What minimum amount may be required for a new immigrant in USA to start a business with reasonable returns?

Question

This is on the assumption that the immigrant is issued a business class visa to enable him/her to start a new enterprise. The minimum amount may be just enough to open an office, hire one or two people and buy some office equipments and services like phone,fax machine, net connection etc and some liquid cash to start the business in right earnest.
I request those who had similar experience to share the same with me. I also soliciate your advice about the type (or range) of business a newcomer can start without much risk.

Answer 1

We have many immigrants here who start a business on $5000 or less, usually they assume the franchise of someone who is already in business and make payments to keep the business running. Hotels and convenience stores are among favorites.

However you can start a telemarketing business with just enough money to rent an office and lease a call list . In Ohio you can get a small office for less than $200 a month, in California the same office would be $1200.

Nail salons, barber shops, and cleaning services can be set up for the cost of supplies and a space rental. $80-$400 a month.

There are people here who sell second hand junk on ebay and pay nothing but the cost of their internet service and the pennies they pay for the items they sell.

Bear in mind that because of George Bush's influence in this country (joblessness, war, paranoia due to wire tapping, his calling everyone a terrorist) immigrants are often treated poorly. I hope you don't experience this.

Good luck to you wherever you land!

Answer 2

Convenience stores can be bought for pennies because they represent a high risk endeavor. They are popular among immigrants and are often family affairs with multi generations helping out. The store locations tend to be either inter city properties or less than desireable neighborhoods.

You can search the various business for sale websites, like www.bizbuysell.com for ideas.

Leverage with any enterprise is the key. You want to leverage your time, your money and have teams of people to work with. I am in the real estate and mortgage industry. I have built a team of over 300 people in less than three months and just started out with 3 people. Less than a couple of $1000s in expenses. Everything is virtual and done over the phone. I am on track for over $100,000 this year. Email me if that sounds like something you would want to do. My sponsor is the top earner in the company with over $2,000,000 a year in commissions and only does limited personal selling. That is all from his team that he has spent two years building.