E-2 dependent children are not employment authorized through that status. Do not assume they can fill staffing gaps simply because they are members of the owner’s household or will accompany the investor.
Use authorized and realistic staffing assumptions
A spouse in valid E-2 or E-2S status is generally work authorized incident to status and may have a documented role. Unmarried children under 21 may seek dependent status, but their work plans require separate consideration. The business forecast should accurately reflect staffing costs and permissions rather than relying on assumed family labour to make the enterprise appear viable.
Build the forecast on labour the business can lawfully obtain, and revisit it when the household position changes. Dependent children are not employment authorized through that status and cannot fill staffing gaps because they happen to be in the household. A spouse in valid E-2 or E-2S status is generally work authorized incident to status and may hold a documented role, which should appear in the forecast with its real cost.
Unmarried children under 21 may seek dependent status, and any work plan for them requires separate consideration. A forecast quietly depending on assumed family labour will not survive the first year in which that labour is unavailable. Revisit the assumption whenever a family member circumstances change.