GTA Onlinelets you start and run various businesses, offering different ways to make money. These businesses can range from legal ventures to illegal operations. Some require very little involvement after setting them up, only needing occasional purchases or sales. Others need more hands-on effort, including missions and deliveries that take time and skill. The cost and complexity of these businesses can vary a lot. Some are cheap to start and run, while others need a lot of money upfront and for upkeep.
How much money you can make depends on factors like the type of business, how well you upgrade it, and how efficiently you manage it and complete missions. Some businesses work well together, letting you earn more when you operate them side by side. This is much better than selling property in GTA Online. The best businesses let you be hands-off or hands-on, depending on how you want to run your money-making methods.
8
Coke Lockup
The Worst of the Best
The Cocaine Lockup in GTA Online is one of the best businesses to invest in, no matter how experienced you are in the game. It's a great choice because it makes a lot of money, has low running costs, and doesn’t require too much work. Unlike other businesses that need your attention, the Cocaine Lockup generates income on its own after you buy it and get some supplies (which only cost $75,000). This means you can do other things in the game while earning decent cash.
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Once you fully upgrade the Cocaine Lockup, you can earn over $800,000 from each sale in public lobbies, which is much higher than many other ways to make money. The selling missions are usually pretty simple and can be done alone, making it an easy way to earn. While you need to spend some money to improve equipment and hire staff, these upgrades pay off by speeding up production and boosting earnings. The money you invest in those upgrades is well worth it in the long run.
7
Hangar
This Was A Surprising One
The Hangar in GTA Online, which people first thought was just a place to store planes, has become a great way to make money in the game. The main way to earn money from the Hangar is by sourcing and selling air freight cargo, and this is a bit different from using a special cargo warehouse because you can choose what kind of cargo to source. This means you can pick items that will make them the most money, like chemicals, drugs, and medical supplies.
Don’t sleep on this; passive income can get boring, and hangar work can be fun.
Additionally, the Hangar is easier to use, especially if you play solo. Instead of having to finish a delivery, you can just destroy the delivery vehicles, and using an Oppressor Mk II helps them get the crates quickly. If you’re good at it, you can earn over $500,000 an hour. Unlike some businesses that rely on earning money while you’re away, the Hangar offers active gameplay that keeps it interesting, so you won’t get bored.
6
Auto Shop
More Than A Body Shop
The Auto Shop in GTA Online may seem like just a place to customize vehicles at first, but it turns out to be a highly profitable and flexible business. The Auto Shop generates steady income through vehicle customization and deliveries. You can choose to handle these jobs yourself for good payouts or hire staff to do it automatically. This mix of active and passive income is a key benefit. While staff can take care of deliveries, You can boost your earnings by getting involved in high-value contracts.
Auto Shop's contract system is impressive. The contracts you can find at the planning desk pay much better than regular vehicle deliveries, often around $170,000 for each contract completed in about 30 minutes. One standout contract, the depository contract, canearn you a whopping $300,000, which is more than many other simpler businesses can generate. The variety in contracts keeps the gameplay interesting, avoiding the boredom of repetitive tasks.
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In addition to making money directly, the Auto Shop offers helpful benefits. It is an excellent place for vehicle upgrades, providing discounts and allowing you to access modifications even at lower levels. This makes it easier to afford upgrades that might otherwise be difficult. Using these methods, you can earn more than $400,000 per hour.
5
Acid Lab
A Big Money Maker But Costs A Lot
The Acid Lab is a good money-making asset in GTA Online. It is popular because it’s easy to get into, simple to run, and offers a high return on investment, especially considering the time you spend to make money. You can get the Acid Lab for free after finishing the first Dose missions from Dax, but you’ll need to spend $750,000 on equipment to start making money. This low starting cost is a significant plus if you don’t have a lot of in-game cash yet.
The operation itself is straightforward. You buy or steal supplies, which can be done quickly. If you gather supplies yourself, you can earn $120,000 every 48 minutes, but even if you buy supplies, you’ll still make $82,000, which is a good profit. Selling is also easy, usually requiring just one delivery vehicle, which reduces problems and time spent. In terms of profit, the Acid Lab does really well. A full supply load can sell for $300,000; if you sell in public lobbies, that amount goes up by 50%.
4
Special Cargo Warehouse
Warehouses Tend To Be Earners
Custom Image by Steven Garrard
The Special Cargo Warehouse in GTA Online is one of the most profitable businesses in the game, even if it might seem a bit repetitive at first. The main task involves sourcing and delivering crates, which can get dull, but the chance to make a lot of money makes it worth it. Larger warehouses cost more to buy but can store more crates, leading to bigger payouts when you sell. You can earn over $2 million from a single sale if you have a full warehouse and take advantage of bonuses for selling in public lobbies.
Recently, the game added warehouse technicians who help generate passive income. These workers can source crates on their own, so you don’t always have to be actively involved in sourcing missions. You can switch between actively working on sourcing crates and enjoying a hands-off approach with the technicians, which makes the game adaptable to different play styles.
3
Bunker
It Sounds Simple, But It’s Not
ChiefMokum from the GTA Fandom Wiki
The Bunker in GTA Online might seem like a simple business for making and selling weapons, but it offers much more when you level up in the game. The Bunker gives you a steady flow of passive income. If you fully upgrade it, you can earn around $60,000 every hour in the game, and sometimes even over $100,000. While other options may bring in more cash, the Bunker's consistent earnings make it a solid part of your money-making strategy.
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The Bunker’s sales missions can also be quite profitable, often paying out more than $1.5 million when you sell an entire stock of goods. If you sell in public lobbies, you can earn even more because of a 50% bonus. You can also plan their sales during double-money events to maximize their profits. If you use the Arcade's Master Control Terminal, you can manage your businesses, request supplies, and keep track of your progress all in one place.
2
Agency
A Beloved Addition To GTA Online
The Agency in GTA Online provides various ways to make money and useful features. Unlike many other businesses that focus only on making passive income or repeating missions, the Agency offers a variety of activities that you can do yourself. One of the main ways to earn money is through high-paying VIP Contracts, which can earn you about $1 million for around 1.5 hours of work, making it a great hourly wage. These contracts are interesting and diverse, so there's not much grind.
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Additionally, the Agency provides Security Contracts that give you quicker payouts averaging about $40,000. On top of the money, the Agency serves as a hub for important activities in the game. The Agency's Armory lets you store and access a wide range of weapons and a place to upgrade your vehicles with Monitech enhancements. No other property in the game offers this feature. The Agency generates passive income through its safe in the office. Acquiring this income through security contracts takes time but boosts overall earnings.
1
Nightclub
The Best Business On This List
The Nightclub in GTA Online is the best choice if you want to invest in a business, and there are a few good reasons. One of the biggest benefits is that it makes money passively. This means that even when you're not playing or doing other things in the game, the Nightclub still earns significant income. This passive income comes from assigning technicians to other businesses you own; they help produce goods, making money for the Nightclub.
If you can only afford to do one of these, buy a Nightclub first.
Another plus is the Popularity System, which is how the Nightclub works in GTA Online. Keeping your club popular helps boost your income, and managing that popularity is much easier than the constant supply and sales missions required for other businesses. This makes the Nightclub a great option if you want a steady income without too much hassle.
While the initial cost to buy and upgrade the Nightclub is quite high, you'll quickly start making back that money thanks to the regular income it generates. The overall earnings from the Nightclub usually surpass what you’d make from other business ventures that demand more effort. Adding the nightclub to your list of businesses can boost your income in GTA Online.
Released
October 1, 2013
ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
Platform(s)
PS5, PS4, PS3, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC