E-2 Investment Benchmark
The E-2 rules do not set a fixed minimum dollar amount. In practice, typical total startup investments vary widely by industry: a consulting firm and a hotel sit in very different bands.
This free tool compares a planned investment amount with research-based typical ranges for 18 common E-2 business types. The result is an informational comparison, not an assessment of any application.
Industry business plan guides
Frequently asked questions
What do the typical ranges represent?
The ranges reflect research-based industry bands for total startup investment reported across common E-2 business types. They are informational benchmarks, not government thresholds. The E-2 rules do not publish a fixed minimum amount.
Why do typical amounts differ by industry?
Capital intensity varies: a hotel or gas station needs premises, equipment, and inventory that a consulting or agency business does not. Reading an amount relative to its industry is more informative than any single universal number.
Does a result above or below the range decide an application?
No single number decides an outcome. Reviewing officers look at the whole file, including how funds are committed, documented, and put at risk. This comparison is a planning reference only.
Where do the industry figures come from?
The bands are compiled from practitioner-reported investment ranges and published industry research, and are reviewed periodically. Figures are medians for orientation, not quotes for any specific business.