Terminology

Business Ownership & Wealth

Please note that this guide is for business owners. Business owners or business PCs are PCs who have created their own business, be it a shop or a mercenary company. Please make sure to be clear on the Wealth System so that you are fully aware of all the terminology used (or see Terminology above).

This guide covers how to determine the cost of starting up your business, as well as the ways you can earn Wealth Points through it. Go to the Character Business Forum for additional steps in creating your business (like writing up a business proposal).

What's The Difference Between a Job & Owning a Business?

Fundamentally, it's all in the RP! However, a PC who owns a business will have the opportunity to make more Wealth Points, as well as earn certain bonuses for roleplaying their business.

What if I want to run a Mercenary Company?

It's as simple as swapping out the requirement for Business Management skill of 25 for Leadership of 25. You still need to include a business skill for the mercenary company, to demonstrate which weapon or mode of warfare your company engages in. You also must complete the Business application same as any other business.

Please keep in mind that if you want to sell retail items beyond the services offered by your mercenary company, you will need to complete a separate business application, following the established rules for starting a business.

Ok, but what IS a Mercenary Company?

One would hope it's self-evident by the name, but a Mercenary Company is a business that provides services related to combat, whether it be for the purposes of sabotage, attack, defense, or just survival. This can be as obvious as a mercenary company that hunts bandits, a group of brigands, a fire-brigade, or a salvage and rescue crew.

Multiple Functions Per Business?

If you want to run a business (or mercenary company) that has multiple functions (eg: Mercenary Business, School, Shop) then you need to submit each of these things separately. If they're in the same building etc, then make that clear - but each one needs to be clearly separated in the submission even if the reality of it IC is that it's together.

Restrictions on Business Startup

1. You must have at least 25 skill points in your Business Skill.
2. You must also have the required minimum number of skill points in your Business Skill based on the table below (determined by which Wealth Tier you would like your business to target).
3. You must have a Business Management skill of at least 25.
4. You must be in a position where the city government will allow your PC to own a business OR you must get approval from your city prophet to run a black market operation.
5. You must submit a business proposal to the Character Business Forum. Your proposal must be approved by your city prophet.

Cost of Setting Up a Business

In order to set up a business, you will need to determine which Wealth Tier your business is targeted at. Obviously, setting up a business which caters to those at Wealth Tier 10 is more expensive than doing so for a business whose clients are Tier 5.

How expensive your business is upon startup is determined by this formula:

Startup Cost of your business = Base Cost - Startup Wealth Differential

Step 1: Determine Startup Wealth Differential

To work out the Startup Cost of your business, you need to first calculate the difference between *your Wealth Tier* and the *Wealth Tier of your target clients* (otherwise known as your *Target Wealth Tier*). This difference between your Wealth Tier and that of your targeted clients is your Startup Wealth Differential. Your Startup Wealth Differential may be positive, negative, or *zero* (0).

A simple formula for determining your Startup Wealth Differential is:

Startup Wealth Differential = your Wealth Tier - your Target Wealth Tier

So, if you are setting up a business targeting clients at Wealth Tier 9 and your PC is Tier 5, then your Startup Wealth Differential is:

Startup Wealth Differential = 5 - 9 = -4.

In this case, your Startup Wealth Differential is negative because your PC is four Wealth Tiers below their clients in the Wealth
System.

If you are setting up a business targeting Wealth Tier 5 and your PC is Tier 10, then your Startup Wealth Differential is:

Startup Wealth Differential = 10 - 5 = +5.

Your Startup Wealth Differential is positive because your PC is five Wealth Tiers above their clients in the Wealth System.

Finally, if you and your target clients are at the same Wealth Tier, your Startup Wealth Differential is *zero* (0).

Step 2: Determine Base Cost

To determine the Startup Cost of your business, you will need to figure out the Base Cost of your Target Wealth Tier by using this table:

So, if you are setting up a business targeting clients at Wealth Tier 9, the Base Cost of your business is 50 Wealth Points (wp).

If you are setting up a business targeting Wealth Tier 5, the Base Cost of your business is 30wp.

Step 3: Work Out Startup Cost

Once you have your Startup Wealth Differential and the Base Cost of your business, you will need to use the equation

Startup Cost of your business = Base Cost - Startup Wealth Differential

to determine the Startup Cost of your business.

