Key Takeaways
- AOS EAD construction business owners qualify for up to $5M in revenue-based working capital.
- SBA loans now require 100% US citizen/national ownership—AOS holders excluded as of March 2026.
- Bankable funds general contractors, subcontractors, and specialty trades based on job receipts.
- Material pre-purchase, payroll bridging, equipment acquisition, and bond support all eligible.
- Revenue-based repayment rises when job payments arrive and falls between contracts.
Construction Is the Most Cash-Flow-Intensive Business in America
Construction businesses carry a unique financial burden: they must pay for materials, labor, subcontractors, equipment, and insurance long before owners receive payment from clients. Retention clauses hold back 5-10% of contract value for months or years. Progress payments arrive on schedules that rarely match the actual cost curve of project execution. And lien rights expire if not exercised promptly.
For AOS EAD holders who own construction businesses, this already-difficult financial landscape became harder in March 2026 when the SBA eliminated their eligibility for 7(a) and 504 loans—programs that construction businesses have long relied on for bonding support, equipment financing, and working capital lines. Bankable fills that gap with revenue-based capital underwritten on your actual job receipts—not your immigration status.
Construction Business Types Bankable Funds
- General contractors (residential and commercial)
- Specialty trade contractors (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, roofing, framing)
- Civil and infrastructure construction
- Interior build-out and commercial renovation contractors
- Masonry, concrete, and foundation contractors
- Landscaping and site development contractors
- Environmental remediation and demolition contractors
What Construction Owners Use Bankable Capital For
Material Pre-Purchase and Supplier Payments
The biggest cash flow drain in construction is material cost timing. Concrete, lumber, steel, electrical components, and HVAC equipment must be paid for before they are installed—often weeks before the owner payment milestone that covers those costs. Bankable working capital advances give construction owners the ability to pay suppliers promptly, maintain supplier relationships, and avoid material delivery delays that push completion dates.
Check your Bankability Score to estimate your advance range before you commit to your next project's material budget.
Payroll Bridging Between Progress Payments
Construction crews cannot wait for progress payment cycles. Payroll is weekly; owner payments are monthly or milestone-based. The gap between crew cost and payment receipt is the most common cause of contractor cash flow distress. Bankable bridges that gap—advancing against your established deposit history so your crews stay paid and on schedule regardless of payment timing.
Equipment Acquisition and Rental
Equipment is the backbone of construction productivity. A contractor who owns the right equipment wins more bids at better margins. Bankable advance capital funds equipment purchases (excavators, boom lifts, concrete mixers, specialized tools) or covers rental costs during peak project periods. Equipment financing through Bankable does not require separate collateral—the advance is based on your business revenue.
Bonding and Insurance Working Capital
Performance and payment bonds are required for most public work and many private commercial contracts. Bond premiums must be paid upfront, before the bonded contract generates any revenue. Bankable advance capital funds bond premiums, certificate of insurance renewals, and license bond requirements—enabling construction owners to pursue bonded work that would otherwise require depleting operating reserves.
The Bankable Qualification Framework for Contractors
| Requirement | Minimum | Construction-Specific Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Deposits | $15,000/month | Job draws, progress payments, and retainage receipts all count |
| Time in Business | 6 months under EIN | Active contracting operations required |
| Identity | SSN + EIN | AOS EAD holders possess SSNs |
| Licenses | State contractor license in good standing | Expired licenses will delay approval |
| Bank Statements | 3 months most recent | Business account showing project payment patterns |
Revenue-Based Repayment: Built for Lumpy Construction Cash Flow
Construction revenue is inherently lumpy. A $500,000 project might deliver three progress payments of $150,000 each and a final retainage release of $50,000—all separated by weeks or months. Fixed loan payments that ignore this reality create cash flow crises. Bankable repayment is a fixed percentage of monthly deposits—higher when a large progress payment clears, lower in between. No fixed monthly obligation that forces you to dip into the next project budget to cover last project debt service.
Case Studies: AOS EAD Contractors Bankable Has Funded
General Contractor — Dallas, TX
A Mexican national on AOS EAD operated a residential construction company specializing in custom home builds generating $120,000/month in draw payments. He needed $200,000 to fund material pre-purchase for three simultaneous projects. Bankable advanced $200,000 at 10% of deposits. All three projects completed on schedule; retainage releases added $85,000 in the final month of the advance term.
Electrical Subcontractor — Chicago, IL
A Polish national parolee-in-place operated an electrical contracting business with $65,000/month in commercial project payments. He needed $80,000 to purchase electrical equipment and materials for a new office tower contract. Bankable funded $80,000 at 11% of deposits. The contract generated $380,000 in total billings over six months.
HVAC Contractor — Phoenix, AZ
An Indian national on AOS EAD operated an HVAC installation and service company generating $95,000/month from commercial contracts. She needed $150,000 to fund her bonding requirements and material purchase for a school district HVAC replacement project. Bankable funded $150,000 at 9% of deposits. The school district contract was her largest to date at $620,000.
The SBA Exclusion Impact on Construction
The SBA 7(a) and 504 programs were critical to construction businesses. 7(a) provided working capital lines; 504 funded equipment and owner-occupied real estate. Both programs are now unavailable to AOS EAD holders as of March 2026. For information on what those programs historically provided, see our SBA 7(a) resources page. To understand what Bankable can offer your construction business today, start with the Bankability Score—five minutes, no obligation, immediate estimate. Call (786) 443-5511 to speak with a funding advisor who understands construction cash flow cycles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Bankable funds construction business owners on AOS EAD and parolee-in-place authorization based on business deposits—not immigration status. SSN, EIN, and 3 months of business bank statements are the primary requirements.
Bankable funds general contractors, specialty trade contractors (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, roofing), civil contractors, interior build-out firms, masonry, demolition, environmental remediation, and landscaping contractors.
Construction businesses can receive advances from $25,000 to $5 million. The advance is based on 3-month average monthly deposits—typically 50% to 150% of that average.
Yes. Payroll bridging is the most common use of Bankable advance capital for construction businesses. We advance against your established deposit history so you can maintain crew payroll regardless of progress payment timing.
Bankable repayment is a fixed percentage of monthly deposits. When a large progress payment arrives, repayment is proportionally higher. In months between payments, it is lower. No fixed payment that ignores your project payment cycle.
Yes. Equipment acquisition is an eligible use of Bankable advance capital. You do not need to provide the equipment as collateral—the advance is underwritten on your business revenue.
Yes. Bond premiums, insurance renewals, and license bond costs are eligible uses of Bankable advance capital. These upfront costs are often what prevent contractors from pursuing their next large bonded project.
Retainage is counted in your Bankable underwriting as part of your total contract value, but only funds that have actually been deposited into your business account count toward the qualifying deposit average.
Pre-qualification through the Bankability Score takes five minutes online. Full application with bank statements takes about 20 minutes. Decision within 48 hours, funds in account within one business day.
The SBA revised eligibility rules in March 2026 to require 100% US citizen or national ownership for all SBA programs. AOS EAD holders—even those with decades of US residence and strong credit—are excluded under the current rules.