Convenience stores are a familiar stop for many people. Whether it’s a quick drink, a lottery ticket, a pack of cigarettes, or paying for gas, these small retail shops offer essential items with fast service and extended hours.
That everyday utility makes them attractive to entrepreneurs looking to start a business for the E-2 visa. The logic seems sound. They serve consistent demand. They are familiar and relatively straightforward to operate. They also appear to offer a reliable income.
But whether you’re buying a convenience store for an E-2 visa or planning to open one from scratch, the reality can be more complicated. Some entrepreneurs underestimate what it takes to launch and manage the business. Others invest in stores that fail to meet E-2 visa requirements, such as job creation, active involvement, or proof of substantial investment. Even stores with steady sales may fall short of what USCIS considers an E-2 visa eligible business.
This article breaks down the good, the bad and the ugly of using a convenience store as your E-2 visa investment, and what to evaluate before moving forward.
The Good: Why Convenience Stores Still Appeal to E-2 Entrepreneurs
Industry Growth Is Consistent
Convenience stores remain one of retail’s most resilient segments, with steady year-over-year growth. According to Mordor Intelligence, the global convenience store market is projected to grow from USD 704 billion in 2025 to nearly USD 948 billion dollars. High demand for fast access to essential products drive growth, especially in urban and high-traffic areas.
In the United States, the convenience retail sector has experienced continued expansion. According to IBISWorld, industry revenue has grown at approximately 6 percent annually from 2020 to 2025. This supports the idea that convenience stores can offer long-term business potential, which is a critical factor when building a strong E-2 visa case.
Store Count and Market Presence Are Expanding
According to the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), there were 152,396 convenience stores operating in the U.S. as of January 2024. That figure represents a net increase from the previous year, showing that the market remains active and attractive to investors.
NACS also reported that nearly 80 percent of all consumer fuel purchases in the U.S. are made at convenience stores. These businesses play a central role in retail transactions across the country, and many benefit from steady foot traffic and repeat customers.
Job Creation and Operational Scale
The typical convenience store employs several staff members to manage inventory, serve customers, and cover extended hours of operation. According to IBISWorld, the industry employs more than 150,000 workers in the U.S. and continues to add jobs at a modest pace.
This level of staffing can help satisfy one of the key E-2 visa requirements: that the business is more than marginal and capable of supporting U.S. jobs. A store that employs others and operates with daily activity helps demonstrate that the investor is involved in a real and active enterprise.
The Bad — The Operational and Financial Reality
Convenience stores often look simple from the outside, but running one involves constant pressure on pricing, staffing, and compliance. What seems like a predictable business can quickly become difficult to manage without the right systems in place.
Thin Margins and Rising Costs
Convenience stores often operate on slim margins for core products like snacks, soda, and tobacco. According to IBISWorld, maintaining profitability requires consistently high sales volume and tight control of inventory and waste. These margins are now under additional pressure from rising costs across the supply chain.
According to Reuters, tariffs imposed and under consideration as part of U.S. trade policy are expected to drive prices significantly higher, creating new challenges for retailers. IBISWorld also noted that consumer sentiment declined in April 2025, while 12-month inflation expectations rose to their highest level since 1981. Independent store owners, who lack the purchasing power of national chains, are especially vulnerable to these shifts.
High Turnover and Owner Dependency
Staffing is a challenge across the sector. Digital ordering and customer engagement platform Tillster reports turnover rates above 100 percent, driven by long hours and low wages. Many owners end up working far more than expected, especially when they can’t fill night or weekend shifts. For E-2 investors, this level of involvement might help meet visa standards but also strains time and resources.
Compliance and Complexity
Convenience stores must manage a range of requirements, from licensing and health inspections to age-restricted sales and tax collection. These vary by city and state, and small mistakes can lead to penalties or temporary shutdowns. For first-time U.S. operators, the learning curve is often steeper than anticipated.
Pressure to Modernize
Consumers expect more from retail today, even at the corner store. According to Tillster, expectations around mobile payments, loyalty programs, and convenience app integration are rising. Meeting those expectations can require technology upgrades and staff training, which add cost and complexity.
The Ugly — Risks That Can Jeopardize Your E-2 Investment
Not all convenience stores are suitable for an E-2 visa. Some may appear profitable or simple to manage but fall short of what the visa requires. Whether you are buying an existing store or starting one from the ground up, missing the standards around job creation, operational control, or financial documentation can weaken your application or complicate future renewals.
Poor Financial Transparency
Many convenience stores often process a high volume of small transactions and operate with high cash volume and informal record-keeping, particularly in independently owned locations. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco’s 2023 Diary of Consumer Payment Choice, cash remains the most common payment method for purchases under $10, accounting for nearly 49 percent of those transactions. While cash use has declined overall, this pattern can make consistent record-keeping more difficult. For E-2 visa purposes, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) expects detailed documentation of revenue, payroll, and expenses. When records are incomplete or unverifiable, the petition may be delayed or denied.
Marginal or Understaffed Business Models
The E-2 visa requires more than just a self-employment scenario. Some stores operate with minimal staff and depend almost entirely on the investor working full time. These models may not meet the visa threshold if they do not create jobs or demonstrate growth potential. A business that functions as a one-person operation with no room to scale may struggle to qualify or renew under E-2 guidelines.
Misleading Listings and Seller Red Flags
Some convenience store listings present overly optimistic numbers or exclude key details. Issues may include overstated sales, short or risky lease terms, expired permits, or unresolved violations. Without detailed due diligence, investors may commit to businesses that fail to meet E-2 expectations. Reviewing tax returns, point-of-sale reports, and operational history is critical before moving forward.
Safety and Location Risks
Stores in high-crime or low-visibility areas often face higher insurance costs, staff turnover, and challenges with customer flow. These operational concerns can affect the store’s long-term viability. If the business cannot remain stable or generate enough income to support staff and operations, it may not meet the E-2 visa’s requirements during renewal.
Conclusion: Is a Convenience Store a Strong E-2 Visa Investment?
Convenience stores attract E-2 investors because they seem stable and familiar. But meeting visa requirements takes more than running a basic retail shop. The USCIS looks for active investor involvement, clear financial documentation, job creation, and a business that is more than marginal.
Not every store meets those expectations. Some have unreliable records or limited staffing. Others cannot show enough economic activity to support a credible visa petition. Even stores with consistent sales may fall short if they lack structure or scalability.
If you are exploring a convenience store for your E-2 visa, focus on more than just profitability. The right store should support a strong petition through transparent operations, compliance, and growth potential.
Need help evaluating your options?
We help E-2 applicants review U.S. businesses for both visa eligibility and long-term success. Contact us to schedule a consultation before you invest.