Key Takeaways
- Consulting retainer revenue qualifies for Bankable funding — no green card required
- Management consulting, IT consulting, strategy, and research firms all eligible
- Fund hiring, office space, and sales development from revenue-based capital
- SBA loans eliminated OPT consulting founders in March 2026
- 48-hour decisions for consulting firms with $10K+ monthly retainer revenue
International students graduating from top MBA programs, engineering schools, and business programs on F-1 visas are launching consulting firms that serve Fortune 500 clients — and billing $50K-$500K per engagement. The consulting model is structurally ideal for F-1 OPT founders: low capital requirements to start, high margins, and revenue that flows from client retainers and project fees with predictable timing.
Bankable evaluates your consulting firm's revenue history — monthly retainer income, project billings, and client concentration — to determine funding capacity. Your Wharton MBA or MIT engineering degree is impressive context. Your $80K/month in consulting billings is your actual credit score with us.
What Bankable Funds for F-1 OPT Consulting Firms
- Talent acquisition: Hire associates, analysts, and subject matter experts to scale delivery capacity without burning client retainers
- Sales and business development: Fund a BD hire or sales infrastructure to win the next tier of enterprise client
- Office and presentation infrastructure: Premium office space, presentation technology, and client-facing materials
- Technology stack: CRM, project management, data analytics, and billing software
- Conference and thought leadership: Speaking engagements, white paper production, and industry association memberships
- Working capital between project payments: Bridge the gap when a client delays a milestone payment
STEM OPT Consulting: The Technical Advisory Advantage
STEM OPT founders with computer science, data science, AI, or engineering backgrounds are launching technical consulting firms that command premium rates. A data science consulting firm billing $30K/month in retainers from three clients has bankable, predictable revenue. STEM OPT requires working for an E-Verify employer — a self-owned corporation with proper E-Verify registration qualifies if structured correctly with an immigration attorney.
| Consulting Type | Typical Monthly Revenue | Bankable Funding Range |
|---|---|---|
| Solo practitioner | $10K-$30K | $25K-$75K |
| Small firm (2-5 consultants) | $30K-$150K | $75K-$400K |
| Mid-size practice | $150K-$500K | $400K-$2M |
Revenue-Based Funding
Repayment tied to monthly billings. Works with consulting's project-based revenue cycles.
Learn More →Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. As of March 2026, SBA loans require 100% US citizen or national ownership. F-1 OPT and STEM OPT founders are fully disqualified. Bankable is a non-SBA lender — our approval is based entirely on your business revenue, not citizenship.
No. Bankable does not require a green card, permanent residency, or citizenship. We fund the business entity based on its revenue. F-1 OPT and STEM OPT founders qualify on equal terms with any other business owner.
Your business entity — your LLC or corporation — continues operating regardless of your personal immigration status changes. Bankable's funding is with the business, not with you as an individual. If your OPT expires and you transition to H-1B, O-1, or another status, or even if you leave the US temporarily, the business continues and services the funding from its ongoing revenue.
Yes. Solo consulting practices with $10K+ monthly revenue and 4+ months of business history qualify. We evaluate your bank deposits from client payments, regardless of whether you bill through an LLC or S-Corp.
3-6 months of business bank statements, your EIN, business formation documents, and a summary of current client engagements. We do not request immigration documents or visa status verification.
Yes. Bankable evaluates all forms of documented business revenue — service fees, retainers, project billings, and milestone payments — equivalently. Consulting firms with consistent monthly deposits qualify on the same terms as product businesses.
Yes. Working capital between projects is one of the most common use cases for consulting firm founders. A revolving line of credit ensures you can continue operating during a 30-60 day gap between major client engagements.
We look at average monthly revenue over 3-6 months rather than any single month's billing. Seasonal variation or project gaps are factored into the analysis — we understand that consulting revenue is lumpy.