Summary
- GTA Online allows players to engage in various crimes and complex heists with up to 30 players in an open world.
- Businesses in GTA Online, like the Facility, Bike Service, and Garment Factory, offer various ways to earn money and grow criminal enterprises.
- Players can choose different businesses like the Counterfeit Cash Factory, Meth Lab, and Bunker to earn passive income or partake in more hands-on criminal activities.
While Grand Theft Auto gives players a chance to go all out in terms of mayhem, it’s Grand Theft Auto Online that lets them live their wildest dreams as master criminals. Set in the iconic GTA setting of San Andreas, GTA Online allows up to 30 players to be in its open world, engaging in various crimes and complex Heists to complete objectives and work their way up the criminal ladder.
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However, players know that to fund their criminal enterprise, they have to earn money first. Thankfully, GTA Online offers a slate of various businesses – both legal and especially illegal – that players can run to earn additional money. And interestingly enough, some businesses are must-haves for anyone wishing to grow their criminal enterprise.
Updated May 16, 2025 by Rhenn Taguiam: With the much-awaited GTA 6 finally getting a 2026 release window (one could only hope), fans of the Grand Theft Auto franchise have GTA Online as the best way for them to check just how far their characters could go as self-made criminals. And for hopeful kingpins, GTA Online has quite a handful of business options that players can transform into fruitful endeavors… provided they know exactly how to make them work.
While the internet is already filled with ideas for GTA Online’s best businesses, players may want to know the best early-game and niche ways for them to get rich on a limited budget. Such methods include purchasing a building to gain access to a particular special mission, customizing and delivering bikes, and getting the newest business option made available in the game.
1 Facility
Get Access To Doomsday Heist Missions
The Facility is more of a storage option with insane perks than a source of passive income, as the only reasons players would want this business are access to the Doomsday Heist, the targetable Orbital Cannon, deployable Strikeforce mercenaries, and the highly versatile Avenger. Not to mention, some higher-end vehicles like the Khanjali tank can only be stored in the Facility.
The only way players can earn with the Facility is through the Doomsday Heist missions, which can only be done with at least one to three other players. Despite the player count and the relative difficulty of some missions, doing them on the regular can earn players a quick buck while waiting for the passive income from other businesses.
Facility: General Tips
At higher difficulties, the missions can earn a group of four players up to $250,000 - a respectable amount of cash for a relatively challenging mission to spend the day while the player’s other businesses get them their share of passive earnings.
2 Bike Service
Customize Bikes For Quick Cash
The Custom Bike Shop is the main facility players need to purchase to access the MC Clubhouse business, among which the Bike Service is an enjoyable way of earning cash on the side as a subset of the Bike Shop’s business options. While not necessarily a “business with an associated structure,” the Bike Service is a hassle-free way of earning money and getting a bit of free-roaming on the side.
Essentially, customers request specific customization options for their bikes that players need to fulfill. After fulfilling these requirements, players are instructed to deliver them to the customer’s location within 30 minutes.
Bike Service: General Tips
Fulfilling this order gives an instant $50,000 - while not tremendously big, it can net players upwards of $300,000 and above per hour once they get the hang of the HUD and motorcycle paths to customers. Players need to be careful, though, as a damaged bike will lessen the payout!
3 Garment Factory
Perform Mini-Heists For Decent Payouts
Formally known as the Darnell Bros. Garment Factory, the Garment Factory business is quite the large structure that can set back players as much as $2.3-million upon first acquisition - something that might not make it worthwhile when placed beside its included Safe that only nets $1,500 to $2,000 every in-game day from the workers upstairs.
While hefty in terms of costs, the Garment Factory is a decent third or fourth business to get with its perks, as the initial spend already includes a wardrobe and safehouse, a 10-car garage, a 5-location waypoint system, and Terrorbyte storage that comes with exclusive nifty upgrades.
Garment Factory: General Tips
Where the Garment Factory shines is its FIB Files feature - essentially four-stage mini-heists that can take players upwards of 20 minutes to complete. Each FIB File can net up to $150,000 with a 5-minute cooldown, with the chance to get a $50,000 bonus once special objectives are complete, as well as a once-a-week opportunity to get 2x the main payout. When done properly, an hour’s worth of cycling around FIB Files can earn players up to around $450,000 to $600,000, not counting the weekly.
4 Bail Office
Catch Criminals On The Run
Players who want to switch over to the “good side” might want to own a Bail Office to chase after wanted criminals. With the Bottom Dollar Bounties update, the Bail Office becomes available for purchase on Maze Bank Foreclosures when Maude Eccles tells players she wants them to take over her bounty-hunting business. Once purchased for around $1.65M to $2.62M, players can outfit their chosen Bail Office with upgrades such as a gun locker, more agents, and even pre-purchase armor plating for the exclusive Bail Enforcement Burrito.
