Business options
Six ways to deploy capital
Ordered by how much of the reserve each one risks.
Reserve to protect
$150,000
Not available for a business
Spendable after arrival
$483,368
After reserve and settlement
Hold and observe
Low effortCapital: No new capital
Keep capital liquid for the first period while the family settles, and learn the local market before committing.
Strongest first move: it protects the reserve while healthcare, schooling and housing settle.
Risk: Opportunity cost only. Capital sits idle while inflation continues.
Residential property
Low to medium effortCapital: Large, mostly illiquid
Buy the family home first, and consider a second unit only after a full year of local experience.
Simple and familiar, but ties up a large share of the reserve.
Risk: Rates, maintenance and vacancy. Selling takes months, not days.
Established franchise
High effortCapital: Medium to large
A proven system with training, supply and brand support, at the cost of fees and tight rules.
Suits a family able to commit an owner-operator's hours.
Risk: Franchise fees, royalties, staffing and location dependence. Verify claims independently.
Buy an existing business
High effortCapital: Medium
Acquire trading cash flow and staff rather than build from nothing.
Fastest route to income if the books stand up to inspection.
Risk: Overpaying for weak numbers. Full financial and legal due diligence is essential.
Professional or care services
High effortCapital: Small to medium
Build a service business on the family's existing healthcare, technology and administration skills.
Uses skills the family already has, and can start small.
Risk: Licensing and regulation. Confirm what credential each service actually requires.
Online or technology venture
Medium effortCapital: Small
Low fixed costs and flexible hours, suited to a part-time start alongside study.
Good learning ground for the younger adults while studies continue.
Risk: Slow and uncertain revenue. Do not treat it as household income in year one.
The recommendation in this deck is to hold capital for the first year. Nothing here is investment advice, and any business needs independent financial and legal due diligence.