Business ideas [Archive] - Wizards Community

Business ideas [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Mal20
06-29-06, 07:36 AM My character currently has a considerable amount of cash lying around, about 5000gp, and I'd like to invest it in a business that will generate a steady income.

The campaign is centred on a large city state, and one of the PCs has set up a non-lethal arena that the DM has ruled brings in 5% of his investment per month.

Anyone have any suggestions for a low-maintenance business?
Mal20
06-29-06, 09:30 AM ok, here's my idea. My character has Leadership and next level will gain ten 1st level and one 2nd level followers. My DM allows a 12 point buy for followers, so I was thinking a theatre might work. what do you think of this:

Director (follower)
Expert 2

Str: 8
Dex: 8
Con: 8
Int: 10
Wis: 8
Cha: 16

Skills:
Perform: 5 (17)
Gather Information: 5 (10)
Intimidate: 5 (10)
Knowledge: Theatre: 5 (5)
Profession (Director): 5 (4)
Bluff: 5 (10)
Diplomacy: 5 (10)

Feats:
Thespian (+2 Gather Information/+2 Perform) (custom feat, shouldn't really be a problem)
Skill Focus: Perform

Equipment:
Masterwork instrument

Performer (followers x10)
Expert 1

Str: 8
Dex: 8
Con: 8
Int: 10
Wis: 8
Cha: 16

Skills:
Perform: 4 (16)
Gather Information: 4 (9)
(plus five more)

Feats:
Thespian (+2 Gather Information/+2 Perform)
Skill Focus: Perform

Equipment:
Masterwork instrument

Black Opera
Large ornate 2000gp building with props, scenery, dressing rooms, storage space, stage and auditorium including two private boxes.
Provides +2 Circumstance bonus to Perform.
22 trained hirelings (extras, stagehands, costumers, makeup artists etc, two aid each actor's Perform)

Expenses: (based on 21 working days/month, campaign specific)
Actors (50gp each): 500gp/month
Director: 100gp/month
Hirelings: (1gp/day each): 462gp/month
Total: 1062gp/month

Income:
Take 10 Perform check: 30 (3d6gp/actor; 10.5gp average)
21 performances/month x 11 actors: 2425.5gp/month

Profit: 1363.5gp/month

Any comments or suggestions?
Cifer
06-29-06, 09:41 AM Maybe think about changing the director's abilities... He will probably be the one running the business while you are away - do you want that done by someone with 10 int and 8 wisdom? Also, some Sense Motive is always a good thing for a businessman.
Secrets Untold
06-29-06, 10:05 AM Use a chohort instead of a follower for a director, he will have better stats.
Mal20
06-29-06, 10:34 AM To be honest I think my cohort would be a better adventuring companion than business manager. It's a good point about the director, he should probably focus more on business skills. Stats are a pain at 12 point buy though!
Toloran
06-29-06, 11:00 AM To be honest I think my cohort would be a better adventuring companion than business manager. It's a good point about the director, he should probably focus more on business skills. Stats are a pain at 12 point buy though!

It is a pain but they aren't likely to see any combat so it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

If your character is evil enough (or chaotic enough) start a prostitution ring. Watch all the other players go :confused: :devil: :D :bow:
Mal20
06-29-06, 11:06 AM Funnily enough I had a fighter/rogue who did do that once. The girls were all experts at information gathering (and other things...), but alas the very same session I leveled and took leadership the character got killed, so I never saw how it would work in practice...
Sevil
06-30-06, 02:32 PM Casino's can be a fun business to track. It also allows the DM to have some play in it as well - how well your casino did for each month, etc.
ashcat_lt
07-01-06, 12:36 AM edit: sorry, let's change the opening to If "I was DM..."

The Performers will expect to be paid 220.5 gp/month each.

Your profit is based on your Profession (theater mogul) skill check.

I’d allow you to have the Performers and Director use their Perform skills to Aid Another on your Profession check. You haven’t said anything about your character, so let’s assume you take 1 rank in Profession (theater mogul) and have a +0 Wis.

By the RAW, nobody gets to take 10 on this roll, but unless we’re going to do nothing at all in the campaign but sit around rolling our weekly income rolls I think it’s safe to assume an average of 10.

Thus, your modified profession roll will average 10+22+1=34. Assuming four weeks in a month, your profit=68gp/month.

That’s less than the any individual Performer.

