Show investment capital and business operating costs separately from government charges, professional services and family or travel expenses. Confirm the current official fees and what each professional engagement includes.
Avoid calling every payment qualifying capital
Ask which costs are part of the investment analysis and which are unrelated preparation expenses. Review contractual refund or cancellation terms without assuming that all money spent helps eligibility. Keep independent commercial diligence in the budget. The fact that a payment is substantial for the household does not establish the required investment or make the business a sound purchase.
Loan repayments, family covenants, escrow conditions, inventory, rent, payroll, and reserves should appear according to the real agreements even if someone informally used the word “gift.” There is no universal E-2 minimum; substantiality is assessed relative to the business. In practice, a business costing a modest amount needs to be almost entirely funded by the investor's own committed capital, while a much larger enterprise can be acquired with a smaller proportion because the absolute commitment is already large. Ask your advisor for an itemized scope covering eligibility review, document assembly, dependent assistance, and later evidence requests, plus what happens financially if the deposit liability changes the deal before closing.