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After a successful acquisition, Bounties become available for players to take. Jenette Eccles will provide players with a selection of Standard-Cost Targets and one Most Wanted Target, which will be introduced based on their choice. Upon encountering the target, players can kill (-75% reward) or capture them through incapacitation or disarmament. Bounties are replayable, regardless of the original outcome. While less high-earning than other businesses, the Bail Office can offer a respectable $25K-ish passive income when Bail Officers are sent to work. When all missions are done every day, they can net around $100K daily, which isn’t bad for players who want to do something on the side while waiting on their other businesses.
Bail Office: General Tips
As mentioned, the Bail Office shouldn’t be expected to provide a high source of income compared to the likes of the Agency or the Nightclub. However, they’re more of a buffer to maximize time spent while waiting for other business to produce their profit for the day and provide much-needed variety for a player’s everyday GTA Online experience. Instead of getting bored trying to do escort or delivery missions, hunting Bounties and ensuring they’re not killed in the process can be a worthwhile hour and a half to net an easy $100K. Securing the upgrade for more Bail Officers can also guarantee a steady stream of passive income. Again, not a lot but decent enough to make the Bail Office a consideration for players who have the cash to spare.
5 Salvage Yard
Make The Most Out Of Cars
Under the name “Red’s Auto Parts,” players can start a Salvage Yard business geared towards acquiring cars and selling their parts. At least, that’s what it says on paper. When players acquire a Salvage Yard (the prices range between $1.62M to $2.629M), they will meet Yusuf Amir and get introduced to his love for luxury cars as well as business manager Jamal Amir, who acquaints players with the select cars Yusuf wishes to acquire. As they will eventually reveal to players, the Salvage Yard acquires cars and sells them for parts - the nature of the acquisition is rather more flexible than what they were making them out to be.
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There are two things players can do with their Salvage Yard. First are Salvage Yard Robberies, which appear like Heists with specific luxury cars as targets. After completing the missions, players can keep the car for themselves (depending on the vehicle), salvage it for parts, or ship the car to Yusuf via the Terminal. Secondly, players can also do a Tow Truck Service to provide active and passive income by locating “abandoned” vehicles, towing them, and salvaging them for parts. It’s through the latter that the Salvage Yard starts to gain popularity, which at some point could help players net at least $24,000 daily.
Salvage Yard: General Tips
While some can consider the Salvage Yard a bit “so-so” in terms of payout, it remains one of the easiest businesses that can get the most fun for players. If players get to tow two cars in around an hour or so, this should net them around $25k to $60k in that duration. This amount increases if they get the Salvage Yard in Paleto, significantly closer to the city. Doing the weekly missions could net players an easy ~$1m, with the missions not too time-consuming to be considered hassling.
6 Acid Lab
A Small-Time, Solo Venture
Players enjoying their GTA Online gameplay may want to rely on the Acid Lab as one of their first businesses, especially if they’re aiming to work for their first few millions without the help of others. Unlike other businesses, the Acid Lab is only available for purchase after completing the Freakshop questline managed by Ron Jakowski and Dax. It’s only after this questline does a side quest appears that tasks players to bring crates back to the Freakshop, where an NPC named Mutt unlocks the Acid Lab for purchase.
At its core, the Acid Lab acts as a passive income source that generates profit by constantly filling up the Supply Bar and Product Bar. The only “active” component here would be players having to buy or steal supplies to keep their Acid Lab functioning. Earning with the Acid Lab is easy as players simply need to maintain a high enough Product Bar, as it’s proportionate to both the Supply Bar and profit calculations. Not only that, the Acid Lab always provides a vehicle that carries supplies, should players decide to do deliveries themselves.
Acid Lab: General Tips
If players want to start managing their Acid Lab, they need a starting GTA$750,000, making it the cheapest among the businesses to start. The accessibility of Acid Lab as a starting business is apparent when players need a rather cheap GTA$192,000 to unlock its full storage capacity, with one Supply Bar (GTA$60K) capable of earning GTA$74,250 in just two hours.
Filling up the entire 16-bar Supply Bar capacity of the Acid Lab can yield GTA$237,600 in just six hours. One of the interesting sub-mechanics with the Acid Lab includes whether players use stolen or bought supplies to generate income. Stolen Supplies can yield GTA$38,610 per hour, while Bought Supplies can yield GTA$7,600 per hour.
