If you’re new to the world of GTA 5 Online, the acid lab should be your first stop when it comes to business investments. It has the potential to generate a substantial income even for low-level players. In this video, we’ll walk you through the steps to make millions with the acid lab in GTA Online. To get started, let’s dive right in.
Unlocking the Brickade 6×6
If you’re looking to get your hands on the Brickade 6×6, there’s a much more cost-effective way than shelling out 750,000 dollars to buy it from Warstock Cash and Carry. In fact, it’s crucial that you avoid making this expensive purchase. Instead, follow these steps to secure your Brickade 6×6:
You’ll need to complete all six of the ‘First Dozen’ missions. The initial mission can be found at the ‘R’ marker on your map in Sandy Shores. Once you successfully finish this first mission, the remaining five can be tackled near the ‘D’ marker by the free shop.
These missions are known for their intense combat scenarios, which may seem daunting, especially if you’re new to the game. To ensure your success, it’s essential to stock up on plenty of snacks, body armor, and ammunition. Without these resources, you’ll likely face swift defeat, and that’s something we want to avoid at all costs.
The good news is that completing all six of these missions should only take you about an hour of gameplay. Once you’ve accomplished this feat, your reward will be twofold. Not only will you be granted a Brickade 6×6, but you’ll also receive a generous sum of 500,000 dollars, which will come in handy for your future endeavors.
Setting It Up
Before you can dive into the lucrative world of making money with the acid lab business, there are a few important steps to take. After successfully completing the six ‘First Dozen’ missions, you’ll notice three icons on your map. Head to any one of them; it doesn’t particularly matter which.
Once you arrive, you’ll encounter some guards that need to be dealt with. Taking them out should pose no significant challenge. The critical task at hand is to locate a forklift and use it to load the lab equipment onto a truck. Afterward, your objective is to drive this loaded truck back to the ‘Freak Shop.’
Upon your return to the ‘Freak Shop,’ approach Mutt and press the right button on your D-pad. This action transforms the Brickade 6×6 into a mobile acid lab, and the cost for this conversion is 750,000 dollars. This is precisely why I advised against purchasing the Brickade 6×6 earlier, as it allows you to save a considerable amount of money. Instead of investing 1.4 million dollars into this business, you’ll now only need 750,000 dollars. You’re welcome!
Vehicle Workshop & Upgrades
The location where Mutt is standing happens to be the vehicle workshop within the ‘Freak Shop.’ This is where you’ll be able to upgrade both your Brickade 6×6 and your delivery bike, which we’ll discuss in more detail later in this video.
In addition to the typical vehicle upgrades, pay special attention to the ‘Acid Lab Upgrades’ tab. This is where you can make the most out of your Brickade 6×6. Here are some of the enhancements you can apply:
- Heavy Armor Plating: This upgrade significantly enhances the vehicle’s durability. With this heavy armor, your Brickade 6×6 can withstand up to 48 rockets, including RPGs and homing missiles. It also comes with reinforced windows. Although the windows aren’t bulletproof, they are quite small, making it challenging for others to target you.
- Proximity Mines: These mines can be deployed from the back of the Brickade 6×6 by pressing the right stick while driving. They are especially useful when you’re being pursued by the police or other players.
- Ram Upgrade: This substantial front ram attachment allows you to send other vehicles flying. It can be incredibly enjoyable, particularly when dealing with NPC traffic.
Among these options, my personal preference is the EMP mines, but your choice may differ. Experiment with the upgrades to find the combination that best suits your playstyle.
Equipment Upgrade
The most crucial upgrade, and the one that significantly impacts your earnings, is the equipment upgrade. This upgrade is essential for maximizing your profits from the acid lab, as it significantly boosts production speed. Despite its cost of 250,000 dollars, it’s undoubtedly worth the investment.
To purchase the equipment upgrade, you’ll need to complete ten full ‘Looking for Work’ jobs. You can initiate these jobs by either approaching Dax in the ‘Freak Shop’ or by calling him on your in-game phone to request work. I’ll be honest; these missions aren’t the most exciting, and you might find them a bit monotonous, especially considering the effort required to earn just fifty thousand dollars per job. To make matters slightly less appealing, there’s an infuriating 50-minute cooldown after completing each mission, which seems a bit excessive.
However, the long-term benefits of the equipment upgrade far outweigh the initial tedium and cooldown periods. The increased production speed will substantially boost your income from the acid lab. So, I strongly recommend persevering through the ‘Looking for Work’ jobs to unlock this essential upgrade. Trust me; it’s well worth it in the end.
Interaction Menu
One of the standout features of this business is its mobility. Unlike other businesses that require you to travel to their locations on the map, the acid lab is a mobile operation. If you access your interaction menu, navigate to the ‘Services’ section, and select ‘Acid Lab,’ you’ll find the option to request your acid lab and your delivery bike. Additionally, you can use this menu to return both of these vehicles and even change the name of your acid lab for a nominal fee of five thousand dollars. It’s a convenient feature that makes managing your acid lab a breeze.
Changing Product Name
A noteworthy addition that came with the San Andreas Mercenaries DLC is the ability to change the name of your acid lab product. While it may seem like a minor feature, it can be quite beneficial. To make this change, follow these steps:
- Open your interaction menu.
