Poverty Startups
Project: Shantytown
by aelflaed
Uploaded Oct. 23, 2026, 2:57 a.m.
Updated Oct. 23, 2026, 2:57 a.m.
I was brainstorming ideas for the most minimal business setups my Shantytown sims could use. Parameters are:
- initial outlay under $2000, with immediate turnover
- can start as home business, or without a business
- no construction, lights, bathrooms etc included – customers may need to use yours!
- no reward objects or CC objects (buyables mod okay)
Lowest-possible-cost options
| Business | Fittings Required | Startup Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Minor Retail | register + island + closing sign + goods $100 | 535 |
| Minibar | nectar bar + ticketing machine | 574 |
| Book Stand | Billy Bookcase + island + register + closing sign | 625 |
| Darts | dartboard + ticket machine | 679 |
| Takeaway | 2x buyable chinese/pizza + 3 islands + register + closing sign | 895 |
| Chess | chess table + 2 chairs + ticket machine | 1008 |
| Salon | salon chair | 1200 |
| Poker | poker table + ticket machine + 3 chairs | 1294 |
| Tea Room | tea ceremony table + ticket machine | 1349 |
| Video Arcade | video game + ticket machine | 1549 |
| Bar | Crank Out The Beverage Bar + ticket machine + 2 barstools | 1619 |
Crafting Stations – sell direct from inventory (less outlay, also less profit than a shop)
| Business | Fittings Required | Startup Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Ceramics | Station | 1000 + materials outlay per item. |
| Flowers | Station | 1000 + materials outlay per item. |
| Sewing | Station | 1250 + materials outlay per item. |
| Toys | Station | 1500 + materials outlay per item. |
More demanding- Startups over $2000, or requiring a community lot or a waiting period:
| Business | Fittings Required | Startup Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Robotics | Station | 2000 + materials outlay per item. |
| Bubbles | Bubbleblower + ticket machine | 2219 |
| Jewelry | Display + 2 islands + register + closing sign | 2145 |
| Games Counter | Display + 2 islands + register + closing sign | 2145 |
| Market Garden | 4x plot + 4x tomatoes + register + island + closing sign +compost bin + bug house | 1057 + growing time |
| Orchard | 2x fruit tree + register + island + closing sign | 2835 + growing time |
| Fruit Stall | grocery display + register + island + closing sign | 935 |
| News Kiosk | magazine stand + island + register + closing sign | 1435 |
| Coffee Shop | espresso stand + 2 living chairs + closing sign | 1675 |
There are some gaps, mostly because of various restrictions in this playstyle. Poverty-class sims can't have computers, fishing ponds, cars or driveways. They can't use aspiration rewards, or paint or write novels for money. And I haven't tried to list every single option that comes in under $2000 to start - there are other gaming tables, for instance, but I stopped at chess and poker.