7 Auto Shop
Sell Cars With A Bit Of Violent Missions
Kingpins-to-be who want to be more hands-on in their criminal enterprises in GTA Online may want to grab an Auto Shop, allowing players to be in the position of selling stunning cars instead of simply stealing them. Acquiring the business is also easy, with players simply needing to go to the Los Santos Car Meet for a short cinematic and then purchase one of the five Auto Shops available throughout Los Santos.
What makes the Auto Shop quite a fun business to own is its quasi-business sim element, with players being able to hire two Staff Members as well as upgrades that include a Car Lift and Personal Quarters. Moreover, players have three main approaches to make a profit with the Auto Shop, depending on the upgrades they purchase.
Auto Shop: General Tips
Players need to remember that the main sources of income with an Auto Shop can come in the form of Customer Delivery, Car Exports, and a Mini Heist. With Customer Delivery (GTA$60,000), players need to acquire a car from their garage and customize it according to the client’s request before driving it to a set destination. Meanwhile, Car Exports (GTA$20,000) involve players finding select cars in Free Mode to steal them and deliver them to a location. Lastly, a Mini-Heist (~GTA$150,000) involves car-related missions with various objectives. The more flexible nature of earning via the Auto Shop can make it unideal for players who want passive income, but it can become enjoyable for players who want chill rides during their gameplay sessions.
8 Kosatka Submarine
A Standalone Enterprise
Unlike other business opportunities in GTA Online gameplay, the Kosatka Submarine is more of a sub-business than a standalone enterprise. To unlock this business, players need to first purchase the Motorcycle Club to access the purchase opportunities for a Kosatka Submarine. After unlocking it, the main method of earning money would be the “Cayo Prico Heist,” an approximately hour-long heist with the typical sub-mission, such as mission prep with a dedicated Finale.
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The straightforward nature of the Kosatka Submarine’s business model makes it an ideal mid-game income stream, especially for players who want daily tasks in their GTA Online playthrough. Its active nature, however, makes it grindy and not as recommended for those looking for passive income streams.
Kosatka: General Tips
Starting the Kosatka Submarine “business” means purchasing the Submarine itself for GTA$2,200,000. When combined with the Sparrow upgrade (GTA$1,800,000), the initial investment towards the Kosatka Submarine can be rather costly at first glance.
However, the mission packages offered when using the Kosatka Submarine can more than make up for the initial investment. Lower-tier missions, such as Tequila and Ruby Necklace, can offer prize rewards of up to GTA$1,000,000, whereas higher-tier missions like Pink Diamond and Panther Statue can earn as much as GTA$1,900,000 per session.
9 The Agency
Get A More Secret Agent Spin
Accessible via “The Contract” DLC, players can activate The Agency and begin working with Franklin and Dr. Dre to not just get back the latter's music but also improve their reputation in general. What’s best is that conducting these missions can actually net players a lot in cash by the time they reach their latter parts.
Client missions and VIP contracts alone can give players as much as $80,000 in cash, with a $1 million payout waiting from the final mission. Doing these missions a couple of times a day can give players $1 million easily, making this a great set of dailies to accomplish for a lot of money before starting a general day of mayhem in the game.
The Agency: General Tips
Before players can reap benefits from the Agency, they need to buy at least one (1) of their branches across the city. A key consideration here is to check the general location of a prospective Agency, particularly when other elements such as accessibility and maneuverability (e.g., avoiding police in emergencies, accessing supplies) are a consideration. Among the four (4) available locations, the Vespucci Canals location is the most convenient due to its open areas. This location costs $2,415,000.
10 Hangar
Fly To Riches
Players who have a peculiar love for the skies won’t have any problems purchasing the Hangar, especially since this gives them not just a nifty place to store their incredibly fast airplanes and other aircraft but also allows them to conduct various missions along the way. Players use the Hangar primarily for smuggling, and its mini-games involve bringing products to various destinations and getting a share of the cut.
While the Hangar isn’t necessarily a generator of passive income, it’s convenient to have the airspace clearance without any retaliation. Not only that, but Hangars can earn as much as $2,085,000 per a certain set of runs, making this quite a stellar way to earn money while having fun with mini-games.
Hangar: General Tips
Similar to other businesses, the Hangar remains a profitable business not just because of how conveniently easy Smuggling can get but also due to the benefit of area accessibility. The game offers five (5) Hangars for sale, three (3) of which are located in the heavily fortified Fort Zancudo. It’s ideal for players to purchase the Fort Zancudo Hangar selections, particularly the $2,650,000-worth Hangar 3499. This immediately gives players clearance to fly over the military base, which is an ideal place to land when engaging in high-speed chases.