Making money early
Quick answerSmall robberies, car sales and side activities, and how to actually keep the cash.
Early money comes from small robberies first, then vehicle sales once you have the tools and a buyer. A good money route is not just a valuable target. You have to finish the job, turn the loot into cash and keep it.
How money works
| Type | What it is | What to do with it |
|---|---|---|
| Bank balance | Money safely in your account | Keep your savings here between jobs |
| Cash | Money your character is carrying | Spend it or deposit it |
| Loot | Stolen valuables | Sell to the right fence to turn it into cash |
Fences buy stolen goods, and each fence deals in different things. Before you pick a target, check where you can sell what you take.
If you die or get arrested you can lose the cash and loot you are carrying. Sell and deposit before risky jobs.
Best early income
| Source | When to do it | Check first |
|---|---|---|
| Small store robberies | When you know the layout and the way out | Can you get past security and leave safely? |
| Vehicle sales | When you have the tools and a buyer | Is the price worth the theft and delivery time? |
| Hunting | After Jason's hunting contact unlocks | Does the route fit your path? |
| Pool, monster truck races, treasure diving | When you want a break from crime | Does it actually pay, and what is the entry cost? |
| Banks and jewelry stores | When your gear and prep match the target | Can you finish the whole job, not just grab the goods? |
Start with easy stores
Convenience stores, small shops, gas stations and loan offices are good first targets. Scout before you act: safe, cameras, back door, clerk, guards. Pick a place you fully understand over one that just looks rich.
Scan a car before you steal it
A vehicle scanner app on your phone shows security level, the tools required and the resale value. Older cars can be opened with simple tools. Newer luxury cars need a key cloner or better.
- Damage lowers what the fence pays.
- Sale locations can have a cooldown before they take another car.
- Compare the cars you can steal and sell right now. There is no single best early car.
Fishing is catch and release. It is not a money loop.
Stuck? Push the story
If a car needs a tool you cannot buy yet, or no fence takes your loot, grinding will not fix it. Play story missions to unlock new contacts, and read the texts and side offers you get after missions.
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Written before launch from officially revealed details and press coverage. We update every guide once it is verified in the game.