Key Takeaways
- Accounting and CPA firms on AOS EAD qualify using SSN + EIN + 3 months of client engagement revenue bank statements — no green card needed
- Tax season concentration and year-round bookkeeping retainers both qualify as revenue for Bankable underwriting
- SBA loans now require 100% US citizen ownership (March 2026) — CPA firms on AOS must use private capital alternatives
- Staff CPA hiring, audit software licensing, and client acquisition marketing are primary capital uses for accounting firms
- Accounting businesses with $15K+ in monthly engagement revenue and 6+ months of commercial history qualify for our program
The accounting and CPA profession has one of the highest rates of immigrant practitioner ownership among licensed professions. Many CPAs and enrolled agents came to the United States, passed the Uniform CPA Examination, earned their state CPA license or IRS EA designation, and built practices serving immigrant business communities with deep cultural familiarity and multilingual capabilities. A significant number hold AOS EAD status while operating licensed accounting practices.
CPA firms generate highly predictable revenue: tax preparation engagements peak January–April, monthly bookkeeping retainers provide year-round base revenue, and business advisory and audit services add project-based billing throughout the year. This revenue predictability makes accounting firms excellent candidates for Bankable's revenue-based funding program. The March 2026 SBA rule change eliminated government-backed financing. Bankable evaluates engagement and retainer revenue through your business bank account, using SSN and EIN as qualification credentials.
Capital Uses for Accounting and CPA Firms
Staff CPA and Bookkeeper Hiring
Accounting firm revenue capacity is directly limited by licensed staff availability. A staff CPA earns $60K–$95K annually; a senior CPA or manager $85K–$140K; a CPA with specialization (tax controversy, business valuation, international tax) $100K–$200K. During tax season peak, temporary staff and overtime represent additional payroll costs. Revenue-based advances fund staff hiring that expands your firm's client capacity.
Tax and Audit Software Licensing
Professional tax software (Drake, ProConnect, CCH Axcess, UltraTax CS) costs $3K–$15K annually per license type. Audit software (CaseWare, Engagement CS), practice management platforms (Karbon, Jetpack Workflow), and document management systems add $5K–$20K annually. Annual prepayment at contract pricing is a valid capital use.
Client Practice Acquisition
Acquiring a retiring CPA's book of business — a common growth strategy in accounting — requires significant upfront capital. Small CPA practice books sell for 1x–1.5x annual fees. A $300K annual revenue practice sells for $300K–$450K. Revenue-based advances can fund partial practice acquisitions against existing firm revenue.
Tax Season Cash Flow Bridging
Tax firms experience their highest revenue in January–April but incur significant costs year-round — rent, payroll, software, and insurance. Revenue-based advances bridge the off-season cash flow gap, ensuring consistent operations between tax seasons.
| Factor | Bankable Standard |
|---|---|
| Immigration Status | AOS EAD or parolee-in-place EAD |
| Professional License | CPA license, EA designation, or CPA firm registration preferred |
| Monthly Revenue | $15,000+ in engagement/retainer revenue (annualized) |
| Business History | 6 months minimum |
| Documentation | SSN + EIN + 3 months bank statements |
| Funding Available | $25,000 to $5,000,000 |
Check your Bankability Score for personalized CPA firm funding options. See also our SBA alternative guide for context on what changed in March 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Bankable provides revenue-based advances for CPA firms and accounting practices owned by AOS EAD holders. We use client engagement and bookkeeping retainer deposits, SSN, and EIN. No green card required.
Tax season creates large January–April revenue spikes. We look at 12-month annualized revenue and average monthly deposits across the full year. Off-season bookkeeping retainer revenue and advisory billings count alongside tax preparation income.
Yes. Staff CPA hiring is one of the most common uses for accounting firm capital. We advance against existing retainer and engagement revenue to fund hires that expand your firm's client capacity.
Yes. Practice acquisition is a major growth strategy in accounting. We underwrite small practice book acquisitions against the revenue of your existing practice combined with the acquired book's historical revenue.
Tax preparation engagement revenue, monthly bookkeeping retainers, audit fees, business advisory retainers, payroll processing fees, and financial planning engagement fees all qualify as long as they appear as deposits in your business bank account.
SBA loans require 100% US citizen or national ownership. CPA firm owners on AOS EAD — regardless of their CPA license, years of practice, or revenue — are excluded. Bankable provides private capital with no citizenship requirement.
Yes. Professional tax software licensing — Drake, ProConnect, CCH Axcess — is a valid annual operating cost that revenue-based advances can fund, particularly for annual prepayment at discounted contract pricing.
Yes. Enrolled agents who operate their own tax practices with business bank accounts and EINs qualify using the same criteria as CPA firms. EA credentials are positive qualification indicators for tax practice businesses.