Key Takeaways
- IT staffing and consulting are among the most common H-1B business structures — and among the hardest to fund traditionally
- Bankable funds H-1B consulting firms on billable contract revenue, not physical collateral or citizenship status
- The SBA's March 2026 rule eliminated all H-1B consulting firms from 7(a) access, regardless of contract backlog or revenue
- 48-hour decisions — critical when you've won a contract that starts Monday and need payroll funded by Friday
- Check your Bankability Score in 30 seconds — no SSN upload required
Among H-1B holders, IT consulting and staffing represent the single largest category of business ownership. The model is well-understood: an H-1B software engineer or project manager, typically Indian-born, earns a primary salary from a US employer (maintaining H-1B status) and separately builds a consulting entity — often staffed by contractors, spouse-operated, or structured as a passive investment. These firms range from boutique $500K/year operations to mid-market businesses generating $10M to $50M in annual contract revenue.
The capital challenge for consulting businesses is structural: you win a 6-month $800,000 government or enterprise contract, need to staff up immediately, but the client pays net-30 or net-60 on invoices. The gap between staffing cost (immediate) and client payment (deferred) requires working capital. Banks want 3 years of profitable tax returns and permanent residency. Factoring companies want to buy your invoices at a 3 to 5 percent discount. Bankable provides bridge capital against your existing contract backlog — no citizenship test required.
What H-1B Consulting Firms Fund With Bankable
- Contract Staffing Ramp: Fund contractor payroll for the first 45 to 60 days of a new contract before client invoices convert to cash.
- Business Development Capital: Conference presence, proposal costs, and BD team salaries during pipeline-building phases.
- Multi-Contract Bridge: When two or three contracts ramp simultaneously, the aggregate payroll gap can exceed $200,000. Bankable bridges it.
- Government Contract Bridge: Federal net-60 payment terms on task orders create 60 to 90 day cash gaps. Critical for 8(a) and SDVOSB contract winners.
- Office and Infrastructure Expansion: Securing a larger office, upgrading collaboration tools, or establishing a presence in a new city as the firm grows.
For context on how revenue-based funding compares to traditional consulting finance options, visit our SBA 7(a) overview and our SBA alternative guide. IT consulting firms specifically should review IT managed services funding for more sector-specific content.
| Funding Source | H-1B Eligible? | Max Amount | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| SBA 7(a) — March 2026+ | No — US citizens only | $5M | 30–90 days |
| Traditional Banks | Rarely | Varies | 3–6 weeks |
| Bankable | Always yes | $5M | 48 hours |
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Bankable funds IT consulting and staffing firms based on billable contract revenue and client payment history. No green card required.
We analyze contract backlog, average client tenure, billable hours history, and 3 to 6 months of business bank deposits. Predictable contract revenue with established clients is the strongest signal.
Yes. Contractor payroll bridge during contract ramp-up is the most common use case for consulting firm clients.
Yes. Federal, state, and local government contract vehicles (including 8(a) and SDVOSB) generate legitimate billable revenue. We fund the gap between award and first payment.
Minimum $20,000/month in documented billable revenue. Firms generating $500K to $5M annually are our core consulting portfolio.
H-1B consulting and IT staffing firm owners are now fully excluded from SBA 7(a) loans. The SBA's citizenship requirement applied immediately on March 1, 2026.
Yes. The tranche structure is ideal for project businesses: draw capital when a contract starts, repay as invoices convert to deposits.
48-hour decision. Start with the 30-second Bankability Assessment at /bankability-score/ for a preliminary funding range.
No. Bankable has zero residency requirements. H-1B holders, L-1 visa holders, O-1 visa holders, and other work visa categories all qualify for funding assessment based on business revenue alone.
Effective March 1, 2026, the SBA amended its rules to require 100% US citizen or national ownership for all 7(a) and 504 loan programs. H-1B holders are no longer eligible for any SBA-backed financing.