If the Director was focused on Profession he could average 94gp/month without you. Of course, he wouldn’t have the startup capital. If he was doing that instead of Performing, he’d take a pay cut.

Keep in mind that “A single check generally represents one week of work” (PHB pg.80). I would rule that you don’t get to adventure during this time. If you’re not active in the running of the business than you are really not more than a landlord. You’ll get a little bit of rent money. The return on your investment will come when you sell the operation off.

It doesn’t sound like a lot of money, but if you could kick that expensive addiction you have (adventuring) you could live quite well on that kind of money. Keep in mind that the average man is taking home about 3gp per month.
LuckyLeprechaun
07-01-06, 12:51 AM edit: sorry, let's change the opening to If "I was DM..."

The Performers will expect to be paid 220.5 gp/month each.

220.5 a month!!?? Each!! Please...

See table 4-1 in the DMG, performers can be hired for an average of 4 sp each per day. Be generous, give them 5 sp. Thats 5 sp x 30(days)= 15 gp.

15 gp compared with 220.5...

May I ask where you came up with 220.5?
kelvinaw273
07-01-06, 03:03 AM Build an inn and hire a bar manager. The inn should pay for itself and will always give you a base of operations to fall back on, plus some cash on the side.
ashcat_lt
07-01-06, 02:26 PM 220.5 a month!!?? Each!! Please...

See table 4-1 in the DMG, performers can be hired for an average of 4 sp each per day. Be generous, give them 5 sp. Thats 5 sp x 30(days)= 15 gp.

15 gp compared with 220.5...

May I ask where you came up with 220.5?

That was his math, the performers each make a perform roll, averaging 10.5gp/day*21 days=220.5gp, this is what a character of this skill level could expect to make for themselves by performing.

I was actually rethinking this last night. Perhaps we should have one of the Performers (possibly the director) make a Perform check while the others "Aid Another", and then split the proceeds evenly. Of course now I see that the Perform table stops at 30 for 3d6gp/day. If this was split evenly amongst 10 performers it comes out to 1.05gp/performer/day.

That's not here nor there, however.

The real point of my post is unless the entire campaign is centered around the character running this business, his profit will be based on his Profession roll. The Profession skill abstracts the entire process, and covers the overhead and operating expenses of the business. The result of the check is the amount you take home. It doesn't matter how much you pay the performers. You can assume that they are paid well enough to continue doing what they are doing and live in some semblance of comfort.
Elessar
07-01-06, 03:34 PM The Dungeon Master's Guide 2 has a guide for handling businesses that could help you figure this out (mind you the guide wouldn't work with real-world economics, but meh, it's a fantasy game).

Also, you don't really need to waste followers on this business. You can have employees by the rules of the game without them being your devoted fans. Followers represent people who are drawn to tales of your exploits as a leader who wish to aid you in whatever cause you stand for. If you are an acclaimed crime fighter like the Shadow from old pulp fiction, for instance, your followers would be the people loyal enough to you to trust as your network of spies, messengers, guards, and scouts. Perhaps your director is a follower since you want to ensure his loyalty so that he won't embezzle money from you or something, but in general it's safe to make your performers (or most of your performers at least) hirelings. It's a different matter if these performers are actually spies and you need to trust them with something. Then I would consider putting trusted followers in that position. But for making money, it would be a more effective use of resources just to hire your actors.
DarkNick
07-02-06, 06:01 PM Set up a Brothel. Take a percentage cut of all the takings. All you need to do is hire a building, put in some nice beds and hire a stong body guard and a madam. Girls and guys can work lying down, few costs. If your nice you might need to splash out on the odd cure disease spell.

Alternatively you could run it as a call out service...just an idea.
Whisper_Swiftblade
07-02-06, 06:56 PM start up a cassino, you will always make money in the end, when peaple are desprit for $ they try to make some by gambling, and when they have lots they try for more. Also you can work with your pal and his buisness by setting up bets on the fights, that way you both gain from one another.

all you need is a few manegers to run the place, some big guys to keep the order, some guys with high spot and sence motive to wach for cheaters and some card dealers/other such positions who will natrally have high bluffhouse get even more advantiges.
Drodain
07-02-06, 07:00 PM i agree with kelvinaw273 start up an inn, you can run it or hire someone else to for like 6 silver a day easily, then just hire some barmaids for about 3 s a day and buy the standard stuff you'll get adventurers coming in all the time, have a place you own where u can rest or hang out and to increase income just think of a gimic such as a dish or drink you serve no one else has (ale with a touch of alchemist fire or something)
Amon_WinterfallIV
07-03-06, 02:11 AM What about a bank?

