No universal E-2 minimum is set by the rule. The investment must be substantial in relation to the particular enterprise and its total cost.
Use the business model to explain the amount
List every cost needed to buy, launch, equip, staff, market, and operate the proposed enterprise through its early period. Classify the amounts as already paid, bound by a signed obligation, held in escrow, financed, or only contemplated. Then explain why the committed investment is substantial for this kind of business.
A small mobile service operation and an asset-heavy manufacturer naturally have different cost structures; copying a number from an unrelated case or broker listing is weak analysis. The funds must also be genuinely exposed to the business, so do not treat a revocable personal reserve as if it were operating capital. Budgets should include ordinary commercial realities such as insurance, payroll, rent, inventory, technology, and professional services, but they should not invent expenses merely to reach a larger total.
Identify any seller financing or loan collateral and how it affects the investor’s personal exposure. A well-supported proportionate investment can be more informative than a large but poorly traced balance. The figure is one part of a linked case about nationality, source, commitment, operations, and control.
Ask the seller or franchisor to clarify which prices are firm, refundable, financed, or contingent. That information improves both financial judgement and the capital analysis. A quote that has expired or an assumed expense with no supplier support can weaken an otherwise sensible business budget.