Key Takeaways
- SBA franchise loans are blocked for U visa holders under the March 2026 rule — Bankable is the alternative
- Bankable funds franchise purchases from $50K to $500K based on the brand's unit economics
- Most franchise brands' FDD does not restrict ownership based on immigration status
- U visa holders with strong personal cash and a franchisable location can qualify within 48 hours
- Repayment structured as a percentage of daily franchise revenue — payments flex with sales
Franchising has long been considered one of the most reliable paths to small business ownership — proven system, established brand, built-in supply chain. For U visa holders, franchise ownership represents an opportunity to build a business with predictable economics and an existing customer base. The financing gap, however, is significant: virtually all franchise financing infrastructure in the United States relies on SBA 7(a) loans, which are now explicitly blocked for U visa holders under the March 2026 rule.
Bankable fills this gap. We evaluate franchise funding based on the brand's system-level unit economics — average unit volume, franchisee success rates, and the specific location's market characteristics — combined with your personal cash contribution and our revenue-based repayment structure. Your U visa status is not a disqualifying factor in our model.
How Franchise Funding Works for U Visa Holders
Bankable's franchise funding process differs from SBA loan underwriting in several key ways:
- No government guarantee required: We fund from private capital, eliminating the SBA citizenship/residency requirement entirely
- Revenue-based repayment: Instead of fixed monthly payments, you repay a percentage of daily credit card and ACH sales — payments shrink when sales slow
- Brand-level evaluation: We assess the franchise brand's FDD, AUV data, and your specific territory's demographics
- Faster close: Most SBA franchise loans take 60-90 days; Bankable can fund in 5-15 business days
Franchise Categories Bankable Funds
- Food and beverage: QSR, fast-casual, and coffee franchise units
- Cleaning and maintenance: Jan-Pro, Jani-King, Coverall, and similar commercial cleaning franchises
- Child care: Learning Care Group brands and similar early education franchises
- Home services: Painting, landscaping, and maintenance franchise systems
- Auto services: Oil change, car wash, and auto repair franchise brands
Check your Bankability Score to see how much franchise funding you qualify for. Also see our guide on SBA 7(a) loans and why they are blocked for U visa holders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Most franchise FDDs do not restrict ownership based on immigration status. You need work authorization (EAD) and the ability to legally operate the business. U visa holders with active EADs qualify.
Franchise costs vary widely: $10K-$50K for a home-based cleaning franchise, $150K-$400K for a food QSR unit, up to $1M+ for full-service restaurant concepts. Bankable funds the financed portion after your down payment.
Most franchise agreements require 20-30% as an initial cash payment. Bankable funds the remaining 70-80% through a revenue-based advance against future sales.
Most franchise systems do not inquire about immigration status beyond confirming you have legal work authorization. Your EAD satisfies this requirement.
Typically 5-15 business days from complete application to funding — significantly faster than SBA loans, which take 60-90 days.
Yes. Bankable's advance can be used for the initial franchise fee, territory fee, training costs, and initial inventory — essentially all the costs covered by an SBA franchise loan.
Revenue-based repayment means your daily payment shrinks proportionally to your revenue. We work with franchisees experiencing slower ramp-up periods rather than forcing fixed payments.
We have funded franchisees across food service, cleaning, child care, home services, and auto service categories. We evaluate each brand individually using their FDD Item 19 AUV data.