So, if you are setting up a business targeting clients at Wealth Tier 9 and your PC is Tier 5, then the Startup Cost of your
business is:

Startup Cost = 50wp - (-4) = 54wp.

Remember that subtracting a negative is equal to adding a positive.

If you are setting up a business targeting Wealth Tier 5 and your PC is Tier 10, then the Startup Cost of your business is:

Startup Cost = 30wp - (+5) = 25wp.

Step 4 (Optional): Opting for a Small or Large Business

When starting a business, you can opt to make your business Small or Large. A Small or Large Business will require an extra step in determining the business' overall starting cost. This step is optional; upon startup it is not necessary for your business to be designated Small or Large unless you want it to be. If you do not want your business to be Small or Large, skip this step entirely (see Running Your Business).

A Small or Large Business will have certain modifications applied yearly to its Earnings (see Small or Large Business Earnings).

A Small Business costs 50% less than it would usually. A Small Business is thus 50% smaller than usual. A Large Business costs 50% more than it would usually. A Large Business is thus 50% larger than usual.

Small Businesses

To determine how much your Small Business costs to start, use this equation

Small Business Startup Cost = Startup Cost - (Startup Cost x 0.5)

where Startup Cost has already been determined by Steps 1, 2, and 3 in this guide.

Or to make things simple:

Small Business Startup Cost = Startup Cost / 2

So, if you are setting up a business targeting clients at Wealth Tier 9 and your PC is Tier 5, then your Small Business Startup Cost is:

Small Business Startup Cost = 54wp / 2 = 27wp.

where the Startup Cost of your business (54wp) was determined by Steps 1, 2, and 3.

If you are setting up a business targeting Wealth Tier 5 and your PC is Tier 10, then your Small Business Startup Cost is:

Small Business Startup Cost = 25wp / 2 = 12.5wp rounded up to 13wp.

In determining your business' overall starting cost, you will always round *up*.

Large Businesses

To determine how much your Large Business costs to start, use this equation

Large Business Startup Cost = Startup Cost + (Startup Cost x 0.5)

where Startup Cost has already been determined by Steps 1, 2, and 3 in this guide.

Or to make things simple:

Large Business Startup Cost = Startup Cost x 1.5

So, if you are setting up a business targeting clients at Wealth Tier 9 and your PC is Tier 5, then your Large Business Startup Cost is:

Large Business Startup Cost = 54wp x 1.5 = 81wp.

where the Startup Cost of your business (54wp) was determined by Steps 1, 2, and 3.

If you are setting up a business targeting Wealth Tier 5 and your PC is Tier 10, then your Large Business Startup Cost is:

Large Business Startup Cost = 25wp x 1.5 = 37.5wp rounded up to 38wp.

Remember, in determining your business' overall starting cost, you will always round *up*.

Running Your Business

You can earn Wealth Points from your business in four separate ways.

1. You can earn Wealth Points by completing your seasonal Wealth Thread to earn your Seasonal Wage. You cannot use your Wealth Thread to earn additional Wealth Points from your business.
2. You can earn Wealth Points through your business' Transaction Thread (see Transaction Thread).
3. You can earn Wealth Points through your business' yearly bonuses (see Bonuses). And
4. You can earn Wealth Points by completing threads in which your clients (your PC customers) patronize your business by buying items or utilizing your services.

For every *completed* thread in which a PC patronizes your business, you will earn a certain amount of Wealth Points as determined by your business' Target Wealth Tier.

To determine how many Wealth Points you will earn per completed thread, use this simple equation:

Wealth Points earned per thread = Target Wealth Tier + 2

Or use the following table:

Transaction Thread

Upon creation of your business, a Transaction Thread will be created in the city that your business is located. A Transaction Thread is like a Location Thread for your business, except that it can be used by players to log their purchases OOC. If a customer PC does not want to thread their purchases with you IC, they can use your Transaction Thread to log what they have purchased from you.

Players are encouraged to act as customers for your business because all PC business items and services are accessed differently than those in the Shoppe. If a PC patronizes your business, they are allowed to access items from your business as if they, the customer, were one Wealth Tier higher in the Wealth Tier System.

Please note that if this does not apply to your business (for example, if you are a Shipbuilder), please contact your city prophet.