You can rent out a building (or "capital lease it", where you lease it out for a few years, and then buy it after its a bit worn out)

You then offer small loans (up to 100 GP) at 10-25% interest (IRL, Middle ages had high interest rates and NO inflation), and offer 2% interest to those who bank with you.

Make sure that you keep a reserve of about 20-30% of lent money on hand (or invested in easily sellable investments).

Bank Manager and Head of Security should both be followers, but the rest can be hirelings.

The Payoff: Banks are very profitable: Figure that the bank is going to make an 12% return on your money annually. Various expenses will be involved, but you should be able to get a very good, very safe return on your money--and one that can cause exponential growth, because unlike an inn or brothel, more money in a bank turns directly into more profit. As your bank grows, it increases the amount of money it can lend to people, and would also involve itself in marketing assets its foreclosed on.

BTW, if you want a house, you simply have the bank take a loss and give it to you. 8)
Mal20
07-03-06, 04:26 AM Thanks for the ideas guys.

The (very rough) figures I used were based on the fact that without the +2 for Masterwork instruments (which I'm buying), the +4 for the Aid another from the hirelings (which I'm paying) and the +2 for the theatre (which I own) the average perform check for these guys would only yield 3d10 sp per week, or an average of 33.6gp per month. Based on those figures I think 50gp per month is more than reasonable.

I'd like the performers to be followers because I plan on using them as eyes and ears around the city - hence the Gather Information skill.
green_yawgmoth
07-03-06, 06:12 PM I second the casino idea. Maybe throw in some acts (for a price), and sell all liquor at 1sp above cost. You'll be the mecha of entertainment of your citystate!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v91/yawgmoth/kittyjig.gif
ashcat_lt
07-04-06, 12:29 AM Thanks for the ideas guys.

The (very rough) figures I used were based on the fact that without the +2 for Masterwork instruments (which I'm buying), the +4 for the Aid another from the hirelings (which I'm paying) and the +2 for the theatre (which I own) the average perform check for these guys would only yield 3d10 sp per week, or an average of 33.6gp per month. Based on those figures I think 50gp per month is more than reasonable.

I'd like the performers to be followers because I plan on using them as eyes and ears around the city - hence the Gather Information skill.

That's all fine and good. But, again, if this is not the main thrust of the campaign then all of these details about expenses and whatnot are nothing more than fluff, and impact your own profit very little. Your Profession skill check is what determines your profit. I would give you bonuses, like the "aid anothers" and maybe some circumstance bonuses, for taking the time to actually figure out the details, but that's it.

There is the chance that this is, in fact, the focus of your campaign. I'm not trying to tell you this is the "wrong way to play". It could be fun. If you've got a group with patience enough to do this I have to applaud you all. This does, however, open a couple other cans of worms.

Assuming there will be a lot of game time spent on this:

There are quite a number of things you've left out of your calculations. Some of them are things your DM will have to decide on. Many of them are things that could become adventures of their own.

1) Market Research: How many people in your town have the spare time and disposable income to actually fill the seats? Would they even be interested? Against how many other businesses are you competing, and how do they feel about you trying to take their customers? Gather Info, maybe Appraise?

2) Marketing. Bluff, Diplomacy

3) Material. You will need to commission the actual plays that these performers are to put on. You can pay them (or the director) to produce this material, but this would take time. During this time they would not be available to perform. Perform (Playwright) or Craft(Drama)

4) Maintenance. Fabric wears, drinks are spilled, small fires start... The actors need new costumes. There may be such things as taxes and guild dues.

5) Off Days. Performers can get sick or injured. What about holidays?

6) Security. I already mentioned the possibility of rivals. Masterwork instruments are worth a lot of money. Where are they stored? What do you do with all that cash you're bringing in at the door?

I've gotten tired of typing now. I'm sure I'll come up with more things for you to consider, maybe somebody else could add to this. I think most of the considerations above will apply in just about any business you try to get into.

