GTA Online has dozens of properties and most new players buy them in the wrong order — sinking millions into a flashy office before they own anything that makes money. This guide ranks the properties that matter and lays out a buying order that turns your first property into a self-funding empire. Browse them all in the property database, and model the payback of any income business with the business profit calculator.
Buy these first (in this order)
1. A CEO Office — your gateway to everything.
You don’t need the iconic Maze Bank Tower — the cheapest office does the exact same job: it registers you as a CEO so you can run cargo businesses and unlocks the ability to buy a Nightclub. Start here, save the millions.
2. A Nightclub — the best passive income in the game.
The single most efficient property you can own. Technicians quietly accrue goods from all your other businesses while you do anything else — a true money printer that needs almost no attention. Buy the cheapest one; the location barely matters.
3. A Bunker — solo-friendly, mostly passive.
Gunrunning research and manufacturing tick away on their own. It feeds your nightclub, unlocks Mk II weapon upgrades, and sells for a healthy profit solo. The cheapest bunker is all you need to start.
The best high-payout properties
Once the passive engines are running, add the properties that pay big per session:
The arcade is your planning board for the Diamond Casino Heist — one of the biggest paydays in the game — and it earns passive income on the side. The cheapest one in Paleto Bay does everything the pricey ones do.
The Agency unlocks the Dr. Dre “VIP Contract” (a ~$1M+ payday) plus repeatable payphone hits and security contracts — some of the best, most reliable solo money in the game.
Contract jobs you can run solo or with a friend, plus income from customizing and delivering customer cars. A steady, low-stress earner that’s beginner-friendly.
Passive-income hubs compared
These are the “set it and forget it” properties. Buy the cheapest variant of each — the only real difference between locations is the drive to the door:
| Property | Type | Location | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nightclub (La Mesa) | Nightclub | La Mesa | $1,080,000 |
| Bunker (Chumash) | Bunker | Chumash | $1,165,000 |
| Arcade (Paleto Bay) | Arcade | Paleto Bay | $1,235,000 |
| Auto Shop (Mission Row) | Auto Shop | Mission Row | $1,545,000 |
| Agency (Hawick) | Agency | Hawick | $2,415,000 |
Don’t forget the Kosatka
The best solo money in the game isn’t a building — it’s the Kosatka submarine, the HQ for the Cayo Perico Heist. If you’re grinding alone, it often deserves your money before the arcade or agency. See the Cayo Perico solo guide for the full walkthrough.
Situational picks
- MC Clubhouse + a business — a Clubhouse lets you own biker businesses; the Cocaine Lockup is the best of them and feeds your nightclub.
- High-End Apartment — a high-end apartment is still required to host the original Fleeca-to-Pacific-Standard heists.
- Facility — needed for the Doomsday Heist and for storing weaponized vehicles like the Avenger.
Where to go next
Plan exactly which businesses pay back fastest with the business profit calculator, see the full ranking in best businesses to buy, and if you’re still building your first bankroll, start with how to make money fast. Browse every property in the property database.