New commercial enterprises are defined as lawful, for profit businesses that were created after November 29, 1990. Older enterprises may qualify if the EB-5 investment leads to significant business restructuring or increases the number of employees or net worth of an existing business by 40 percent. The enterprises can be structured in any number of ways, such as a sole proprietorship, limited or general partnership, corporation, business trust, or as other publicly or privately owned business structures.

Direct, indirect and induced jobs may be counted towards the 10 jobs needed to fulfill the job creation requirements from an EB-5 investment of $1.8 million or $900,000. (ask for Details and difference between two programs/investments)

No two regional centers are alike, as the centers can manage EB-5 projects in any number of industries. A regional center may be a public or private body and some regional centers are owned by state or local governments. Regional centers vary in many ways, including their geographic scope, the profiles of their principals, their industry scope and the allowed investment structures. Regional centers are effective at raising capital for projects because they may receive funding from multiple investors at the same time and are allowed to operate various projects at once.