Key Takeaways
- Cash flow gaps between invoicing and collection are one of the most common funding needs for L-1 holders
- Bankable provides bridge financing that covers operating costs while you wait for receivables or seasonal revenue
- No green card or citizenship required — revenue is the qualification criterion
- Bridge loans from $25K to $1M with repayment terms from 3 to 18 months
- 48-hour approval; funding in as few as 3 business days for urgent situations
Cash flow is not profit. A business can be highly profitable on paper while simultaneously running out of operating capital because clients pay 60 or 90 days after invoicing, because a large seasonal contract requires upfront costs before revenue arrives, or because a major purchase order creates temporary inventory and fulfillment costs that precede payment by weeks. For L-1 visa holders running US businesses, these cash flow timing gaps are compounded by the limited access to traditional credit lines that require citizenship or multi-year US banking relationships.
Bankable's cash flow bridge financing is purpose-built for this timing problem. We advance capital against your expected receivables or projected revenue, allowing you to cover payroll, vendor payments, rent, and operating costs during the gap — and repay from the cash flow that closes the gap when it arrives.
Common Cash Flow Gap Scenarios
The most frequent situations where L-1 holders use bridge financing include: B2B service businesses invoicing on Net-30 or Net-60 terms while carrying 15–30 day operating costs; government contractors waiting 45–90 days for payment while covering subcontractor costs; construction companies financing materials and labor for a project while awaiting milestone payments; seasonal businesses covering year-round overhead during off-season revenue dips; and businesses managing a large inventory purchase that will generate revenue over the following 60–90 days.
Invoice Financing vs. Bridge Loans
For businesses with outstanding invoices as the primary gap driver, invoice financing (also called accounts receivable financing) is often more cost-effective than a general bridge loan. Bankable can finance specific invoices at rates tied to the creditworthiness of the payer — which often means very competitive terms if your clients are large corporations or government entities. General bridge loans are better when the gap is driven by seasonality, timing, or operational costs rather than outstanding invoices specifically.
Repayment Structures
Bridge loans from Bankable can be repaid through fixed daily or weekly ACH debits tied to a percentage of your revenue (revenue-based repayment) or through a fixed monthly payment schedule. Revenue-based repayment is more forgiving during slow periods but costs slightly more in total. Fixed payment schedules offer predictability if you know exactly when your receivables will clear. We will help you choose the right structure for your specific gap scenario. Start at our Bankability Score tool and review all our financing options to find the best fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
A cash flow bridge loan provides short-term capital to cover operating expenses during a temporary gap between when you incur costs and when revenue arrives. It bridges the timing difference, not a permanent capital shortage. Once the expected revenue arrives, you repay the bridge.
Yes. Bankable provides bridge loans to L-1 visa holders based on existing business revenue. No green card or citizenship is required. Bridge loans range from $25,000 to $1,000,000 with terms from 3 to 18 months.
Bankable delivers approval decisions in 48 hours. For urgent bridge situations, we have funded in as few as 3 business days. The more documentation you can provide upfront, the faster the process.
The most common causes are: slow-paying clients on Net-30 or Net-60 terms, large upfront costs for projects that pay on completion, seasonal revenue dips while overhead costs continue year-round, large inventory purchases that convert to cash slowly, and unexpected expenses or revenue shortfalls.
Invoice financing advances money against specific outstanding invoices. A bridge loan is a general-purpose short-term facility. Invoice financing is more targeted and often cheaper; bridge loans are more flexible and cover gaps not tied to specific invoices.
Bankable provides bridge loans from $25,000 to $1,000,000 depending on your monthly revenue, the nature of the cash flow gap, and your repayment source. A common sizing guideline is 1–3 months of average monthly revenue.
Bankable offers revenue-based repayment (a percentage of daily revenue deducted automatically) and fixed monthly payment schedules. Revenue-based repayment adjusts with your income — slower months mean smaller payments. Fixed schedules offer predictability when you know exactly when the gap closes.
Yes. Payroll bridging is one of the most common uses of bridge financing. Missing payroll has severe consequences for employee retention, morale, and legal compliance. Bridge loans that cover payroll during a temporary gap are a responsible use of short-term financing.
Bankable requires 3–6 months of business bank statements, a description of the specific cash flow gap (what created it and when it resolves), and basic entity information. For invoice-based gaps, copies of the outstanding invoices strengthen the application.
Yes. Seasonal businesses commonly use bridge loans or revolving credit lines to maintain operations during slow periods, repaying when peak season revenue arrives. This is different from a cash flow emergency — it is a predictable, plannable use of financing.