How to Set Up a Business in The Sims 4

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• Bluesky

The Business & Hobbies pack unlocks the ability for your Sims to create and run small businesses right from home. Whether you want to run a cosy café, a daycare, or a pottery studio, the setup process is the same — and you can customise the finer details to suit your chosen business type.

✨ Looking for a challenge? Try the 100 Business Challenge, where your Sims must build, run, and sell as many five-star businesses as possible!

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1. Register Your Small Business

1. Go into Live Mode and open the Owned Businesses Panel.
2. Select Register Small Business.
3. Fill out the details:
   • Business Name – Make it unique and themed to your store.
   • Description – Add flavour text about what your shop offers.
   • Logo – Pick from a variety of icons.
   • Business Activity – Choose the primary activity (e.g., Browse and Buy Items, Tend Garden, Play Video Games).

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2. Target Customers

In the Target Customers tab, you can fine-tune who your business serves:

• Supervised Customers – Toggle this on if customers need staff supervision (essential for daycares).
• Caregiver Stays at Business – Untick this for daycares or pet boarding; you want children/pets left in your care.
• Choose Age Groups or Pet Types – Select which customers can attend:
  • Infants, Toddlers, Children (for daycares).
  • Pets, or even specific pet types (for pet boarding).

💰 Tip: For services like daycares or pet boarding, set an hourly entrance fee rather than daily — this maximises income. As your reputation grows, you can increase your price modifier to earn more.

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3. Mark Business Areas in Your Home

Switch to Build Mode and mark out the different zones in your lot:

• Residential (Private) – For household use only.
• Public (Customer Areas) – Where your customers can freely browse, shop, or interact.
• Employees Only – Staff-only spaces like kitchens, storerooms, or staff rooms.

👉 Important: Make sure your shop floor or play area is set to Public, otherwise Sims can’t use it.

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4. Boost Your Shop’s Success

🏷️ Ticket Kiosk

• Found in Build Mode.
• Lets you charge:
  • One-time entrance fees.
  • Hourly entrance fees.
• Adjust fees based on your store’s reputation and star rating.

👥 Hire Employees

• Hire up to three employees.
• Employees can help with:
  • Stocking displays.
  • Managing customers.
  • Keeping the shop tidy.
• You can:
  • Assign them tasks directly.
  • Set their pay level.

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5. Activities – The Heart of Your Business

Each business can run up to five activities, chosen from a large pool (see full activities list). These determine what customers can do during their visit and shape the vibe of your store.

🌸 Example: Flower Shop

• Tend Garden – Grow and harvest flowers to keep the shop supplied.
• Flower Arranging – Create bouquets and floral displays for sale.
• Browse and Buy Items – Customers shop from shelves and displays.
• Be Friendly – Greet and chat with customers, boosting ratings.
• View Art – Customers admire décor and floral arrangements.

🏺 Example: Pottery Studio

• Make Pottery – Craft vases, bowls, and decorative items.
• Browse and Buy Items – Customers purchase your creations.
• Be Friendly – Chat and build rapport with shoppers.
• Attend Lectures – Offer demonstrations or mini-classes.
• View Art – Showcase finished pottery as decorative displays.

👉 The right activity set is what makes each business unique — from bakeries to gyms to occult shops.

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6. Advanced Options (Optional but Fun!)

The Business & Hobbies pack also lets you tailor your business type in unique ways:

• Daycare Services – Care for infants, toddlers, and children while their guardians leave.
• Pet Boarding – Allow Sims to drop off their pets (or only certain types of pets).
• Hybrid Businesses – Mix and match different activities to make themed combo-shops (e.g., Bookstore Café).

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✅ Summary

• Register your business in Live Mode.
• Set up Target Customers to control who your business serves.
• Define your business areas in Build Mode.
• Use Ticket Kiosks and employees to boost success.
• Pick up to five activities to give your shop personality.
• Explore advanced options like daycares, pet boarding, and hybrids.

Once your shop is registered and set up, you’re ready to dive into one of the 100+ business types from the challenge!

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