Welcome to GTA Online, where your mission is to work your way up the rank ladder, achieving fame, fortune, and notoriety in the process.
The goal of this page is to teach you how to make easy money in Grand Theft Auto Online. We’ll teach you how to set up shop and sell products or services to other players in the game. You don’t need to run around the city stealing cars for paychecks any more. You can work your way up the economic ladder and live the life of an entrepreneur.
Let’s get to it.
The Basics
GTA Online is a free-to-play game where users can buy, sell, and trade properties. You can make money in several ways in GTA Online, including selling drugs, weapons, and other illicit commodities, doing odd jobs, and investing.
You can access these ‘businesses’ through the ‘businesses’ section of the game’s main menu. Here, you will choose the type of business (there are four available) and the location where you want to conduct your operations. For example, if you want to start a Food Truck Business, you will choose that from the menu and the game will present you with an image of a food truck.
Your location will determine the type of business that can be operated there. For example, if you want to open a shop that sells clothes, you will need to be located in an area where people can walk in and out of the store. Other locations, such as parking lots, require that you set up shop in a permanent location, such as a mall or office building.
Rank System
You will be presented with a rank screen when you log into the game. The higher your rank, the more lucrative your business opportunities in GTA Online. You can achieve a certain level of rank by completing certain tasks in the game. Generally, the more danger you face, the higher your rank will be when you eventually achieve ‘master’ status.
You can access the ‘statistics’ menu from the main menu to see your current rank. It is important to keep in mind that the rank system is completely separate from your level. Your level will determine your basic abilities in the game and how well you perform, but your rank will impact your income.
Currency
The game uses an in-game currency called ‘VIA’. You can use VIA to purchase property, equipment, and other items needed to start your business or upgrade your existing one.
When purchasing property, you will need to put down a substantial deposit, which is returned at the end of the contract, along with your profits.
You can use real cash or VIA to purchase property. When paying with VIA, the game will instruct you how much progress you have made towards your goal. For example, if you are trying to become a business owner, you will see a progress bar at the top of the screen during the payment process. If that bar is half-full, you have made half the progress you need to reach your goal.
Properties
Properties are the smaller, more enclosed plots of land that you can buy in GTA Online, ranging in price from $0 to $500,000. You can build anything you want on a property, provided you meet the design requirements. The bigger the better in terms of profits. Buy the largest property you can afford and make sure that you use lots of trailers, trucks, and other big vehicles to park therein.
The game uses three different styles of properties: residential, commercial, and industrial. The first two are available for purchase and allow for various living arrangements, from single-person households to multiple families. The last one is an office building, which you can use to conduct your business.
Biz-Ops Missions
These are short gameplay events where you can conduct business. You will be tasked with performing certain tasks, such as delivering items to other players, for a certain amount of money. You can usually find these missions listed under ‘new biz opps’ in the ‘community events’ menu.
You will get paid extra for these tasks, in the form of in-game currency, so it’s a quick way to earn some extra cash.
While this is certainly not a get-rich-quick scheme, it is a fun and easy way to earn money without having to spend much effort. The more you do, the faster you will rise in the ranks.
Profits
When you start your business, you will see your earnings initially listed in a currency called ‘Bitcoin’. When paying with Bitcoin, the game will deduct the transaction fee from your earnings.
You may choose to accept payments in the form of in-game currency, VIA, or real cash. To get paid in-game currency, you will need to purchase property or complete certain in-game tasks, such as selling drugs. You can also conduct business at parking lots and other places that aren’t fully enclosed, but you will need to put up a sign to let other players know you are there.
When you start your business, you will notice that your profit margins are very thin. You will want to put in the extra effort to upgrade your equipment and expand your business, so you can make more money. When you eventually reach ‘master’ status, your profits will increase and you will be able to purchase properties with no hassle and not have to deal with any building permits or inspections. Landlords are not an option in GTA Online.
Upgrades
You can purchase upgrades for your properties in order to make them more functional or fashionable. These include things such as fresh paint, new signage, and other design accessories. Some of the items you can purchase are community driven, such as the ‘loud’ sign that lets people know you are selling drugs, or ‘fashionable’ businesses that feature trendy storefronts and outfits for employees.
Certainty is the key to making real money in GTA Online, so make sure that you have all the legal documents in order before you start your business. It would be wise to save up some money before you even attempt to buy equipment or start a business. Although most businesses will eventually pay you back along with your profits, it would be best to save a small emergency fund in case things don’t go according to plan.
Once you start raking in the big bucks, you can invest in better equipment, hire more people, and take on more responsibility. If you ever want to increase your earnings, simply buy more properties or perform more biz-ops missions. The sky is the limit.