Key Takeaways
- Licensed plumbing companies owned by L-1 holders qualify on job revenue
- Pipe inspection cameras, hydro-jetting equipment, and service vans all eligible
- Both residential and commercial plumbing businesses qualify
- SBA closed to L-1 holders — Bankable funds plumbing companies directly
- Decisions in 48 hours, $50K to $2M
Plumbing is a licensed trade with high barriers to entry and correspondingly strong margins. A licensed master plumber who establishes a plumbing company earns 35-55% gross margins on service calls and 20-30% on new installation projects. The combination of emergency response revenue (drains, leaks, burst pipes — 24/7 emergency calls that command premium rates) and scheduled project work creates a revenue mix that is both predictable and defensible against competition.
L-1 holders in plumbing come predominantly from facilities management and MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) construction backgrounds. An L-1A manager at an international facilities services company who obtains a US master plumber's license and starts an independent plumbing company has built a genuinely defensible business. Their capital needs — a service van, a sewer camera, a hydro-jetter — are asset-backed and straightforward. The only complication is the lender's insistence on a green card.
Plumbing Business Capital for L-1 Holders
- Service van financing: Fully stocked plumbing service vans ($35K-$60K when equipped) are asset-backed with the vehicle as collateral
- Pipe inspection cameras: RIDGID or Spartan sewer cameras ($8K-$25K) are high-margin upsell tools that pay for themselves quickly
- Hydro-jetting equipment: High-pressure drain cleaning equipment ($10K-$40K) for commercial drain maintenance contracts
- Working capital for material purchasing: Pipe, fittings, and fixtures are purchased before installation — revolving lines cover material costs
- Second technician van and equipment: Adding a second plumber requires a second van and tool set — expansion capital based on current revenue
Check your Bankability Score or explore equipment financing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Licensed plumbing companies owned by L-1 holders qualify for Bankable funding based on service revenue. Active state plumbing contractor license and EIN are required. No green card required.
Sewer cameras, hydro-jetting equipment, pipe threading machines, service vans, and specialty tools all qualify. Equipment financing with the tool or vehicle as collateral is available at 70-85% LTV.
An active state plumbing contractor or master plumber license validates your legal authority to operate a plumbing company. Bankable requires this credential, but it must come from your state — not from US citizenship status.
Yes. Commercial plumbing contracts for office buildings, restaurants, and multi-family properties generate predictable scheduled revenue. Signed commercial maintenance contracts strengthen your application significantly.
Emergency plumbing (burst pipes, flooded basements) generates premium revenue but is variable. We evaluate emergency service revenue alongside scheduled service revenue to determine your overall revenue profile.
Drain cleaning companies that focus specifically on drain maintenance without performing installation or repair plumbing work are evaluated as specialty service businesses. Revenue qualifies regardless of the specific plumbing service focus.
Yes. Using working capital to add a second service van and technician is a natural next step for a solo plumber growing to a two-truck operation. Bankable funds this expansion against your existing service revenue.
Residential-only plumbing businesses qualify equally. Commercial accounts typically enable larger funding amounts due to contract volume, but residential service revenue is fully qualifying.