If you are a Grandmaster in your Business Skill, your Capstones can allow you to create custom items for your business to sell. These items are unique to your business, and generally sell at Tier 10. Tier 10 customers will have access to your business' Tier 10 custom items. A Tier 10 customer may receive one custom item from each PC business per season for 0wp. If the business offers bespoke, Capstone items, then these should be described in a tab in the first post of your Transaction Thread.

You will earn +1 Wealth Point for each purchase (or set of purchases) logged by a customer PC in your Transaction Thread.

However, there are some rules.

Rules

A PC customer can only log one set of purchases in your Transaction Thread per season, to avoid spamming. This means that you can only get +1 Wealth Point from each PC per season. However, if a customer PC wants to, they can edit their log to include more purchases as the season progresses. These additional purchases do not earn you additional Wealth Points.

Customer PCs can only purchase items at your business that relate to your business. They are also prohibited from accessing discounted items at a PC business in order to resell them at full price. Any services or items they buy at a PC business must be logged in their ledger or must otherwise be noted on their CS.

At the start of each new season, you, as the business owner, may post in your Transaction Thread that a new season is starting.

Business/Job Threads

For employees and business owners there are additional opportunities to gain wealth for the business or as an individual, highlighted here

Bonuses

All PCs who have used the same Wealth Skill for a year may accept a Loyalty Bonus. This applies to you as a business PC (as well as to your PC Employees).

The Loyalty Bonuses are:

Business Management is a skill which helps you run your business more effectively. Therefore, your Business Management skill can provide you with a yearly Business Management Bonus.

The Business Management Bonuses are:

For every PC Employee your business employs, you will also earn a yearly Employer Bonus.

To determine your Employer Bonus, use this simple equation:

Employer Bonus = number of PC Employees x 5

So, if you have 3 PC Employees, you will earn a 15wp Employer Bonus.

Small or Large Business Earnings

Small Business Earnings

If your business is a Small Business, each year you must deduct 25% from your overall Earnings. Your Earnings include the Wealth Points you make from threads with clients and from your business' Transaction Thread. Your Earnings *do not* include any yearly bonuses or the Wealth Points you make from your Seasonal Wage.

To modify your Earnings, use this equation

modified Small Business Earnings = Earnings - (Earnings x 0.25)

Or to make things simple:

modified Small Business Earnings = Earnings x 0.75

So, if you earned 45wp from threads with patrons and 35wp from your business' Transaction Thread, your modified Earnings would be:

modified Small Business Earnings = (45wp + 35wp) x 0.75 = 80wp x 0.75 = 60wp.

In this case, 20wp would have been deducted from 80wp to give you your modified Earnings of 60wp.

Remember, parentheses before multiplication.

Large Business Earnings

If your business is a Large Business, each year you will receive an addition of 25% of your overall earnings. Like with a Small Business, your Earnings include the Wealth Points you make from threads with clients and from your business' Transaction Thread. Your Earnings *do not* include any yearly bonuses or the Wealth Points you make from your Seasonal Wage.

To modify your Earnings, use this equation

modified Large Business Earnings = Earnings + (Earnings x 0.25)

Or to make things simple:

modified Large Business Earnings = Earnings x 1.25

So, if you earned 45wp from threads with patrons and 35wp from your business' Transaction Thread, your modified Earnings would be:

modified Large Business Earnings = (45wp + 35wp) x 1.25 = 80wp x 1.25 = 100wp.

In this case, 20wp would have been added to 80wp to give you your modified Earnings of 100wp.

And remember, parentheses before multiplication.

What if I Want to Change my Business' Target Wealth Tier?

To change your business' Target Wealth Tier, you must apply in the Character Business Forum. You must meet the Business Skill requirements for the Wealth Tier you wish to target (see Restrictions on Business Startup). Additionally, for a cycle after changing your business' Target Wealth Tier, you will only be able to make half of what you would normally make per *completed* thread with a client (see Running Your Business). Your Wealth Thread and Seasonal Wage, however, will not be affected by this restriction. In addition, you'll be expected to pay the difference between the start-up cost of the tier you're upgrading to, and the tier you've already got.

So, if you change your Target Wealth Tier to Tier 9, for one cycle you will only make half of 11wp for each thread you do with a 
client. 

One cycle is two seasons in game or four months in real time.

In determining how many Wealth Points you will make during this time, you will always round *up*.

In this case, half of 11wp is 5.5wp. It rounds up to 6wp.

The amount of Wealth Points your Employees make is not penalized.