Key Takeaways
- Florida has large Haitian, Cuban, Filipino, Nigerian, and Brazilian faith communities
- Miami, Orlando, and Tampa are key faith-community business markets
- SBA loans eliminated for non-citizens — Bankable fills the gap
- Up to $5M, 48-hour decisions, no green card required
- Bankable operates from Miami — strong Florida market presence
R-1 religious workers and their families living in Florida operate businesses across a wide range of industries. The March 2026 SBA rule change eliminated non-citizens from SBA loan programs — making Bankable's revenue-based funding the primary capital source for R-1-connected businesses in Florida. Up to $5M available, no green card required, 48-hour decisions.
R-1 Visa Communities in Florida
Florida is home to one of the most diverse immigrant faith-community populations in the United States. Miami's Little Haiti neighborhood hosts a large Haitian Catholic community with significant business ownership. South Florida's Cuban Catholic community is one of the most economically powerful immigrant faith communities in America. Orlando and Tampa have growing Nigerian Pentecostal, Filipino Catholic, and Brazilian evangelical communities. The West Palm Beach area has significant Jamaican Anglican and Caribbean Pentecostal populations.
Common Business Types Among Florida R-1 Communities
- Haitian-American businesses in Little Haiti and North Miami: food, services, transportation
- Cuban-American businesses throughout Miami-Dade: restaurants, retail, professional services
- Filipino-American healthcare businesses in Orlando and Tampa
- Nigerian-American businesses in Broward County and Orlando
- Brazilian evangelical community businesses in South Florida
- Jamaican and Caribbean faith-community businesses in Broward and Palm Beach counties
Key Markets in Florida
Miami's Little Havana and Hialeah are major Cuban business centers. Little Haiti on NW 2nd Avenue is the center of Haitian-American commercial activity. Orlando's growing diversity has created significant faith-community business districts in the OBT (Orange Blossom Trail) corridor.
Florida's no-state-income-tax environment and strong tourism economy create favorable conditions for faith-community businesses in hospitality, food service, transportation, and retail. Bankable — headquartered in Florida — has particular expertise in funding Florida's diverse faith-community businesses.
How to Apply in Florida
Bankable is a national funder — we serve R-1 visa holders and their families in all 50 states. Your Florida business applies online, receives a preliminary decision within 48 hours, and can receive funds within 3–5 business days. There is no requirement to visit a branch or meet with a local loan officer. Check your Bankability Score to see your personalized Florida funding options.
For Florida-specific regulatory questions — business licensing, sales tax registration, industry permits — Bankable can refer you to community resources and business advisory services familiar with the needs of immigrant faith-community entrepreneurs in Florida. We fund the capital; you build the business.
| Funding Feature | Bankable (Florida) | SBA Loan (Post-2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Green card required? | No | Citizenship required |
| Decision time | 48 hours | 30–90 days |
| Maximum funding | $5M | Up to $5M (if eligible) |
| R-1 holder eligible? | Yes | No (post-2026) |
| Repayment structure | % of revenue | Fixed monthly payment |
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Bankable provides revenue-based funding to R-1 visa holders and their family members in Florida without requiring a green card or US citizenship. We evaluate your Florida-based business's revenue and financial performance.
Yes. The March 2026 SBA rule requiring 100% US citizenship eliminated R-1 holders from SBA loan eligibility in Florida and all other states. Bankable's non-SBA revenue-based funding fills this gap for Florida R-1 communities.
Preliminary decisions in 48 hours. Full funding typically arrives within 3–5 business days. Bankable serves Florida businesses entirely online — no in-person meetings required.
Bankable is a national online funder. We serve businesses in all 50 states without requiring local office visits. Your entire application, approval, and funding process is handled online and by phone.
Bankable funds businesses across all legal industries in all 50 states. Restaurants, retail stores, cleaning services, transportation, healthcare, technology, education, and faith-community businesses all qualify based on their revenue.
Most programs require $10,000–$15,000 per month in documented business revenue. This requirement applies uniformly across all states, including here. Higher-revenue businesses qualify for proportionally larger amounts up to $5M.
Yes. Faith-affiliated businesses operated as for-profit entities — church-run childcare centers, mosque-affiliated halal food businesses, synagogue event spaces — qualify for Bankable funding based on their documented revenue.
6 months of business bank statements, business formation documents (your state LLC or corporation papers), a valid government-issued ID (passport accepted), and basic revenue information. No citizenship documents required.