The funds irrevocably committed to acquiring and operating the enterprise: the purchase price actually paid, franchise transfer fees, inventory and equipment, and working capital placed at risk. Government and professional fees, family costs and travel are not investment and sit on a separate list.
What to ask before paying
Ask the seller whether the deposit is refundable and on what conditions, because a refundable deposit is not committed capital until the condition falls away. Ask the franchisor what the transfer fee covers and whether it is returned if the franchisor rejects the buyer. Ask the escrow agent for the release terms in writing.
Then build two columns: the enterprise column lists every dollar that becomes the dealership's, and the personal column lists visa application charges, the consular fee, counsel's fee for the review and the application, translations, the family's travel and housing deposits. Substantiality is judged by comparing the enterprise column with the total cost of the business, so the personal column never helps eligibility no matter how large it grows. Confirm current government charges at the time of application, and ask counsel to itemize the review of the two agreements separately from the visa application itself, since a buyer may want the first without yet committing to the second.