I hope you don't think I'm trying to rain on your parade. I think it's great that you are willing to spend the effort and gold to undertake this. As a DM, though, part of me can't help but feel this is an attempt to "break" the game. Wealth by level is there for a reason. You are expected to overcome challenging encounters to gain that wealth. You cannot expect to be dragging piles of platinum pieces, magic items, and art objects home from the dragon's lair and making thousands of gold a month.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Mal20 06-29-06, 07:36 AM	My character currently has a considerable amount of cash lying around, about 5000gp, and I'd like to invest it in a business that will generate a steady income. The campaign is centred on a large city state, and one of the PCs has set up a non-lethal arena that the DM has ruled brings in 5% of his investment per month. Anyone have any suggestions for a low-maintenance business?
Mal20 06-29-06, 09:30 AM	ok, here's my idea. My character has Leadership and next level will gain ten 1st level and one 2nd level followers. My DM allows a 12 point buy for followers, so I was thinking a theatre might work. what do you think of this: Director (follower) Expert 2 Str: 8 Dex: 8 Con: 8 Int: 10 Wis: 8 Cha: 16 Skills: Perform: 5 (17) Gather Information: 5 (10) Intimidate: 5 (10) Knowledge: Theatre: 5 (5) Profession (Director): 5 (4) Bluff: 5 (10) Diplomacy: 5 (10) Feats: Thespian (+2 Gather Information/+2 Perform) (custom feat, shouldn't really be a problem) Skill Focus: Perform Equipment: Masterwork instrument Performer (followers x10) Expert 1 Str: 8 Dex: 8 Con: 8 Int: 10 Wis: 8 Cha: 16 Skills: Perform: 4 (16) Gather Information: 4 (9) (plus five more) Feats: Thespian (+2 Gather Information/+2 Perform) Skill Focus: Perform Equipment: Masterwork instrument Black Opera Large ornate 2000gp building with props, scenery, dressing rooms, storage space, stage and auditorium including two private boxes. Provides +2 Circumstance bonus to Perform. 22 trained hirelings (extras, stagehands, costumers, makeup artists etc, two aid each actor's Perform) Expenses: (based on 21 working days/month, campaign specific) Actors (50gp each): 500gp/month Director: 100gp/month Hirelings: (1gp/day each): 462gp/month Total: 1062gp/month Income: Take 10 Perform check: 30 (3d6gp/actor; 10.5gp average) 21 performances/month x 11 actors: 2425.5gp/month Profit: 1363.5gp/month Any comments or suggestions?
Cifer 06-29-06, 09:41 AM	Maybe think about changing the director's abilities... He will probably be the one running the business while you are away - do you want that done by someone with 10 int and 8 wisdom? Also, some Sense Motive is always a good thing for a businessman.
Secrets Untold 06-29-06, 10:05 AM	Use a chohort instead of a follower for a director, he will have better stats.
Mal20 06-29-06, 10:34 AM	To be honest I think my cohort would be a better adventuring companion than business manager. It's a good point about the director, he should probably focus more on business skills. Stats are a pain at 12 point buy though!
Toloran 06-29-06, 11:00 AM	To be honest I think my cohort would be a better adventuring companion than business manager. It's a good point about the director, he should probably focus more on business skills. Stats are a pain at 12 point buy though! It is a pain but they aren't likely to see any combat so it shouldn't be too much of a problem. If your character is evil enough (or chaotic enough) start a prostitution ring. Watch all the other players go :confused: :devil: :D :bow:
Mal20 06-29-06, 11:06 AM	Funnily enough I had a fighter/rogue who did do that once. The girls were all experts at information gathering (and other things...), but alas the very same session I leveled and took leadership the character got killed, so I never saw how it would work in practice...
Sevil 06-30-06, 02:32 PM	Casino's can be a fun business to track. It also allows the DM to have some play in it as well - how well your casino did for each month, etc.
ashcat_lt 07-01-06, 12:36 AM	edit: sorry, let's change the opening to If "I was DM..." The Performers will expect to be paid 220.5 gp/month each. Your profit is based on your Profession (theater mogul) skill check. I’d allow you to have the Performers and Director use their Perform skills to Aid Another on your Profession check. You haven’t said anything about your character, so let’s assume you take 1 rank in Profession (theater mogul) and have a +0 Wis. By the RAW, nobody gets to take 10 on this roll, but unless we’re going to do nothing at all in the campaign but sit around rolling our weekly income rolls I think it’s safe to assume an average of 10. Thus, your modified profession roll will average 10+22+1=34. Assuming four weeks in a month, your profit=68gp/month. That’s less than the any individual Performer. If the Director was focused on Profession he could average 94gp/month without you. Of course, he wouldn’t have the startup capital. If he was doing that instead of Performing, he’d take a pay cut. Keep in mind that “A single check generally represents one week of work” (PHB pg.80). I would rule that you don’t get to adventure during this time. If you’re not active in the running of the business than you are really not more than a landlord. You’ll get a little bit of rent money. The return on your investment will come when you sell the operation off. It doesn’t sound like a lot of money, but if you could kick that expensive addiction you have (adventuring) you could live quite well on that kind of money. Keep in mind that the average man is taking home about 3gp per month.
