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E-2 Growth Visa — $350K to $700K

A business that's running.
A leader to grow it.

Full-service guidance — from strategic memo to closing — with a single point of contact on the ground coordinating everything.

Total acquisition and setup budget, excluding primary residence purchase.

Business acquisition and the E-2 visa process: two linked tracks whose timing must be coordinated. The general rule is that the visa application follows the business purchase. In all cases, the immigration attorney dictates the process. I only work with attorneys duly licensed in the US and in good standing with their bar.
0

Getting started

Qualification & Contracting

45–60 min — free ▲

What we explore together

  • Is an immigration attorney already on board?
  • Investment budget and source of funds
  • Family situation, desired timeline
  • Motivation — what's the project beyond the acquisition itself?
  • Capacity and availability to personally run the business — the E-2 requires you to actively grow and manage it
  • Location: where in Florida? Open question or already decided?
  • Type of business targeted: specific sector, or open to a range of opportunities?
  • Transition profile: desired seller handover period? Sector gaps to anticipate?
  • Deal structure: asset sale or corporate sale, use of debt?
  • Current French-American situation: property owner, LLC, US bank account? Any tax points to watch?
  • Presentation of my service proposal and associated pricing

Partners involved

  • None at this stage

Financial commitment

  • Free, no commitment

Deliverable — Qualification Memo

Sent within 48h: a recap of your situation, recommended direction, open questions to resolve.

Deliverable during the call: initial views and recommendations

A first window into the Florida market: 10 to 15 anonymized listings, filtered to your profile (budget, sector, area), each flagged for E-2 eligibility. Price, indicative SDE, sector and location — without identifying the seller. You star your preferences and send back your selection. That feedback, combined with the qualification memo, triggers the mandate signature and entry into Phase 1.

End of phase

Drafting and signing of the semi-exclusive buyer representation mandate — exclusivity limited to businesses presented. Our entire contractual and financial relationship runs through World Class Realty, governed by Florida Real Estate Broker law, the Florida Association of Realtors code of ethics, and Master Brokers Forum standards.

Retainer
1

Strategic Memo & Team Setup

1–2 weeks ▼

What I do

  • In-depth session (2h) — your project from every angle, building on your SCOUT selection (proprietary Strix Ventures / FloridaE2.com platform)
  • Drafting the strategic memo: turns a project into scheduled areas, tasks, and decisions to make
  • Defining business targeting criteria: sector, area, revenue, structure — factoring in your active management capacity and E-2-compatible business profile
  • First visa timeline framing: E-2 filing timing relative to the acquisition — a decision made with the immigration attorney
  • Setting up the partner network (those you already have, those I introduce) — immigration attorney, CPA, business attorney, insurer, etc.
  • Pre-check E-2 eligibility of the targeted business types: majority control, feasible active management, ability to hire US employees
  • Formalizing the search brief

Partners involved

  • Immigration attorney (E-2 orientation confirmation, timeline, documents needed, pre-eligibility of business type)
  • CPA: French-American tax, purchase structure
  • Possibly a business attorney: initial legal orientation

Financial commitment

  • Retainer — first installment (WCR)

Deliverable

Strategic memo (4–6 pages): investor profile, target business, E-2 strategy, priority areas, acquisition + visa timeline, team assembled, risks identified. Validated search brief.

2

Market Discovery

2–3 weeks ▼

What I do

  • Broad sourcing starting from your initial SCOUT selection — expanded on-market (platforms, brokers) and off-market (network)
  • E-2 pre-filter: feasibility of active management by the buyer, fit with the investor profile, proportionality of the investment
  • Presenting a range of options to sharpen your real preferences — no purchase intent at this stage
  • Goal: build your "like / don't like" list from concrete cases

Partners involved

  • Broker network in selected areas

Financial commitment

  • Included in the ongoing retainer

Deliverable

Discovery catalog: summary sheets on 10 to 15 opportunities (price, sector, area, profile). No in-depth financial analysis — this is an orientation phase. Criteria refined by the end.

3

Shortlist & In-Depth Analysis

2–4 weeks ▼

Work performed

  • NDA signature, references, resume and proof of funds submitted — required to access real financial data
  • Full P&L recasting: EBITDA, real SDE, add-backs, owner benefit, normalization
  • Analysis of tangible and intangible assets / debt / working capital / real free cash flow
  • Marketing analysis: brand, product/market mix, pricing, know-how
  • Commercial analysis: customers, turnover, channels, seasonality
  • Contract analysis: lease, key suppliers
  • HR analysis: organization, hiring and retention policy, salaries, bonuses and benefits
  • Management structure analysis: can the buyer run the business? Dependency on the current owner, transition risk
  • Hiring potential analysis: current employees, hiring needs — the E-2 requires the business to employ US staff beyond the investor alone
  • Analysis of total seller compensation
  • Initial valuation exercise (multiples and comps) / gap versus asking price

Partners involved

  • CPA (tax review if complex)
  • Immigration attorney (E-2 eligibility confirmation before commitment)

Financial commitment

  • Included in the ongoing retainer

Deliverable

Reasoned recommendation narrowing to a shortlist of 2 to 3 opportunities. Analysis report per target (4–8 pages): full financial recasting, justified valuation, E-2 eligibility analysis, strengths and risks, go/no-go recommendation with target price. This is where bad deals get eliminated.

