Key Takeaways
- E-3 holders are barred from SBA loans — Bankable offers revenue-based funding up to $5M instead
- 48-hour funding decisions with no green card requirement
- Australian café concepts (flat whites, brunch menus) are among the highest-revenue per-seat formats in US dining
- Minimum 6 months in business and a US business bank account required
- Check your Bankability Score for a personalised funding estimate
Australian hospitality has an outsized footprint in US cities. The flat white — a genuinely Australian invention — is now on every Starbucks menu. Australian-style brunch spots in LA, New York, and San Francisco routinely have hour-long queues on weekends. If you're an E-3 holder who has built or is building a food concept, your challenge isn't the concept. It's the capital stack.
The SBA problem is real and non-negotiable. The SBA's 100% US citizen or national ownership requirement means every E-3 holder is categorically excluded from SBA 7(a) loans, SBA 504 loans, and any lender whose primary product is government-backed. This isn't a bank discretion call — it's federal policy. Most community banks and credit unions won't have a viable alternative to offer you. Read the full SBA breakdown here.
Bankable's revenue-based funding is structured entirely outside the SBA framework. We fund based on your monthly revenue, your bank statements, and the trajectory of your business. Visa status is not a factor in our credit decision.
The E-3 Funding Barrier
The SBA's 100% citizen/national ownership rule disqualifies every E-3 holder from government-backed loans — regardless of how long you've been in the US, how profitable your business is, or how strong your credit score is. Banks that primarily originate SBA loans have no viable product to offer you. That's not a reflection of your business quality; it's a policy gap that Bankable was built to bridge.
Revenue-based funding through Bankable requires no green card, no citizenship, and no SBA involvement. What matters: your business generates consistent revenue, has been operating for at least 6 months, and has a US business bank account. That's the core of what we evaluate. Check your Bankability Score to see your options in minutes.
Challenges in This Sector
- SBA loans categorically unavailable — the 100% citizen/national rule bars all E-3 holders regardless of credit or business strength
- High buildout costs: Australian-style café fit-outs with specialty espresso equipment, custom millwork, and distinctive interiors run $200K–$500K
- Equipment costs for La Marzocco or Slayer espresso machines, commercial grinders, and cold brew systems add $30K–$80K alone
- Thin margins in coffee (15–25% net) require high volume and consistent staffing to sustain
- Seasonal revenue swings in urban markets (summer slowdowns in office-dependent areas) strain working capital
- Landlords in prime urban markets demand 3–6 months security deposit plus personal guarantee — significant upfront cash requirement
Funding Solutions for E-3 Holders
- Revenue-Based Funding: $50K–$5M based on monthly sales. Repayments flex with your revenue — slower weeks mean lower payments. No collateral beyond a general business lien.
- Equipment Financing: Fund your espresso bar, commercial kitchen, refrigeration, and POS systems. Equipment serves as collateral for better rates.
- Working Capital Lines: Revolving credit for payroll, inventory, and seasonal gaps. Draw what you need, repay as revenue comes in.
- Expansion Capital: Opening a second location or catering arm? We fund based on your existing location's performance — your track record is the collateral.
- Landlord Deposit Bridge: Short-term capital to cover security deposits and fit-out costs before you open.
Why Australian Café Concepts Work in the US
Australian café culture emphasises craft over speed, hospitality over transaction, and food quality over throughput. These values resonate strongly with the US market segment willing to pay premium prices. Average spend per head at an Australian-style café in a major US city is $22–$38, significantly above the $12–$18 average at conventional American cafés.
Concepts like Two Hands (New York), Bluestone Lane (national), and hundreds of independent Australian-owned operations have demonstrated the viability of this format at scale. The E-3 community — concentrated in LA, San Francisco, New York, and Chicago — has been the primary driver of this trend.
The challenge for E-3 operators specifically is that the most attractive locations require capital commitments — lease deposits, fit-out costs, equipment — before revenue begins. Bankable can bridge that gap for businesses with at least 6 months of trading history, or fund growth for established operators expanding to new sites.
What Bankable Looks At
Our underwriting focuses on: monthly revenue (minimum ~$15K/month for most products), bank statement consistency (we want to see regular deposits, not lumpy), time in business (6 months minimum), and outstanding debt obligations. We don't require personal real estate as collateral. We don't require a green card. We don't use SBA programs.
Check your Bankability Score to get a personalised funding range in under 5 minutes.
Capital Products Available
Revenue-Based Funding
Up to $5M based on your monthly revenue. No green card, no SBA. 48-hour decisions.
Apply Now →Equipment Financing
Asset-backed funding for equipment — available to non-citizen business owners.
Check Eligibility →Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — through non-SBA lenders. Bankable offers revenue-based funding up to $5M with no green card or citizenship requirement. What we need: 6+ months in business, a US business bank account, and consistent monthly revenue.
The SBA requires 100% US citizen or national ownership for all SBA-guaranteed loans. E-3 holders are Australian nationals, not US nationals. This rule applies regardless of credit score, business performance, or how long you've been in the US.
Bankable funds up to $5M. Your specific limit is based on your monthly revenue — typically 1–2x your monthly revenue for working capital products, up to 4–6x for longer-term growth capital.
Bankable makes decisions within 48 hours of receiving your application and supporting documents (bank statements, business details). Funds typically arrive within 3–5 business days of approval.
Revenue-based funding requires no real estate collateral — a general business lien only. Equipment financing uses the equipment as collateral. We don't require you to pledge your home or personal assets.
Typically: 3–6 months of business bank statements, your E-3 visa documentation, EIN confirmation, and basic business information. No tax returns required for initial assessment.
Bankable primarily funds existing businesses with 6+ months of revenue history. For a new concept, the best path is to open with personal capital or investor funding, establish 6 months of trading, then apply for growth capital.
Your business funding obligation continues regardless of visa status. Bankable funds the business entity, not the individual. We recommend ensuring your visa renewal is in process well before expiry — your immigration attorney should handle this timeline.
Yes. We have funded Australian-style café and hospitality concepts and understand the capital requirements — espresso equipment, custom fit-outs, premium ingredient sourcing. Our underwriters treat this as a premium food service category, not a generic restaurant.
Revenue-based funding factor rates typically range from 1.15–1.45x depending on business strength and term. This is not an annual interest rate — it's a total repayment amount. A $100K advance at 1.25x means you repay $125K total, structured as a percentage of daily revenue.