Avoid double counting where the deposit is credited against the purchase price.
Reconcile the closing statement
Show the total obligation, amounts already paid and remaining balance. Then assess which funds meet the investment rules. There is no universal E-2 dollar minimum, and a larger arithmetic total created by duplication does not establish substantial qualifying capital.
Add the items that vary by location and by buyer: the actual lease terms, local construction costs, any equipment the franchisor does not supply, professional fees, and working capital sized for a realistic opening period rather than an optimistic one. For an existing mechanical contractor the total cost includes the asset price, licensing and insurance transfers, vehicle and equipment needs, and the operating reserve required to carry payroll and materials until receivables turn over. Business spending — lease, equipment, inventory, payroll, working capital — belongs to the enterprise; immigration preparation expenses are a separate category whose treatment should be reviewed on the actual facts rather than assumed. Ask your advisor for an itemized scope covering eligibility review, document assembly, dependent assistance, and later evidence requests, plus what happens financially if the deposit liability changes the deal before closing.