Key Takeaways
- R-1 visa holders qualify for business acquisition funding without a green card
- Buy an established business with 3–12 months of transition support capital
- SBA 7(a) acquisition loans now require citizenship — Bankable fills the gap
- Revenue-based repayment based on the acquired business's cash flow
- 48-hour preliminary decisions for business purchases up to $5M
- Works for restaurant, retail, service, and franchise acquisitions
Buying an established business is often smarter than starting from scratch — existing customer relationships, trained staff, and proven revenue eliminate the most dangerous years of business ownership. For R-1 visa holders, the March 2026 SBA rule change eliminated the primary acquisition financing vehicle (SBA 7(a) loans). Bankable provides acquisition funding up to $5M for R-1 visa holders with no green card requirement.
Why R-1 Visa Holders Buy Existing Businesses
Business acquisition is particularly common in faith communities where established owners — often aging or relocating — prefer to sell to trusted community members rather than outside buyers. A Korean grocery store owner retiring after 30 years may prefer to sell to a younger Korean community member. A Nigerian restaurant owner relocating may sell to another West African faith-community entrepreneur. These within-community transfers preserve cultural and religious character while giving the buyer immediate revenue from day one.
Types of Business Acquisitions Bankable Funds
- Restaurant and food service acquisitions — buy an existing restaurant with its customer base, kitchen equipment, and supplier relationships
- Retail store acquisitions — purchase an established grocery, clothing, or specialty retail store
- Service business acquisitions — cleaning companies, landscaping firms, transportation businesses, beauty salons
- Franchise purchases from existing owners — buy an operating franchise unit from a franchisee who is exiting
- Healthcare practice acquisitions — purchase an established medical, dental, or pharmacy practice from a retiring provider
- Distribution business acquisitions — buy a distribution company with established accounts and routes
How Acquisition Funding Works at Bankable
Bankable evaluates business acquisitions based on the target business's documented revenue. The acquiring business (or the buyer's existing business) must demonstrate sufficient revenue to support the funding amount. For buyers who are also R-1-connected business owners, their existing business revenue is the primary qualification factor. For first-time buyers, Bankable evaluates the target business's revenue history provided by the seller.
| Factor | Bankable Acquisition Funding | SBA 7(a) Acquisition Loan |
|---|---|---|
| Citizenship required? | No | Yes (post-2026) |
| Decision time | 48 hours | 45–90 days |
| Maximum amount | $5M | $5M (if eligible) |
| Down payment | Revenue-based advance | 10–20% typically required |
| Repayment structure | % of revenue | Fixed 10-year term |
What Happens After Acquisition
Bankable's funding doesn't stop at the purchase price. Many buyers need working capital for the first 3–6 months as they transition the business, retain employees, and build customer relationships. Bridge funding is available immediately after acquisition to cover operating costs during the transition period. Hiring capital is available if the acquisition requires bringing on additional staff.
Check your Bankability Score to see your acquisition funding capacity, or call (786) 443-5511 to discuss a specific business acquisition with a Bankable advisor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Bankable provides business acquisition funding to R-1 visa holders with no green card or citizenship requirement. We evaluate the revenue of your existing business (or the target business) to determine acquisition funding amounts up to $5M.
Yes. SBA 7(a) loans — the most common acquisition financing vehicle — now require 100% US citizenship. R-1 holders are categorically excluded. Bankable's non-SBA revenue-based funding fills this gap.
Preliminary decisions in 48 hours. Funds in 3–5 business days. This is significantly faster than SBA 7(a) loans, which take 45–90 days — allowing you to compete with cash buyers on timeline.
Any legal operating business — restaurants, retail stores, service companies, franchises, healthcare practices, distribution companies, and more. Bankable has no restrictions on business type for acquisitions.
Not necessarily. Bankable evaluates acquisition funding based on the target business's revenue history (provided by the seller) as well as any existing business revenue you generate. First-time buyers can qualify based on the target business's documented performance.
Six months of bank statements from your existing business (if applicable) and the target business (from the seller), basic business formation documents, a valid government-issued ID (passport accepted), and details about the acquisition.
Yes. Bankable provides follow-on bridge funding and working capital advances for post-acquisition operational needs — payroll, inventory, rent, and transition costs.
The maximum single advance is $5M. For acquisitions above $5M, Bankable can structure multiple advances or refer you to appropriate capital sources. Most faith-community business acquisitions fall well within the $5M range.