Do not assume it can. Review the actual funding, commitment and security rather than equating the full contract price with qualifying investor capital.
Trace which funds are truly at risk
Funds secured by the enterprise’s assets do not qualify as investor capital on that basis. Other financing requires analysis of its actual terms, not a blanket conclusion that every loan qualifies or fails. Substantiality relates to the enterprise and has no universal dollar floor; official and private transaction fees are separate budget items.
Investment capital and business operating costs should be listed separately from government fees, professional services, and family or travel expenses, and current official fees and the scope of any professional engagement should be confirmed directly. Diligence and professional review sit outside the purchase price: accounting review, business valuation, lease assignment work, licence transfers, escrow charges, and legal advice on the agreement. Within the business ledger, separate the initial franchise payment, royalties, lease deposits, equipment, inventory, insurance, licences, and working capital; mark whether each amount is refundable, contingent, spent, or irrevocably committed. Establish the total cost of acquiring this shop or building an equivalent one: purchase price, lifts and diagnostic equipment, tire inventory, tooling, the lease deposit and the working capital needed before receipts arrive.