BUSINESS GUIDELINES
BASE SKILL: BUSINESS MANAGEMENT (KNOWLEDGE)
CONCENTRATIONS AND SPECIALIZATIONS: AUTOMOTIVE (REPAIRS, SALES), COMPUTER SERVICES (ISP, NETWORKING, REPAIRS), CONSTRUCTION (COMMERCIAL, RESIDENTIAL), ENTERTAINMENT (AMUSEMENT PARKS, GAMBLING, NIGHTCLUBS) FINANCIAL (BROKERAGE, TAX SERVICES), FOOD SERVICES (FAST FOOD, RESTAURANTS), HEALTH CARE (CLINICS, HOSPITAL, SUPPLIERS), MANUFACTURING (ELECTRONICS, METALS, TEXTILES), RETAIL SALES (CLOTHING, CONSUMER ELECTRONICS, HOUSEWARES), TECHNOLOGY, ETC.
SYSTEM: CHARACTERS DETERMINE THE SUCCESS (OR FAILURE) OF THEIR BUSINESS BY MAKING AN "INCOME" TEST, USING THE SAME SYSTEM FOR PERFORMANCE ROLLS. THE CHARACTER WOULD MAKE AN OPEN DICE TEST USING THEIR BUSINESS MANAGEMENT SKILL, WITH THE HIGHEST SCORING DIE (CHARACTERS MAY RE-ROLL SIXES) DETERMINING THE "IMPACT" OF THEIR BUSINESS SKILLS. THE RESULT IS THEN MULTIPLIED by THE APPROPRIATE INCOME MODIFIER LISTED BELOW. This Determines THE ACTUAL INCOME THE CHARACTER GENERATES FOR A PERIOD OF ONE CALENDAR MONTH. THE PLAYER THEN SUBTRACTS THE APPROPRIATE MONTHLY LIFESTYLE COSTS, GIVING THEM THEIR TOTAL PROFIT/LOSS FIGURE.
COSTS: COSTS FOR STARTING AND MAINTAINING A CHARACTER OWNED BUSINESS ARE LISTED BELOW. NOTE, THAT THESE EXPENSES ONLY ALLOW CHARACTERS TO HAVE THE MEANS TO ACQUISITION REAL ESTATE, EQUIPMENT AND THE NECESSARY STAFFING TO CREATE AND MANAGE THEIR OWN BUSINESS, STARTING FROM THE GROUND UP. PLAYERS MAY ALSO USE THIS SYSTEM TO ADD ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS TO AN EXISTING CHARACTER CREATED BUSINESS. THIS DOES NOT, IN ANY WAY, SUGGEST THAT A CHARACTER WHO MANAGES TO ACCUMULATE $26,000,000, BY WHATEVER MEANS, CAN JUST UP AND PURCHASE CYBERDATA OR MICROSOFT. THE SALE OR PURCHASE OF AN ALREADY ESTABLISHED BUSINESS WOULD INCLUDE ADDITIONAL VARIABLES SUCH AS EXISTING ASSETS, PROJECTED FUTURE REVENUE, AND SO ON.
| SIZE | EXAMPLES* | LIFESTYLE# COST (RENT/OWN) | SETUP COSTS | INCOME MULTIPLIER |
| SMALL | 7-11, SUBWAY SANDWICH SHOP, WITCHES BREW |
5,000 MONTH 500,000 |
10,000 | X400 |
| MEDIUM | JAXX, NEW RELIGION, OLIVE GARDEN, TOTAL CRAFTS |
20,000 MONTH 2,000,000 |
40,000 | X800 |
| LARGE | BEST BUY, GOLD'S GYM, SAFEWAY |
50,000 MONTH 5,000,000 |
100,000 | X2000 |
| SUPER | PHARAOH'S TOMB, WAL-MART |
100,000 MONTH 10,000,000 |
500,000 | X4000 |
| MEGA | CYBERDATA, HALO, MICROSOFT, SONY |
250,000 MONTH 25,000,000 |
1,000,000 | X10,000 |
* EXAMPLES LISTED ARE FOR
INDIVIDUAL LOCATIONS AS OPPOSED TO A CHAIN.
# LIFESTYLE COSTS LISTED ABOVE COVERS BUSINESSES ONLY, AND IS SEPARATE
FROM THE COSTS OF THE CHARACTERS PERSONAL LIFESTYLE.
CHARACTERS WISHING TO PURCHASE THEIR BUSINESS PROPERTIES OUTRIGHT MAY ATTEMPT TO USE NEGOTIATION, AS PER STANDARD GAME RULES. SETUP COSTS MAY ALSO BE NEGOTIATED. MONTHLY LIFESTYLE COSTS, HOWEVER, IN AN EFFORT TO REFLECT SUCH VARIABLES AS INCREASES IN RENT, AND FINANCING RATES, MONTHLY LIFESTYLE COSTS are non-negotiable.
employees: THE LIFESTYLE COSTS LISTED ABOVE ASSUME THAT THE OWNER IS EMPLOYING GENERIC NPCS TO PERFORM THE BASIC DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE RUNNING OF THEIR BUSINESSES. OFTEN TIMES, HOWEVER, CHARACTERS MAY WISH TO EMPLOY OTHER CHARACTERS OR NPCS TO PERFORM THESE FUNCTIONS. IN THESE INSTANCES, BUSINESS OWNERS SHOULD APPROPRIATELY COMPENSATE THOSE CHARACTERS/NPCS, THROUGH SUCH MEANS AS A REGULAR SALARY, ROOM AND BOARD, OR WHATEVER ARRANGEMENT THE PLAYERS FIND SUITABLE.
taxes: to help make character businesses more realistic in game terms, owners must also pay a "capital gains" tax on their business income. this tax rate is a flat 20% and works both ways. characters who are profitable on their business in a given month should subtract 20% from their total profits. those who lose money may actually gain back 20% of their losses for a given moth. players may also deduct 20% from the costs of legitimate business expenses, such as player/npc salaries, renovations, or adding or upgrading security features.