GTA Online – Our 7 best ways to make money fast

GTA Online – Our 7 best ways to make money fast
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What are the best ways to make money fast in GTA Online?

Like any other game, money makes the world go round in GTA Online. So it is crucial to utilize various income methods to diversify your finances and earn money across Los Santos and its regions.

Those GTA Online drift cars need cash to purchase, after all. And better vehicles will let you clear missions like the new GTA Online wildlife photography challenge. Now here’s how you can become a billionaire and stack up loads of assets in GTA Online.

7 best methods to earn money in GTA Online

We can divide money-making options into three major categories: Active Income, Passive Income, and Jobs. Here’s a list of the 7 best ways to earn money in GTA Online:

  • Heists (Active)
  • Vehicle Warehouse (Active)
  • CEO and VIP work (Active)
  • Bunker Business (Passive)
  • Motorcycle Club (MC) Businesses (Passive)
  • Nightclubs (Passive)
  • Contact Missions, Double RP, and cash events (Jobs)

These have further subtypes that allow players to adjust to their preferred style and start receiving money.

A man prepares for a heist in GTA Online to make money. Image captured by VideoGamer.
A man prepares for a heist in GTA Online to make money. Image captured by VideoGamer.

Heists let you rake up money in GTA Online

Heists are fun game activities that involve players robbing valuables from huge firms such as the Diamond Casino. Although Heists are difficult to pull off, they give out huge sums if completed successfully. They are a good way to earn a lot of money for a good head start if you’re a new player or even late game.

To be able to start a heist, you need to be Rank 12 in the game and have to own a high-end apartment with a Heist planning room. You’ll also have to buy different properties to complete the requirements for the Doomsday, Diamond Casino, and Cayo Perico Heists. 

Keep in mind you’ll need a minimum of two players to complete setups for most heists and for doing the Heist itself. These are the roles you or AI companions can fill for heists in GTA Online:

  • Leader
  • Driver
  • Hacker
  • Gunner
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The Cayo Perico heist is the fastest

The Cayo Perico Heist is the only heist that can be completing solo. With practice, you can quickly amass a fortune by grinding the Cayo Perico Heist. The setup and heist can be completed within 45 minutes, allowing you to get around 2 – 3 million dollars per hour depending on your difficulty and what is in the vault.

Here are the five best Heists you can do to generate some quick bucks in GTA Online:

Heist (Hard Difficulty)DescriptionCash
Pacific Standard JobExecute a bank heist by taking down security measures, handling crowds, and escaping in a getaway vehicle.$1.875 million
Doomsday HeistsInfiltrate a military base and handle advanced technology as you make your escape.$2.25 million
Diamond Casino HeistBreak into a sophisticated casino and get their secure vault. You can pick between gold, artwork, and cash.$3.619 million (Diamonds)
Cayo Perico HeistBreach a secure private island, knock out their heavily armed security forces, and leave with art, gold, and drug money. You can do this solo as well.$2.09 million
Series A FundingTrevor tasks you with getting illegal drugs and taking them to a buyer.$0.5 million

Use the Vehicle Warehouse in GTA Online to make money from cars

Vehicle Cargo might not sound like a big deal. But with luxury cars and whole collections of them with bonuses, they’re among the most lucrative business options in GTA Online. If you’re starting out, consider the La Mesa Vehicle Warehouse. It’s cheap and has highway access nearby, making it a good location.

Your assistant will find high-value cars that can be stolen. To maximize profits, you’ll need to minimize damage to the cars as you bring them back to your warehouse. Enemy players will make this a chore. Get hit by enough damage and it becomes unsellable.

After you get to the warehouse, an export mission will task you with taking the car to the seller’s location. NPCs can get in your way and harm the car here as well. This can once again affect your payout, lowering your earnings and rewards.

These pair well with the Auto Shop business and the Impounded Car setup mission. Doing so lets you do Robbery Contracts that are practically mini-heists. Pick from eight contracts and The Union Depository Contact will give you a whopping $300k in cash.

A player accesses a computer to make money in GTA Online. Image captured by VideoGamer.
A player accesses a computer to make money in GTA Online. Image captured by VideoGamer.

Become a SecuroServ CEO or VIP in GTA Online

To earn money actively requires a player’s active involvement in the game. This way, you can earn the most profits with an intensive everyday grind. These include working as SecuroServ CEO and carrying out Heists when you aren’t utilizing the Vehicle Warehouse. As soon as you familiarise yourself with these options and set a daily grind routine, you’ll make millions in no time.

The SecuroServ firm is an enterprise that has three further sub-businesses: Cargo, Vehicle Cargo, and Special Cargo. Players must buy the SecuroServ office through Real Estate first and then its warehouses for all sub-businesses.

Once they have the office, they can register as the CEO anytime in the game and enjoy CEO protocols. Since there is no limitation to registering as a CEO, players can become one anytime once they have the office and start supply missions for their warehouses.

After stacking up a good amount, sell the cargo and earn lots of cash. You can earn $250k-$3500k (Cargo increases with warehouse size) and $30k to $100k (Vehicle Cargo) from SecuroServ.

