Key Takeaways
- H-1B holders can accomplish this business goal — with appropriate legal structure and capital from Bankable
- The SBA's March 2026 citizenship rule eliminated H-1B access to the most common funding sources for this use case
- Bankable funds H-1B businesses up to $5M based on revenue alone — no green card, no citizenship test
- 48-hour funding decisions — built for business timelines, not government bureaucracy
- Check your Bankability Score in 30 seconds — no SSN upload required
Market expansion is the growth moment that distinguishes scaling businesses from static ones. An IT consulting firm that has mastered the New Jersey market wants to hire a sales director and expand to New York. A restaurant chain with two successful NJ locations wants to enter Manhattan. A cleaning service company with 30 commercial clients in suburban Chicago wants to pursue downtown corporate clients. All of these expansion moves require capital before the new market revenue justifies the cost. Bankable funds the expansion based on your existing market's proven track record.
| 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 |
For industry-specific context, explore our H-1B funding hub. For the full SBA alternative landscape, see our SBA alternative guide. And start with your Bankability Assessment to see your preliminary funding range in 30 seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. H-1B business ownership is not geographically restricted. Businesses can expand to any US state through passive ownership of additional operations.
We analyze the existing market's revenue history and the expansion strategy's capital requirements. The existing market's revenue is the primary collateral for expansion tranches.
Sales team hiring for new markets, office or facility establishment in new cities, marketing campaigns targeting new customer segments, and working capital during the new market ramp period.
Expansion tranches of $50,000 to $1M are typical, sized based on the existing market's revenue and the specific expansion capital requirements.
No. Bankable has zero residency requirements. H-1B, L-1, O-1, and other work visa holders all qualify for funding assessment based on business revenue alone.
Effective March 1, 2026, the SBA requires 100% US citizen or national ownership for all 7(a) and 504 programs. H-1B holders are completely excluded regardless of revenue or credit history.
48 hours from completed application. The Bankability Assessment at /bankability-score/ takes 30 seconds and gives a preliminary range immediately.