Practical articles to plan your move to the United States through a franchise investment — no fluff.
No direct conversion exists — but being in the US with a running business creates openings that would be much harder from abroad.
Read article → E2 BasicsA record 55,324 E-2 visas issued in FY2024, with ~90% of applications approved. What the numbers say — and what they don't.
Read article → E2 BasicsRoughly 80 countries hold the treaty — including Portugal since 2024. The main ones by region, and how to confirm the official list.
Read article → E2 BasicsVisa validity and authorized stay are two different things — understanding the difference avoids scares when planning entries and exits.
Read article → E2 BasicsDependents derive status from the investor — no treaty passport needed. Children study; the spouse can work anywhere since the 2021 rule change.
Read article → E2 BasicsWhat the investor visa is, how long it lasts, and what it opens up for your whole family — work permit for the spouse included.
Read article → RequirementsThe law doesn't prohibit it — but the format tends to weaken the case considerably. Why attorneys recommend an office, even for mobile services.
Read article → RequirementsFranchisors require conversational proficiency — but the requirement can be met by the applicant, a partner, or the spouse.
Read article → RequirementsYes — but not the way you imagine. General management skills count, industry experience isn't required, and franchisor training fills gaps.
Read article → RequirementsBuying property to rent or flip doesn't qualify — but real estate businesses (brokerage, property management, services) can.
Read article → RequirementsWhat the US government evaluates in an E2 case — the six requirements in plain language, and what defines whether you're ready to apply.
Read article → ProcessAttorneys generally recommend the consulate — and there's one detail about your business's track record that explains why.
Read article → ProcessStudents can structure the business in parallel with their studies — and an E2 denial doesn't affect the F1. When this route makes sense.
Read article → ProcessThree stages — choosing the franchise, structuring the business, and the visa review — add up to a realistic window you can plan around.
Read article → ProcessNot legally required — but probably the professional with the most decisive role in your approval. What they do and what it costs.
Read article → ProcessThe documentation is heavy, but it organizes into three clear groups — and the business package is where the case is won.
Read article → ProcessFrom first research to the consular interview, the process follows a logical sequence — and one stage carries most of the weight.
Read article → ProcessChange of status inside the US or consular processing abroad — how each path works, and how to choose with your attorney.
Read article → ProcessQuick and cheap for structuring trips — but no change of status. What ESTA allows, its limits, and the natural path it points to.
Read article → CostsBefore or after the visa? Before — and understanding the "at risk" concept changes how you plan the whole move.
Read article → CostsIt depends — and the criterion is simpler than it seems: the expense must be coherent with the business, visa aside.
Read article → CostsThere's no single price tag. Separate each piece — investment, attorney, business plan, fees — and plan realistically.
Read article → CostsAbout US$ 80,610 a year (median, 2023) — often less than people imagine. What the number means for your planning.
Read article → CostsThe law sets no minimum — what exists is the "substantial" concept and a practical benchmark attorneys use. And "how" matters more than "how much".
Read article → CostsThe initial investment gets all the attention — but two reserves decide the early survival: the operation's and the family's.
Read article → PartnershipPartnership is possible — and often advantageous. The rules change depending on whether your partner is foreign or American.
Read article → PartnershipChildren over 21 and siblings: the two family situations where a 50/50 partnership unlocks the visa — without doubling the investment.
Read article → ApprovalDenial after investing, slow profit, business failure — the three biggest fears, and what actually reduces each risk.
Read article → ApprovalMost refusals concentrate on three fronts — the investor, the investment, and the business — and almost all are under your control with good planning.
Read article → ApprovalA denial is not the end of the road — and there are concrete ways to reduce the financial risk from the start.
Read article → FranchisesBeyond food and retail: four segments most people don't imagine work as franchises — and what that says about the US market.
Read article → FranchisesBetween building a business from scratch and joining an established franchise, the second option brings concrete advantages for the E2 evaluation.
Read article → FranchisesYou buy the business — and its history. Real numbers, contracts, and the true reason for the sale separate opportunity from headache.
Read article → FranchisesTwo questions decide it: can the brand operate in that state, and is there territory available? How exclusivity actually works.
Read article → FranchisesSingle, multi, or master — each fits a different profile and goal. And one of them usually fits the E2's requirements best.
Read article → FranchisesOnly one authorized channel exists — Item 19 of the FDD — and it's optional. How data actually reaches you, and the best validation of all.
Read article → FranchisesHow hands-on will you be? The three management models, typical investment levels — and the natural fit with the E2's requirements.
Read article → FranchisesIt depends — and average revenue shouldn't be your only criterion. Where to find real numbers and what to look at beyond them.
Read article → FranchisesBoth can qualify — one leans on projections, the other on real track record (and inherited history). What should actually drive the choice.
Read article → FranchisesIt's not "click to buy": a mutual evaluation with a fairly standard script — from the first call to the Discovery Day.
Read article → FranchisesA real example, line by line: how to read a US food franchise's income statement — and what mature units actually deliver.
Read article → FranchisesThe most famous or "most profitable on average" brand isn't necessarily yours. What to look at in yourself before comparing brands.
Read article → FranchisesMandatory disclosure, a 14-day cooling rule, zero payments during analysis, and a Discovery Day — protections that surprise most international investors.
Read article → FranchisesThe 23-item document every US franchise must hand you at least 14 days before any signing — and how to actually read it.
Read article → FranchisesUsually US$ 25,000–50,000, paid once at signing. What it covers — and why the royalty-based model actually works in your favor.
Read article → FranchisesWhy would a brand refuse someone ready to invest? Because who operates matters more than the check — and that rigor protects you.
Read article → FranchisesReal data from a 312-unit network: a 10x earnings gap between top and bottom quartiles of the same brand. What explains the abyss.
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