4

Negotiation & LOI

1–3 weeks ▼

What I do

  • Non-binding pre-negotiation on hot topics (price, structure, financing, transition) — keeping the funnel open without committing to a single target
  • Selection of a final target — moving to exclusive negotiation
  • Drafting the LOI's commercial terms: price, structure, terms, potential seller financing, timeline, mutual commitments
  • Binding LOI with exit clauses on objective criteria (DD, financing) — the visa clause is structured per the immigration attorney's recommendations
  • Coordination with the business attorney for legal drafting

Partners involved

  • Business attorney (LOI drafting)
  • CPA (tax validation of the structure)
  • Immigration attorney (drafting the visa clause in the LOI)
  • Lender (if financing)

Financial commitment

  • Included in the ongoing retainer

Deliverable

Signed LOI with exclusivity period. Validated deal structure. Financing plan established. Visa clause drafted. Exit conditions defined.

5

Due Diligence, Structuring & Visa Business Plan

4–7 weeks ▼

Work performed

  • Financial due diligence: 3 years of tax returns, bank statements, payroll, AR/AP
  • Operational due diligence: site visits, interviews with key staff, suppliers
  • Coordination of legal DD (attorney) and tax DD (CPA)
  • Immigration DD: verifying the structure meets E-2 requirements — majority control, feasible active management, hiring capacity, proportionality
  • Legal structure choice: majority-controlled LLC — the E-2 requires direct and effective control
  • Go / renegotiate / no-go summary
  • Coordination of entity formation with the business attorney and CPA
  • Opening the commercial bank account (foreign KYC)
  • Contribution to the business plan for the E-2 visa file — by this stage all financial and operational data is available, which speeds up drafting and improves quality: the business plan demonstrates that you will actively manage the business, that it will employ US staff, and that the investment is proportional. An E-2 business plan outsourced to a specialized firm typically costs a few thousand dollars: this service is included in your engagement.
  • Coordination with the immigration attorney on filing timing and format (consulate or status adjustment)
  • Coordination of required insurance coverage

Partners involved

  • Business attorney: contracts, licenses, lease, disputes, LLC, operating agreement, EIN
  • CPA: tax validation, accounting red flags
  • Immigration attorney: E-2 compliance, visa file, immigration business plan
  • Commercial bank: account, KYC, possible financing
  • Insurance broker: coverage before closing

Financial commitment

  • End of retainer

Deliverable

Consolidated DD report. Legal structure finalized. Entity formed with EIN. Bank account opened. Business plan written for the E-2 visa file. Financing confirmed. Insurance in place. Everything is ready for closing.

6

Closing

1–2 weeks ▼

What I do

  • Coordination of closing across all parties
  • Verification that all conditions precedent are satisfied
  • Presence or representation at closing — you can be remote
  • Follow-up on immediate post-closing transfers: licenses, contracts, inventory

Partners involved

  • Closing attorney: APA, bill of sale, closing statement
  • Title company: escrow, UCC search, payoff
  • Attorney: lease assignment, license transfer
  • Bank: wire transfer of funds

Financial commitment

  • Buyer commission + WCR co-brokerage at closing, net of the retainer already paid (WCR)

Deliverable

Signed Asset Purchase Agreement. Full transfer of assets, licenses, inventory. Keys handed over.

E-2 Point of Attention

The E-2 is a non-immigrant visa: it does not lead to a green card and must be renewed periodically. Its issuance and renewal depend exclusively on the file prepared by your immigration attorney and the decision of the consulate or USCIS. The business acquisition is final upon signing the APA. Structuring visa-related exit clauses in the LOI — and the timing of the filing relative to closing — are decisions made with your immigration attorney starting in Phase 00.

Partner fees (attorney, CPA, immigration attorney, insurance broker…) are billed directly by each provider. I can negotiate on your behalf, recommend, or even choose for you. I take no margin on their services and have no referral fee arrangement.
Fees

What this mandate costs

Two entities, two logics: advisory fees before closing (not contingent) · World Class Realty at closing (contingent).

Advisory Fees — Before closing
Retainer
$6,250
World Class Realty — At closing
Buyer commission
3.0%
on the transaction price
Co-brokerage
~3.0% covered by the seller's agent — no additional cost to the buyer

Worked example — $500,000 business

Retainer (paid when the mandate begins) $6,250
Buyer commission at closing (3% × $500,000) $15,000
— of which retainer already paid − $6,250
Balance due at closing $8,750
Total cost to the buyer $15,000

On my end, the seller's agent shares back ~2–3% under a private agreement — with no impact on your cost. If the deal doesn't close, the retainer remains earned for the work completed together.

I take no margin on partner fees — attorney, CPA, immigration attorney — who bill you directly. You know their cost before you commit.

Your project deserves a dedicated, competent, trustworthy team.

Every phase described in this roadmap is direct proof of that — regardless of whether you choose me as your advisor.

Book the Qualification Call