As a VIP, you can pick from a variety of filler jobs. I recommend trying Headhunter, Hostile Takeover, and Sightseer.

Hole up in the Bunker to make money in GTA Online

While earning through Heists and SecuroServ requires consistent grinding, you can utilize businesses that generate revenue passively when you’re hustling for other businesses. With that said, the Bunker and the MC businesses are the best passive income businesses. Setting them up can double your revenue earned per day.

Bunkers are underground facilities where players can research Weaponized Vehicles and MK II Weapons or store/mod their Mobile Operations Centers. Besides its main research utility, a bunker can produce goods that can be delivered in return for huge sums. 

With all upgrades, you can get a whopping $1.05 million per stock sale if you sell with a 1.5x bonus (if you opt to sell far). To boost production, you must buy the staff upgrade as soon as possible. Here’s a list of all the bunkers in GTA Online.

Bunker NamePrice
Chumash Bunker$1,650,000
Farmhouse Bunker$2,375,000
Thomson Scrapyard Bunker$2,290,000
Smoke Tree Road Bunker$2,205,000
Grand Senora Desert Bunker$2,120,000
Grand Senora Oilfields Bunker$2,035,000
Route 68 Bunker$1,950,000
Lago Zancudo Bunker$1,550,000
Raton Canyon Bunker$1,450,000
Grapeseed Bunker$1,175,000
Paleto Forest Bunker$1,165,000
A list of businesses you can purchase to make money fast in GTA Online. Image captured by VideoGamer.
A list of businesses you can purchase to make money fast in GTA Online. Image captured by VideoGamer.

Run the Motorcycle Club (MC) Business to make money in GTA Online

Being a MotorCycle Club President, you can run multiple passive businesses that don’t require frequent work. You only need to buy the masked labs (possibly with upgrades) to start earning and keep supplies in check; you have to keep them stocked up. Otherwise, manufacturing would halt.

This way, you can generate up to $120k per hour, grossing a profit of $652k approximately with all upgrades.

The following list shows the different MC businesses:

  • Document Forgery Office
  • Weed Farm
  • Counterfeit Cash Factory
  • Methamphetamine Lab
  • Cocaine Lockup

Invest in a Nightclub to passively generate money in GTA Online

While this can be a costly investment for beginners, it’s well worth the amount invested. These will give you a trickle of money over time without you performing any action or task. Use upgrades like the equipment upgrades and staff upgrades to enhance the performance of your nightclubs.

You can also lower the odds of being attacked by other GTA Online players with a security upgrade. As for making money, you also get missions unlocked after purchasing a nightclub. Check their safes now and then to collect your hard-earned money.

Here’s a list of all nightclubs in GTA Online to make money.

Nightclub LocationCost
Cypress Flats Nightclub$1,370,000
Del Perro Nightclub$1,645,000
Downtown Vinewood Nightclub$1,670,000
Elysian Island Nightclub$1,080,000
La Mesa Nightclub$1,500,000
LSIA Nightclub$1,135,000
Mission Row Nightclub$1,440,000
Strawberry Nightclub$1,525,000
Vespucci Canals Nightclub$1,320,000
West Vinewood Nightclub$1,700,000

Jobs like Contact Missions also let you earn money in GTA Online

The online GTA Jobs provide an essentially more official gameplay environment compared to the prior mentioned free-mode missions. New players can easily kick-off by doing Jobs that provide them with quick money and sufficient money to set up other businesses for a more consistent income.

A list of jobs you can undertake to make money fast in GTA Online. Image captured by VideoGamer.
A list of jobs you can undertake to make money fast in GTA Online. Image captured by VideoGamer.

The table shows the best Jobs available you can join:

  • Races – Time Trials
  • Deathmatch
  • Adversary Mode
  • Last Team Standing
  • Special Vehicle Work

While Contact Missions can only give you $18,000 – $23,000, they’re a fun break from all the other activities. After purchasing an Agency and finishing three Security Contracts (Asset Protection, Recovering Valuables, and Rescue Operations), you’ll also get access to payphone hits for $15k. And these are easier with friends and proper gear. Here are some NPCs from GTA 5’s Story Mode that offer Contact Missions in GTA Online:

  • Lamar Davis
  • Gerald
  • Simeon Yetarian
  • Ron Jakowski
  • Trevor Philips
  • Lester Crest
  • Martin Madrazo

GTA V players might face a hard time when starting off as a rookie or when going completely bankrupt. Luckily, the huge variety of jobs the game provides can grant enough money to players at any stage of the game with the right amount of grind. Here’s how to sell property in GTA Online if you’re looking to streamline your cash flow.

GTA Online still enjoys a large player base on PC, PS3, PS4, PlayStation 5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. If you’ve been longing to buy yourself a Hydra, the wait is over since you’re getting your hands on one soon enough.

GTA Online make money fast FAQ

What is the fastest way to make money in GTA Online?

Heists are your best option for maximum profits.

What is the cheapest business in GTA Online?

Beginners can start out with the acid lab.