Key Takeaways
- Revenue-based funding advances capital today in exchange for a fixed percentage of future monthly revenue
- There is no citizenship requirement—qualification is based entirely on business revenue and operating history
- Bankable provides $25K to $5M in revenue-based funding with decisions in 48 hours
- Repayment automatically flexes with revenue—higher months pay more, slower months pay less
- 92% of businesses that apply with $150K+ annual revenue and 12+ months of history are approved
Revenue-based funding (RBF) is a form of business financing where a lender advances capital to a business in exchange for a percentage of future revenues until a fixed total repayment amount is reached. Unlike a traditional loan with fixed monthly payments, revenue-based funding has payments that flex with your business's actual performance.
This structure makes revenue-based funding uniquely well-suited to replace SBA loans for non-citizen business owners. The SBA's citizenship barrier doesn't exist in revenue-based financing. The primary qualification question is simply: does your business generate sufficient revenue?
SBA vs. Alternatives: 2026 Comparison
| Option | Citizenship | Max | Decision | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBA 7(a) | 100% required | $5M | 30-90 days | Blocked for non-citizens |
| Traditional Bank | Often required | Varies | 2-8 weeks | Limited for non-citizens |
| CDFIs | No | $250K | 2-4 weeks | Open, limited capacity |
| Bankable | No requirement | $5M | 48 hours | Fully open, 92% approval |
How Revenue-Based Funding Works Step-by-Step
- Application (5 minutes): You provide 3-6 months of bank statements and basic business information through Bankable's secure portal
- Revenue Analysis (48 hours): Bankable analyzes your actual revenue patterns—consistency, growth trends, and volume
- Offer Generation: Based on revenue analysis, Bankable generates a funding offer: a capital amount, a repayment percentage, and a repayment cap (total amount to be repaid)
- Acceptance and Funding: You review and accept the offer. Capital is deposited within 24-48 hours of acceptance
- Automated Repayment: Each month, a fixed percentage of revenue is automatically remitted until the repayment cap is reached
- Tranche Renewal: After successful repayment of one tranche, you become eligible for subsequent tranches at higher amounts
Revenue-Based Funding vs. SBA Loan: Complete Comparison
| Feature | SBA 7(a) (Blocked) | Revenue-Based (Bankable) |
|---|---|---|
| Citizenship Requirement | 100% US citizens only | None |
| Application to Decision | 30-90 days | 48 hours |
| Maximum Amount | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 |
| Repayment Structure | Fixed monthly payment | % of monthly revenue |
| Collateral Required | Yes (personal + business) | No hard collateral |
| Approval Rate | ~50% of applicants | 92% for qualified businesses |
| Credit Score Minimum | 680+ typically | Revenue-based, not credit-based |
| Business Age Minimum | 2 years typically | 12 months |
What Can Revenue-Based Funding Be Used For?
- Inventory purchases and restocking
- Marketing and customer acquisition
- Equipment purchases and upgrades
- Payroll and staffing expansion
- Commercial space build-out or renovation
- Working capital and cash flow management
- Business acquisition (buying an existing business)
- Franchise fees and setup costs
Learn your exact funding amount in 5 minutes. Check your Bankability Score here.
Revenue-based funding is not a compromise—for many non-citizen business owners, it's actually a better product than SBA: faster, more flexible, and based entirely on business performance. Apply today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Revenue-based funding is a form of business financing where a lender advances capital in exchange for a fixed percentage of future monthly revenues until a predetermined total repayment amount is reached. Payments flex with actual revenue performance.
A traditional loan has fixed monthly payments regardless of your revenue. Revenue-based funding payments adjust with your monthly revenue—higher months pay more, slower months pay less. There is no fixed payment schedule.
Bankable requires a minimum of $150,000 in annual revenue (approximately $12,500/month average) and at least 12 months of business operating history. Revenue consistency and growth are also evaluated.
Revenue-based funding has higher total cost than SBA loans because of its speed, flexibility, and no citizenship requirement. However, the cost is significantly lower than merchant cash advances and comparable to CDFI microloans. The SBA is no longer an option for non-citizens, so the comparison is moot.
Bankable analyzes 3-6 months of bank statements to assess revenue volume, consistency, and trends. Funding amounts typically range from 50-100% of average monthly revenue per tranche, with multiple tranches available up to $5M.
Repayment percentages vary based on your funding amount and revenue level. Bankable structures repayment to be manageable relative to revenue—typically 5-12% of monthly revenue.
Yes. Bankable and most revenue-based funders do not require a green card, permanent residency, or US citizenship. Funding is based on business revenue.
Repayment duration depends on revenue performance. At average revenue levels, most Bankable tranches are repaid in 6-18 months. Higher revenue months accelerate repayment.
Bankable's revenue-based funding does not require traditional collateral, but most agreements do include a personal guarantee from the business owner.
Yes. Bankable's tranche model is designed for multiple rounds. After successfully completing the first tranche, you become eligible for larger subsequent tranches as you demonstrate revenue performance.