Key Takeaways
- Retail businesses owned by L-1 visa holders qualify based on POS and bank revenue
- Inventory financing, store buildout, and second location expansion all eligible
- SBA closed to L-1 holders — Bankable offers direct revenue-based retail funding
- Seasonal capital lines available for holiday inventory buildup
- Decisions in 48 hours, funding from $50K to $5M
Independent retail is one of the most capital-intensive businesses relative to its margins. A specialty retailer with $600K in annual revenue typically needs $150K-$250K in inventory on hand at any time, faces a 45-day payment cycle from vendors, and must front-load inventory purchases by 90-120 days for the holiday selling season. The capital requirement is structural — it exists regardless of whether the owner has a green card.
L-1 holders operating retail businesses span every category: specialty food stores with imported products from their home country, apparel boutiques sourcing from established overseas relationships, electronics resellers, beauty supply stores, and specialty bookstores. Many L-1 retail owners have supply chain advantages that domestic retailers cannot replicate — direct relationships with overseas manufacturers, lower landed costs, and authentic product sourcing that commands premium pricing.
Bankable evaluates retail businesses on POS revenue and inventory turnover. Your daily sales data, average transaction value, and vendor payment history are the basis of our underwriting. Your visa is not.
Retail Capital Products for L-1 Holders
- Inventory lines of credit: Revolving facilities that let you purchase inventory, sell it, repay, and draw again — perfectly aligned with retail's buy-sell cycle
- Purchase order financing: Fund large vendor orders before your customers pay — critical for stores with wholesale accounts
- Store buildout and renovation: Leasehold improvements, fixtures, lighting, and signage for new or refreshed locations
- POS and technology systems: Shopify POS, Square, inventory management software, and security systems
- Seasonal capital: Bridge the inventory investment required to capitalize on holiday, back-to-school, or seasonal peak periods
See our page on seasonal capital for L-1 businesses or check your Bankability Score.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. L-1 holders with a US-registered retail business, EIN, SSN, and at least 6 months of documented POS or bank revenue qualify for Bankable retail funding. We do not require a green card.
Specialty retail, apparel, electronics, food and beverage retail, beauty supply, home goods, gifts, and hobby stores all qualify. We evaluate the business regardless of product category.
Bankable provides revolving inventory lines where you draw capital to purchase inventory, sell it through your store, and repay the draw. Interest accrues only on what you draw. The cycle repeats as your business grows.
Yes. Seasonal inventory advances — timed to your pre-holiday purchasing cycle — are available. Apply 60-90 days before your peak season to ensure the capital is in place when you need to place vendor orders.
We connect to your POS system (Shopify, Square, Clover) or review 6-12 months of business bank statements. POS data integration provides the clearest revenue picture and often accelerates the approval process.
Yes. Second location expansion is a common use case. Bankable evaluates the profitability of your first location as the revenue basis for funding the second location's buildout and initial inventory.
Seasonal retail — holiday gift shops, beach apparel, ski equipment — is fundable. We analyze annual revenue patterns and structure repayment to align with your high-revenue months. Lower payments in your off-season.
Yes. Display cases, shelving systems, point-of-sale hardware, and refrigeration equipment qualify for asset-backed financing. The equipment serves as collateral, typically reducing the cost of capital compared to unsecured working capital.