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Hypothetical example: a Parksville facilities-maintenance contractor is buying a small janitorial company in Washington State for a price that would not buy a house. The owner keeps asking what the minimum investment is, and there is no published minimum. The requirement is that the investment be substantial in relation to the total cost of purchasing or establishing this enterprise, which means an inexpensive business demands a proportionally higher commitment rather than a lower absolute one.
The test is a proportion, and the denominator is this business
Substantiality is assessed relative to the total cost of buying an established enterprise or of creating a new one. Where that total is modest, the proportion invested must be correspondingly high, and an investor who has committed nearly all of what it takes to acquire and operate the business is in a strong position. Where the total is large, a smaller proportion may still be substantial. The comparison is also weighed against whether the amount is enough to ensure the investor's financial commitment and to support a likelihood of successful operation, so working capital counts as well as the purchase price.
Count everything that is genuinely committed
The investment is not only the cheque handed to the seller. Equipment purchased, vehicles, initial inventory, deposits on premises, licensing and bonding costs, and working capital placed in the business account can all form part of it, provided they are committed to the enterprise rather than held personally. Money borrowed can count where the investor possesses and controls the funds and can document their lawful source; a personal loan may be secured by the investor's own assets or made on the investor's signature, while the enterprise's assets should not be used as collateral. A purchase conditioned on E-2 visa issuance can also qualify when committed funds are held in escrow for release once that condition is met. What does not count is mere intent, uncommitted money in a personal account, or an arrangement the investor may freely cancel.
A cheap business raises the marginality question loudly
An inexpensive service business is easy to buy and easy to characterize as marginal, meaning it lacks the capacity to generate more than a minimal living for the investor and family. The answer is evidence rather than assertion: the target's actual contracts and revenue history, a hiring plan with roles and wages, and a projection over about five years showing growth beyond replacing one household income. Employing people is the most persuasive fact available. Where the honest projection will not clear that bar, the investor should know it before committing funds rather than after.
What else is on your mind?
Is there one minimum investment that guarantees E-2 eligibility?Is holding money or owning an asset enough for E-2?Editorial source review: 2026-09-07. General preparation guidance, not an individual assessment.