Profit/hr = fully upgraded, buy-supplies model. Entry cost includes buy-in + upgrades + any prerequisite property (MC Clubhouse / CEO Office). Payback = days to recover entry cost from net income at 3h play/day (passive ~10h/day lobby time). Tiers: S A B C.

How to read this ranking

Profit per hour is the headline, but smart players buy on payback days — the business that refunds itself fastest lets you compound into the next one sooner. Effort matters too: a "high effort" business only pays its rate while you actively grind it, while passive businesses earn as long as you're in a session doing anything.

🏆 Pre-launch verdict: start with the cheapest low-effort business your budget allows, then stack toward the passive hub (Nightclub-style) as soon as you can afford it. Run the exact numbers for your playtime in the Business Profit Calculator.

Why our ranking differs from most lists

Three deliberate choices make this table less flattering — and considerably more useful — than rankings you will find elsewhere:

Entry cost includes prerequisites. MC businesses cannot be bought without a Clubhouse; crate and vehicle businesses need a CEO Office. Quoting the buy-in alone hides a large, unavoidable expense.
Payback uses net income. Supply costs and daily upkeep both come out before we calculate how long a business takes to repay itself.
Solo capability is a column, not a footnote. A business whose full sale you cannot physically complete alone is not a good business for a solo player, however high its rate.

Reading the tier ratings

Tiers summarise value, not raw output. S means best-in-class for what it costs. A is excellent and belongs in most portfolios. B is situational — good for a specific playstyle or as part of a larger setup. C means the business exists mainly as a feeder for a passive hub and is a poor standalone purchase. A C-tier business is not a bad buy if you own the hub it feeds; it is a bad buy on its own.

How to actually use this table

Enter your real budget — the filter hides everything you cannot genuinely afford including prerequisites.
Sort by payback, not by profit. The fastest-repaying affordable business is almost always the correct next purchase.
Apply the solo filter if you play alone, before comparing anything else.
Check upkeep — a business with high daily fees needs regular attention to stay profitable.

One rule worth repeating

Never buy a business you cannot also afford to upgrade. Several entries here are mediocre un-upgraded and excellent fully upgraded, and a half-funded expensive business will earn you less per day than a cheaper one bought outright. Model both options in the Business Profit Calculator before committing.

More tools

Wondering if businesses even beat heists? See Money Methods Compared. Planning story-mode wealth? Try the Stock Market Calculator. Full strategy: GTA 6 Money Guide.