First Steps After the Tutorial
GTA Online's tutorial introduces basic mechanics but leaves new players without guidance on progression. After completing it, your priority order should be: earn $200K for a high-end apartment (unlocks host heist access), save $2.2M for the Kosatka submarine (unlocks Cayo Perico Heist), and build toward $4–5M for a Nightclub (passive income engine). This path provides the fastest sustainable income foundation.
Earning Your First $200K
Best early methods: Gerald's contact missions (available from the Jobs menu, ~$20K per 10 minutes), taxi driver side job (passive income while exploring), and completing daily objectives (bonus cash each day). The Fleeca Job (2-player heist) is also accessible early and pays $143,750 on hard mode — an excellent short-term target.
Session Safety for Beginners
Public sessions contain griefers — players who attack newcomers. Protect yourself: use passive mode (via Interaction Menu) when not in combat situations, grind in invite-only sessions (non-GTA+ Shark Card content works), and never show off large quantities of product in public sessions. Safety-first grinding is more profitable than brave-but-risky public session grinding.
The Kosatka Is Your Priority
The Kosatka submarine ($2.2M) unlocks the Cayo Perico Heist — the best solo money-maker in the game at $1M+ per hour. It will pay for itself within 3 heist runs. Every other business investment becomes more efficient after you have Cayo Perico as your income backbone. This single purchase transforms your GTA Online experience.
What NOT to Buy First
Avoid these as first purchases: clubhouses (biker missions have poor ROI for beginners), arcade (Diamond Heist is great but requires level unlocks), yacht (purely cosmetic, zero income), and nightclubs (passive income only activates after linking other businesses you do not have yet). Follow the proven progression order before exploring optional purchases.