LuckyLeprechaun 07-01-06, 12:51 AM	edit: sorry, let's change the opening to If "I was DM..." The Performers will expect to be paid 220.5 gp/month each. 220.5 a month!!?? Each!! Please... See table 4-1 in the DMG, performers can be hired for an average of 4 sp each per day. Be generous, give them 5 sp. Thats 5 sp x 30(days)= 15 gp. 15 gp compared with 220.5... May I ask where you came up with 220.5?
kelvinaw273 07-01-06, 03:03 AM	Build an inn and hire a bar manager. The inn should pay for itself and will always give you a base of operations to fall back on, plus some cash on the side.
ashcat_lt 07-01-06, 02:26 PM	220.5 a month!!?? Each!! Please... See table 4-1 in the DMG, performers can be hired for an average of 4 sp each per day. Be generous, give them 5 sp. Thats 5 sp x 30(days)= 15 gp. 15 gp compared with 220.5... May I ask where you came up with 220.5? That was his math, the performers each make a perform roll, averaging 10.5gp/day*21 days=220.5gp, this is what a character of this skill level could expect to make for themselves by performing. I was actually rethinking this last night. Perhaps we should have one of the Performers (possibly the director) make a Perform check while the others "Aid Another", and then split the proceeds evenly. Of course now I see that the Perform table stops at 30 for 3d6gp/day. If this was split evenly amongst 10 performers it comes out to 1.05gp/performer/day. That's not here nor there, however. The real point of my post is unless the entire campaign is centered around the character running this business, his profit will be based on his Profession roll. The Profession skill abstracts the entire process, and covers the overhead and operating expenses of the business. The result of the check is the amount you take home. It doesn't matter how much you pay the performers. You can assume that they are paid well enough to continue doing what they are doing and live in some semblance of comfort.
Elessar 07-01-06, 03:34 PM	The Dungeon Master's Guide 2 has a guide for handling businesses that could help you figure this out (mind you the guide wouldn't work with real-world economics, but meh, it's a fantasy game). Also, you don't really need to waste followers on this business. You can have employees by the rules of the game without them being your devoted fans. Followers represent people who are drawn to tales of your exploits as a leader who wish to aid you in whatever cause you stand for. If you are an acclaimed crime fighter like the Shadow from old pulp fiction, for instance, your followers would be the people loyal enough to you to trust as your network of spies, messengers, guards, and scouts. Perhaps your director is a follower since you want to ensure his loyalty so that he won't embezzle money from you or something, but in general it's safe to make your performers (or most of your performers at least) hirelings. It's a different matter if these performers are actually spies and you need to trust them with something. Then I would consider putting trusted followers in that position. But for making money, it would be a more effective use of resources just to hire your actors.
DarkNick 07-02-06, 06:01 PM	Set up a Brothel. Take a percentage cut of all the takings. All you need to do is hire a building, put in some nice beds and hire a stong body guard and a madam. Girls and guys can work lying down, few costs. If your nice you might need to splash out on the odd cure disease spell. Alternatively you could run it as a call out service...just an idea.
Whisper_Swiftblade 07-02-06, 06:56 PM	start up a cassino, you will always make money in the end, when peaple are desprit for $ they try to make some by gambling, and when they have lots they try for more. Also you can work with your pal and his buisness by setting up bets on the fights, that way you both gain from one another. all you need is a few manegers to run the place, some big guys to keep the order, some guys with high spot and sence motive to wach for cheaters and some card dealers/other such positions who will natrally have high bluffhouse get even more advantiges.
Drodain 07-02-06, 07:00 PM	i agree with kelvinaw273 start up an inn, you can run it or hire someone else to for like 6 silver a day easily, then just hire some barmaids for about 3 s a day and buy the standard stuff you'll get adventurers coming in all the time, have a place you own where u can rest or hang out and to increase income just think of a gimic such as a dish or drink you serve no one else has (ale with a touch of alchemist fire or something)
