing machinery, farming equipment, construction equipment, salon furniture, and most business-use equipment qualify.
Generally yes. Equipment financing rates are lower because the equipment serves as collateral, reducing lender risk. Rates vary by equipment category, age, and your revenue profile.
Bankable typically finances equipment purchases of $25,000 or more. Smaller equipment purchases are better suited to working capital or a line of credit.
We evaluate the equipment’s cost, resale value, and category, combined with your business revenue. Higher-demand equipment categories (commercial kitchen, medical imaging) receive more favorable terms.
Yes. Used equipment in good condition with documented value qualifies for financing. We typically require an appraisal for used equipment above $75,000.
Equipment financing terms typically range from 3 to 7 years depending on the equipment type and useful life.
Yes, for equipment already imported to the US or in transit. We do not finance equipment still in foreign countries.