Where do you start in GTA Online when you have almost nothing?

At the start you have neither cash nor a crew. The order matters: first what pays without buying anything, then a first purchase that pays back quickly.

Figures checked between September 7, 2026 and October 8, 2026.

How the figures are calculated

In short: at the start, solo and with nothing to buy, the top-ranked activity is “Cluckin' Bell Farm Raid”, at about $685,714 per hour. With $500,000, the first purchase that earns the most solo is “MC Clubhouse” ($200,000 in total), paid back in 1 hr 11 min of play.

The three stages of a game start

First stage: play what needs no purchase, solo, to build a first stash.

Second stage: pick a first purchase that pays back fast rather than the most expensive one.

Third stage: redo the maths with every new purchase, because the next best purchase changes with your cash.

And after the first purchase?

The order of the following purchases depends on your exact cash and on what you already own. In your plan, it is worked out for you.

Your buying order, worked out for your cash

See my ranking

What is better avoided at the start

Aiming for the most expensive purchase before you can make it pay.

Relying on an activity the game caps without looking at the cap.

Assuming a crew will be available: the figures on this page are those of a solo player.

This page is the general one. Your plan is about you.

Tell VicePeak three things: your plan builds itself in front of you, with figures worked out for your game.

Your ranking, just for you. Recalculated from your cash, what you own, your crew and your time. What ranks first here can be far behind for you.
Your first purchase, and the next. What to buy with your money, in what order, with the payback time of each purchase.
Short steps. A plan in ten steps at most: the activities to run and their order, with nothing to look up elsewhere.
A plan that moves with you. When you finish it, the next one takes into account what you earned. Your progress and net worth stay tracked.
Analyses before you buy. The analysis shows what to play and what to buy to reach what you are after, vehicles included.

Create my planThree questions, then your plan builds itself.