Amon_WinterfallIV 07-03-06, 02:11 AM	What about a bank? You can rent out a building (or "capital lease it", where you lease it out for a few years, and then buy it after its a bit worn out) You then offer small loans (up to 100 GP) at 10-25% interest (IRL, Middle ages had high interest rates and NO inflation), and offer 2% interest to those who bank with you. Make sure that you keep a reserve of about 20-30% of lent money on hand (or invested in easily sellable investments). Bank Manager and Head of Security should both be followers, but the rest can be hirelings. The Payoff: Banks are very profitable: Figure that the bank is going to make an 12% return on your money annually. Various expenses will be involved, but you should be able to get a very good, very safe return on your money--and one that can cause exponential growth, because unlike an inn or brothel, more money in a bank turns directly into more profit. As your bank grows, it increases the amount of money it can lend to people, and would also involve itself in marketing assets its foreclosed on. BTW, if you want a house, you simply have the bank take a loss and give it to you. 8)
Mal20 07-03-06, 04:26 AM	Thanks for the ideas guys. The (very rough) figures I used were based on the fact that without the +2 for Masterwork instruments (which I'm buying), the +4 for the Aid another from the hirelings (which I'm paying) and the +2 for the theatre (which I own) the average perform check for these guys would only yield 3d10 sp per week, or an average of 33.6gp per month. Based on those figures I think 50gp per month is more than reasonable. I'd like the performers to be followers because I plan on using them as eyes and ears around the city - hence the Gather Information skill.
green_yawgmoth 07-03-06, 06:12 PM	I second the casino idea. Maybe throw in some acts (for a price), and sell all liquor at 1sp above cost. You'll be the mecha of entertainment of your citystate! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v91/yawgmoth/kittyjig.gif
ashcat_lt 07-04-06, 12:29 AM	Thanks for the ideas guys. The (very rough) figures I used were based on the fact that without the +2 for Masterwork instruments (which I'm buying), the +4 for the Aid another from the hirelings (which I'm paying) and the +2 for the theatre (which I own) the average perform check for these guys would only yield 3d10 sp per week, or an average of 33.6gp per month. Based on those figures I think 50gp per month is more than reasonable. I'd like the performers to be followers because I plan on using them as eyes and ears around the city - hence the Gather Information skill. That's all fine and good. But, again, if this is not the main thrust of the campaign then all of these details about expenses and whatnot are nothing more than fluff, and impact your own profit very little. Your Profession skill check is what determines your profit. I would give you bonuses, like the "aid anothers" and maybe some circumstance bonuses, for taking the time to actually figure out the details, but that's it. There is the chance that this is, in fact, the focus of your campaign. I'm not trying to tell you this is the "wrong way to play". It could be fun. If you've got a group with patience enough to do this I have to applaud you all. This does, however, open a couple other cans of worms. Assuming there will be a lot of game time spent on this: There are quite a number of things you've left out of your calculations. Some of them are things your DM will have to decide on. Many of them are things that could become adventures of their own. 1) Market Research: How many people in your town have the spare time and disposable income to actually fill the seats? Would they even be interested? Against how many other businesses are you competing, and how do they feel about you trying to take their customers? Gather Info, maybe Appraise? 2) Marketing. Bluff, Diplomacy 3) Material. You will need to commission the actual plays that these performers are to put on. You can pay them (or the director) to produce this material, but this would take time. During this time they would not be available to perform. Perform (Playwright) or Craft(Drama) 4) Maintenance. Fabric wears, drinks are spilled, small fires start... The actors need new costumes. There may be such things as taxes and guild dues. 5) Off Days. Performers can get sick or injured. What about holidays? 6) Security. I already mentioned the possibility of rivals. Masterwork instruments are worth a lot of money. Where are they stored? What do you do with all that cash you're bringing in at the door? I've gotten tired of typing now. I'm sure I'll come up with more things for you to consider, maybe somebody else could add to this. I think most of the considerations above will apply in just about any business you try to get into. I hope you don't think I'm trying to rain on your parade. I think it's great that you are willing to spend the effort and gold to undertake this. As a DM, though, part of me can't help but feel this is an attempt to "break" the game. Wealth by level is there for a reason. You are expected to overcome challenging encounters to gain that wealth. You cannot expect to be dragging piles of platinum pieces, magic items, and art objects home from the dragon's lair and making thousands of gold a month.