Probably Stolen Wiki

Probably Stolen features nine starting scenarios, including Apprentice, Water Merchant, Fence, Gunsmith, Chemist, Hydroponic Farmer, Aquafarmer, Rat Wrangler, and Rock Bottom. Each offers a different approach to establishing your business.

• Start with Apprentice to focus on learning the basic shopkeeping systems.
• Consider Water Merchant if you prefer a business centered on a specific product category.
• Save specialized production scenarios and Rock Bottom for later playthroughs.

Before purchasing merchandise, familiarize yourself with your starting inventory, available cash, shop equipment, and operating expenses.

• Review the merchandise and resources provided by your starting scenario.
• Identify which products can be sold immediately and which require additional processing.
• Check the available selling and storage options before expanding your inventory.
• Keep track of upcoming rent obligations.

The foundation of shop profitability is purchasing merchandise at a price that leaves room for resale profit. Cheap items are not automatically good investments.

• Compare the purchase price with the item's potential resale value.
• Prioritize products you understand and can realistically sell.
• Buy small quantities while testing demand.
• Avoid committing most of your cash to one uncertain purchase.

Understanding what you are selling helps prevent costly pricing mistakes. Item evaluation is especially important when dealing with unfamiliar or potentially valuable merchandise.

• Examine available item information before setting a selling price.
• Use applicable inspection or identification options when available.
• Separate merchandise with clear resale potential from uncertain inventory.
• Avoid assuming that every unusual item is valuable.

Pricing determines whether your merchandise generates a useful profit or remains unsold. Customer interactions also make it important to balance negotiation with consistent sales.

• Calculate your purchase cost before deciding on a selling price.
• Start with a reasonable markup that leaves room for negotiation.
• Consider accepting smaller profits on items that are tying up valuable cash.
• Review unsuccessful sales and adjust your approach.

Inventory management becomes increasingly important as your shop grows. Unsold products represent money that cannot be used for new purchases or recurring expenses.

• Keep frequently traded merchandise accessible.
• Identify products that have remained unsold.
• Reduce unnecessary purchases when storage begins filling up.
• Reserve enough cash for your next rent payment before investing in upgrades.

As your finances stabilize, explore the production and processing opportunities associated with different starting scenarios. Manufacturing and specialized merchandise can create additional ways to earn money.

• Investigate machines and production equipment relevant to your business.
• Compare raw material costs with the expected value of finished products.
• Consider whether specialized production offers better returns than ordinary trading.
• Avoid buying expensive equipment before establishing a reliable income.

Your first-week objective is to establish a repeatable cycle of purchasing, selling, paying expenses, and reinvesting profits.

• Review your most profitable transactions.
• Stop repeatedly purchasing items that sell poorly.
• Maintain enough cash to survive an unexpectedly slow trading day.
• Select your next equipment purchase or business expansion based on expected returns.

Establish Your Starting Budget

Begin by reviewing your available money, starting equipment, and immediate operating expenses. Separate the funds needed for rent from the money available for acquiring water and improving your business.

• Reserve enough cash for your next rent payment.
• Avoid committing your entire budget to a single purchase.
• Prioritize essential operating supplies before optional improvements.

Secure a Reliable Water Supply

Identify the water sources and purchasing opportunities available in your scenario. Compare acquisition costs with the potential selling value of the resulting product before committing to larger quantities.

• Track the cost of acquiring each batch.
• Choose affordable supplies that support consistent sales.
• Avoid building excess inventory before understanding demand.

Check Water Quality

Pay attention to any quality information provided through the game's item descriptions and inspection systems. Quality differences can influence how products should be evaluated and priced.

• Review product information before setting prices.
• Keep products with different quality characteristics organized.
• Do not assume every batch has the same commercial value.

Manage Purification and Processing

When purification equipment or processing options are available, compare the value of processed water against its preparation expenses. The goal is to produce goods that customers can purchase at a price that covers your total investment.

• Include both acquisition and processing expenses in your cost calculations.
• Avoid processing more inventory than you can reasonably sell.
• Invest in additional equipment only when its benefits justify the expense.

Price and Sell Your Water

Set selling prices according to your costs, product quality, and customer demand. Monitor transactions to identify which products move quickly and which require pricing adjustments.

• Calculate your profit after subtracting acquisition and processing costs.
• Adjust slow-selling products before purchasing additional stock.
• Keep enough affordable inventory available for regular customers.

Reinvest and Expand

Use profits from successful sales to strengthen your operating budget and improve your business. Balance inventory expansion with the continuing need to cover rent and progress toward larger ownership goals.

• Build a cash reserve before making major investments.
• Expand the products that consistently generate positive returns.
• Track whether each improvement actually increases your net profit.