GTA Vice City Properties: Buy Every Business & Earn Passive Income

One of GTA Vice City's biggest innovations over GTA III was the property system. Tommy can purchase businesses across the city — and once bought, they generate passive income that accumulates in a safe on the property. Buying all properties is required for 100% completion and is the most reliable way to generate steady cash later in the game.

How Properties Work

Most purchasable businesses come with a mission strand attached. You need to complete those missions to unlock the property's income generation. Once the missions are done, a cash icon appears at the property — visit it to collect your earnings. Income accumulates up to a cap, so check back regularly.

Properties also serve as safe houses where you can save the game, and they come with their own garages for storing vehicles.

Income-Generating Businesses

The Malibu Club — $120,000

Located in Vice Point. The Malibu is a glamorous nightclub and one of the most story-important properties in the game. After purchase, three missions unlock: you need to hire a manager (by robbing a bank), recruit a barman (by breaking him out of prison), and deal with a rival club. Once complete, the Malibu generates $10,000 per visit — the highest income of any property.

The Print Works — $70,000

In Little Haiti. The Print Works is an industrial printing operation Tommy uses to forge money. Two missions come with it — both involving protecting the operation from rival gangs. After completing them, the Print Works generates $8,000 per visit. This is also central to the story.

Kaufman Cabs — $40,000

In Little Havana. Tommy buys a taxi company and has to complete three missions to establish it as the dominant cab service in Vice City, including a memorable confrontation with the competing VC Cabs operation. Generates $5,000 per visit. Completing the Kaufman missions also unlocks the Zebra Cab vehicle.

Cherry Popper Ice Cream Factory — $20,000

In Little Havana. This is a front business — the ice cream van is used to distribute drugs. One mission requirement: make 50 "sales" using the Mr. Whoopee ice cream van. Once done, generates $3,000 per visit. The van mission is a useful money-maker on its own while you grind the sales count.

Sunshine Autos — $50,000

A car dealership on the west island. Sunshine Autos has four mission strands, each involving stealing specific lists of cars for the showroom. No combat — just vehicle acquisition. Generates $9,000 per visit once all four lists are complete and is required for 100%.

Boatyard — $10,000

On the west island near the water. One mission — steal the fastest boat (which is also required by Diaz in the story). After that it generates $2,000 per visit. The cheapest business with the lowest return, but easy to complete.

Interglobal Films / Pole Position

Two entertainment properties. The film studio on Prawn Island ($60,000) needs four missions completed — all involving producing actual film productions (helicopter action, car stunt, and others). The Pole Position strip club in Ocean Beach ($30,000) requires you to spend $300 on private dances inside the club to unlock its income — no missions. Both generate modest income.

Safe Houses (No Missions)

Several properties are pure safe houses — they provide a save point and garage but no income or missions. Still worth buying for the convenience and for 100% completion.

Best Order to Buy Properties

Money is tight early in the game, so prioritise strategically:

1. Boatyard ($10,000) — Cheap, one easy mission, good early investment.
2. Cherry Popper ($20,000) — The ice cream van mission generates cash while you work toward the 50 sales.
3. Kaufman Cabs ($40,000) — Moderate cost, good income, fun missions.
4. Print Works ($70,000) — Required by the story, so this happens naturally.
5. Malibu Club ($120,000) — Also story-required. Best income in the game.
6. Sunshine Autos ($50,000) — Time-consuming missions but solid return.

By the time you complete the story, you should have enough cash from missions to buy everything. If you're short, the Malibu Club's $10,000 per visit makes it easy to grind back up quickly.