No blanket exclusion applies to properly structured visa-contingent escrow. The actual terms, commitment and other investment conditions still need review.
Avoid either automatic conclusion
A conditional label alone is neither proof of eligibility nor a complete reason to reject the arrangement.
Ask for a written scope separating immigration-preparation work from business spending, and have the actual treatment of each business outlay reviewed rather than assuming every professional fee falls outside qualifying investment. The purchase price held in escrow on visa-conditioned terms, funds already spent on equipment or inventory for the business, and working capital transferred to the business account and committed to operations all count. Substantiality is judged relative to the actual cost of the specific business rather than a fixed dollar figure, and money merely under discussion, money committed under signed terms, and money already spent should be kept clearly distinct. Ask your advisor for an itemized scope covering eligibility review, document assembly, dependent assistance, and later evidence requests, plus what happens financially if the deposit liability changes the deal before closing. Alongside the investment, budget the consular visa charges for a Canadian applicant, the cost of a properly prepared business plan and the professional fees for structuring, and recognise that a low investment total makes the marginality evidence carry more weight.