- Navigate to ‘Services,’ then select ‘Acid Lab.’
- Scroll down to ‘Product Name.’
By selecting a different product name, you’ll add an extra five percent to your product’s selling value, which can significantly boost your profits. The first time you make this change is free of charge, but subsequent changes will cost you five thousand dollars.
How the Acid Lab Works
Now that we’ve covered all the basics, let’s delve into how the acid lab operates. In the bottom right corner of your screen, you’ll notice two bars: the product bar and the supplies bar. To produce acid, you’ll need to obtain supplies, and there are two methods to do so:
- Source Supplies Mission: You can initiate a Source Supplies Mission by pressing the right button on your D-pad. These missions involve you acquiring the necessary supplies and delivering them to the acid lab. While these missions are relatively straightforward, they do take up your time.
- Purchase Supplies: The second method is more convenient and involves buying supplies. You can either approach Mutt inside the acid lab or call him using your phone to request supplies for a fee of sixty thousand dollars. After about 10 to 15 minutes, your supplies bar will be fully replenished, and the production process will commence.
I recommend the second approach because it saves you time. Instead of spending time on Source Supplies Missions, you can focus on other activities, such as auto shop contracts or the Cayo Perico Heist, while the acid lab operates passively in the background.
Once you have the necessary supplies, Mutt will autonomously use them to create product. The acid lab is a passive business, meaning it generates income automatically. While you’re engaged in other activities, the acid lab continues working behind the scenes, essentially making money for you. Your primary responsibility is to periodically check on it, resupply when necessary, and complete the sell missions, which we’ll discuss shortly.
Additionally, you can boost production speed by interacting with the table located nearby. By pressing the right button on your D-pad, you can accelerate production, which is a valuable feature for selling products faster. However, keep in mind that you can only activate this boost once per real-life day, not an in-game day.
Wait Time
Now, let’s dive into the waiting period before you can initiate a sale. Here’s a breakdown of the time it takes to produce product, considering various factors:
- Without Equipment Upgrade or Production Boost: It will take approximately six hours to produce enough product for a sale.
- With Production Boost but No Equipment Upgrade: With the production boost active, the time required for production decreases to approximately four and a half hours.
- With Equipment Upgrade but No Production Boost: If you have the equipment upgrade but no production boost, the production time will be reduced to about four hours.
- With Both Equipment Upgrade and Production Boost: Combining the equipment upgrade with the production boost results in a production time of approximately three hours.
These variations in production times give you some flexibility depending on your preferences and the resources at your disposal. Keep these timeframes in mind when planning your sales and resupplying your acid lab.
Sell Missions
The acid lab’s sell missions are remarkably straightforward. Much like the nightclub, you’ll only have one delivery vehicle, regardless of the product quantity. The delivery vehicle in this case is the Sanchez Scout C, and it’s provided to you for free once you unlock the acid lab. I must say, I’m quite fond of this bike—it handles superbly and is a joy to ride. Now, let’s delve into the different types of sell missions you might encounter:
- Newspaper Delivery: In this mission type, you act as a newspaper delivery person tasked with delivering newspapers to ten different locations. At each stop, you simply aim the newspaper into the designated container and move on to the next one. This is the most straightforward and easiest of the three mission types.
- Police Raid: The second mission type starts as if you’re delivering goods, but it turns into a police raid. Your objective here is to shoot the first undercover cop car you encounter, then lose your wanted level. Afterward, proceed to the new drop-off location indicated on your map. Leave your delivery bike inside the van at the location and walk away. This mission requires dealing with the police and changing drop-off locations.
- Multiple Drop-offs: The most common mission type involves five separate drop-off locations. Your task is to stash the acid at each drop-off point. Be cautious, as some of these drop-off points may have undercover cops nearby. Ensure that you stash the acid where it cannot be seen by law enforcement. Once you’ve completed all the drop-offs, simply drive away from the last one to finish the mission.
All three mission types are quite easy to complete, making the acid lab’s sell missions a breeze.
Payout
Let’s talk about the payouts you can expect from the acid lab business. Here’s a breakdown of the earnings:
- Without Equipment Upgrade: Each sale will yield around $237,600.
- With Equipment Upgrade: With the equipment upgrade, you’ll make approximately $335,200 per sale.
- With Product Name Change: Changing the product name increases the payout to about $351,840 per sale.
However, here’s where it gets exciting. If you sell in a full public lobby with the equipment upgrade, you can take advantage of the high demand bonus, which can bring your earnings close to $530,000 per sale. In my experience, griefers rarely interfere with acid lab sell missions, and you can further protect yourself by activating Ghost Organization if needed.
In the seven months since the acid lab’s release in GTA 5 Online, I’ve never encountered griefers during my sell missions. So, it’s a relatively safe and lucrative business that can provide passive income, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player.
While your acid lab produces product, you may want to explore other opportunities for making money in GTA Online. Consider the agency business, which offers Dr. Dre contracts that guarantee a million dollars for completing each contract. You can repeat these contracts and earn substantial amounts of money. It’s a great way to boost your income further.
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