Read the general investor planning overview
Hypothetical example: a Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade cabinetmaker plans to open a custom kitchen and closet shop in a growing U.S. suburb rather than buy an existing one. He will lease an industrial bay, buy a CNC router, edgebander and dust collection, and hire two installers. Because nothing exists yet, the usual E-2 evidence of a purchase agreement is absent, and the officer must be shown that funds are irrevocably committed, that the enterprise is real, and that it will not be marginal. This guide explains how a start-up proves each element and in what order to spend.
Spend in the order that creates evidence
A bank balance is not an investment. Funds become committed when they are spent or contractually obligated: a signed lease with the deposit paid, purchase orders for the router and edgebander with deposits or full payment, a business bank account funded with working capital, insurance bound, and a state contractor or business licence obtained. Each of those steps generates a document, and together they show the enterprise has moved from idea to operation. Equipment bought and delivered to the leased bay is stronger than equipment on order, and a lease with a term is stronger than a month-to-month arrangement. E-2 requires treaty-country nationality for both the investor and the enterprise; Canada qualifies, so the cabinetmaker must be a Canadian citizen and must own at least half of the U.S. entity or otherwise possess operational control in order to develop and direct it.
Write the plan the officer will test against the numbers
Without a seller's tax returns, the five-year business plan carries the marginality question. It must be specific: the shop's capacity in kitchens per month, the price point, the cost of materials, the two installers' wages, and the resulting income for the investor's family, showing more than a minimal living within five years or a significant contribution through the U.S. jobs created. Support it with quotes from suppliers, letters of intent from builders or designers, and comparable shop rents. Substantiality is judged against what it costs to establish this kind of shop; a proportionate investment in equipment and fit-out relative to that cost presents well, and the total should be traced from the cabinetmaker's Canadian savings or the sale of his Québec workshop.
Time the consulate so the shop is ready but not idle
Canadians must obtain an E-2 visa at a consulate before the first admission. The trap for a start-up is spending everything, sitting on an idle lease while waiting for an interview, and running out of working capital before opening. A better sequence is to sign the lease and order equipment with deposits, apply while delivery is pending, and be ready to install and open on admission. The cabinetmaker may visit as a business visitor to inspect premises and meet suppliers, but may not build cabinets or supervise installers before he holds E-2 status. His spouse, once admitted, is employment-authorized incident to status and could run the showroom; children under 21 may study only. E-2 does not by itself lead to permanent residence, so a long-term plan needs its own conversation.
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.