You can use the E-2 visa with a smaller budget, because the law sets no minimum. USCIS asks for a substantial investment compared with the cost of the business, and the cheaper the business, the larger the share you must invest (USCIS, Aug 2026).
A smaller budget means a tighter plan. This guide shows how to build one that holds up.
Can you qualify with less than $150,000?
Yes, if the business is inexpensive to start and you put most of its cost into it. A small plan can pass when it is real, active and not marginal. A larger plan can fail if the money is not at risk. Read the investment amount guide for the full test.
What are the five tests your plan must pass?
- Substantial investment: your money is large compared with the total cost of the business.
- At risk: your capital can be partly or fully lost if the business fails.
- Real and active: the business operates, and is not just an idea on paper.
- Not marginal: it can produce more than a living for you and your family.
- Develop and direct: you run the business, and you own at least half of it or control it.
A new business can qualify if it can reach enough income within five years (USCIS, Aug 2026).
Which business types fit a smaller budget?
Low-cost businesses fit best, because a small total cost makes a high share easier to reach. Think of service businesses that need little equipment, and franchises with lower startup costs. Check each option against the E-2 test before you pay anything.
- Service businesses: home services, tutoring or mobile services need limited equipment and space.
- Lower-cost franchises: the startup costs are written down in the disclosure document.
- Small existing businesses: buying one that already earns can show that it is real and active.
Be careful with a business that only supports you. If it cannot do more than that, officers treat it as marginal.
How do you check a franchise offer?
Ask for the Franchise Disclosure Document at least 14 days before you sign or pay (FTC). Read Items 5 to 7 for fees and startup costs and Item 19 for income claims. If a figure is not in Item 19, the franchisor and any broker may not claim it.
How do you build the plan?
Step 1: Confirm your passport is on the E-2 treaty country list.
Step 2: Price the whole business, including working capital.
Step 3: Commit funds that are truly at risk and keep every receipt.
Step 4: Show how the business grows beyond your own pay.
Step 5: Run your numbers through our E-2 substantiality calculator.
Avoid the traps in the E-2 visa mistakes guide, and compare models in the franchise vs startup guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get an E-2 visa with less than $150,000?
Possibly. There is no set minimum, and the investment must be substantial compared with the cost of the business. A low-cost business with most of its cost funded can pass (USCIS, Aug 2026).
Is $100,000 required for the E-2 visa?
No. $100,000 is a common planning figure and not a rule. The test is relative to the cost of the business.
What makes a business marginal?
A marginal business cannot produce more than enough income to support you and your family. A new business can still qualify if it can reach more within five years (USCIS, Aug 2026).
Can I buy a franchise on a smaller budget?
You can, if the franchise meets the E-2 test. Read the disclosure document, ask where any income figure comes from, and have a U.S. attorney review the agreement before you pay.
Does my money have to be at risk?
Yes. It must be able to suffer partial or total loss if the business fails, and it must not come from criminal activity (USCIS, Aug 2026).
Where to go from here
Test your plan before you spend. Take the E-2 eligibility check, or see the E-2 investor visa page. Canadian citizen? Read about the E-2 visa for Canadian investors.
Last updated: 15 October 2026.
Amir Ismail leads Amir Ismail & Associates, which has guided clients since 1991 and works with independent U.S. immigration attorneys. AIA is not a law firm. Legal advice and filings are handled by the attorney.
