Over the last 17+ years, we’ve helped thousands of foreign investors identify and evaluate businesses for E-2 visa purposes.
Some investors were looking for a business they could actively manage every day. Others wanted a company with an existing team and systems already in place. Some arrived with a specific industry in mind, while others were open to exploring different opportunities.
Regardless of their background or goals, the conversation often starts in the same place.
Before we discuss staffing plans, growth opportunities, visa strategy, or future projections, we ask a simple question:
“How do the books look?”
It’s usually not the question investors expect.
Most E-2 investors are understandably focused on the opportunity itself. They want to know whether the business can support their family, create jobs, generate income, and satisfy E-2 requirements.
Those are all important considerations.
However, after reviewing businesses for investors for more than 17 years, we’ve learned that some of the most valuable information is often found in the financial records.
We were reminded of this while working with an investor who was considering the purchase of an existing business.
At first glance, the opportunity seemed attractive.
The business had been operating for years. Revenue appeared healthy. The seller spoke confidently about future growth, and the investor was already imagining how the company could fit into his E-2 plans.
As we began reviewing the financials, however, a few concerns surfaced.
Expenses were being categorized inconsistently. Certain transactions couldn’t be clearly explained. Several accounts had not been reconciled in quite some time.
The deeper we looked, the harder it became to understand how the business was truly performing.
That didn’t automatically make it a bad investment.
It did, however, make it difficult to answer some very important questions.
Could the business realistically support the investor and his family?
Was it generating sufficient profit?
Were the reported numbers accurate?
Could the business support future hiring plans?
Would the investor be inheriting problems that weren’t immediately visible?
These questions matter in any business acquisition, but they become even more important in an E-2 case.
Unlike a traditional investor who may simply be looking for a financial return, an E-2 investor is often making a much larger commitment. They’re investing capital, relocating their family, and building a future in the United States around the success of that business.
That’s one reason we pay so much attention to the books.
Clean financial records help us understand whether the business is profitable, whether cash flow is healthy, and whether the company has a realistic path toward future growth.
Just as importantly, they help us determine whether the business is capable of supporting the goals the investor hopes to achieve through the E-2 visa.
Over the years, we’ve seen businesses that looked fantastic during initial conversations but raised concerns once the financials were reviewed in detail.
We’ve also seen the opposite.
Some businesses appeared average at first glance but turned out to be excellent opportunities once the numbers were properly organized and understood.
The books don’t tell us everything about a business.
We still want to understand the owner, the industry, the location, the staffing model, the competitive landscape, and the investor’s long-term objectives.
What the books do provide is an early indication of whether an opportunity deserves a deeper look.
They help us determine whether the financial story being presented is supported by the numbers.
And that’s important because the wrong business can create challenges long after the visa is approved.
We’ve seen investors focus heavily on the purchase price while overlooking the quality of the financial records. Unfortunately, those same investors often find themselves struggling to understand profitability, manage cash flow, or explain performance when renewal time arrives.
The strongest E-2 businesses are usually built on a solid foundation.
That foundation includes good operations, realistic growth expectations, and clean financial records that allow owners to understand exactly how the business is performing.
After helping investors evaluate businesses for more than 17 years, we’ve found that organized and reliable financial records remain one of the strongest green flags an E-2 investor can encounter.
Before thinking about future growth, future hiring, or future visa renewals, we like to answer one simple question:
How do the books look?
More often than not, the answer tells us whether we’re looking at an opportunity worth pursuing.
Contact us today to get startedThe information provided in this blog is intended solely for informational purposes. While we strive to offer accurate and up-to-date content, it should not be considered legal advice. Immigration laws and regulations are subject to change, and individual circumstances can vary widely. For personalized guidance and legal advice regarding your specific immigration situation, we strongly recommend consulting with a qualified immigration attorney who can provide you with tailored assistance and ensure compliance with current laws and regulations.
Visa Business Plans is led by Marco Scanu, a certified coach from the University of Miami with a globally-based practice coaching Fortune 1000 company executives, entrepreneurs, as well as professionals in four different continents. Mr. Scanu advises clients on turnaround strategies and crisis management.
Mr. Scanu received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (Cum Laude) from the University of Florida and an MBA in Management from Bocconi University in Milan, Italy. Mr. Scanu was also a Visiting Scholar at Michigan State University under the prestigious H. Humphrey Fellowship (Fulbright program) with a focus on Entrepreneurship, Venture Capital, and high-growth enterprises.
At present, Mr. Scanu is the managing partner and CEO at Visa Business Plans, a Miami-based boutique consulting firm providing attorneys and investors with business planning services in the areas of U.S. and Canadian immigration, SBA loans, and others.
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