In addition to public organisations, companies can be formed by any private individual or group of individuals. If multiple people invest in the company they represent a club, but voting rights are determined by shares. Anyone with less than 20% of the equity has no voting rights.
All new businesses require a business licence for the owner of £500 annually. Some types of business require an operating licence from the City Council (such as pharmacy, factory, pub, club or entertainment venue).
Startup costs involve renting a business property, purchasing stock, hiring staff. Business owners can fulfill some of the roles of the business. If they choose to work for the business part-time they need to allocate some time to management or the productivity of the business will fall massively. If they hire a manager this is reduced, but they still need to keep an eye on their business or things will go wrong.
Companies have to pay corporation tax on their profits! They need to have enough cash to pay their rents and salaries of any staff for 3 months.
All businesses are required to be properly staffed (this is a minimum. Companies can employ more than the minimum staff). If not they need to hire Agency Staff to cover shortages. If they are not properly staffed the performance of all the staff takes a 25% cut.
To fire/make redundant a person, you need to give them one months notice and one weeks salary for each year they have worked for you.
If one person has over 50% of the equity they can make all decisions without consultation. Otherwise decisions have to be proposed and then passed by a vote of major shareholders.
Staff with manager or director status can propose decisions such as appointment of staff. These decisions usually are valid for 3 hours.
Shareholders can vote themselves an annual dividend. They do not receive any other payments unless they are also a staff member. Shareholders can sell their shares to other existing shareholders. The company will refund 50% of the investment on demand (If the company has cash or other tradable assets), unless the company is publicly traded, whereby shares can be bought and sold on the share market.
Types of Companies / Businesses
Airline – Runs planes from the Airport to foreign destinations. Needs to purchase slots from the Airport and pay fees for taking off and landing. Aircraft are usually leased with a bank providing the capital.
Airport – Income fees for slots, taking off and landing, passenger fee. Staff: Security, Control Tower, Handling.
Pawn Shop – A place where you can bring valuables to exchange for money, or you can porn stuff. Usually offers 50% of new cost if there is provenance, 25% of new cost if there is no provenance – quality value, and expects 5% per month interest. After 3 months the item is put up for sale for 75% of second hand value. All items have a quality value (from 90% to 50% depending on age. Items have a useful life indicator).
Second-hand Store – Sells items that have been pre-loved. All items have a quality value (from 90% to 50% depending on age. Items have a useful life indicator). Items to be sold can be purchased from individuals or from auctions.
Auction House – Allows citizens to put items up for sale. Listing Fee is 1% of starting bid (min $100), with final fee of 10% of sale value. Banks can put foreclosed property up for sale here. Bidder needs to buy a bond (normally allows you to bid up to 10x the bond on ordinary items, or 100x on property). You lose the bond if you do not pay in full within 4 hours of the auction ending. Banks can issue bonds where they have approved a mortgage. Provenance for goods is required.
Please Note: Pawn Shops and Second Hand Shops can put unsold items up for Auction. Second Hand Shops can also buy items from the Auction House to put up for sale in their shops. Pawn shops can handle stolen goods.
Occasionally the Police may raid Pawn Shops and Second Hand Shops looking for items with no provenance. If items can be matched with theft reports the items are seized.
Estate Agent – Has listings of available property. For Sale, arrangement fee is 1% of value. For rent, arrangement fee is 10% of monthly rent. Initial payment is normally two months rent, one month as a security deposit.
Construction Company – Build new buildings, or repair existing buildings. Staff: Architect, Surveyor, Brick Layer, Carpenter, Electrician, Plumber, Labourer.
Car Dealership (Sales Person, Mechanic, Workshop Supervisor, Sales Manager, Administrator)
Insurance Company – Offer house, contents, all risks (theft and loss), car. They also do statutory public liability insurance for businesses.
Travel Agency – Sell Airplane tickets, cruise tickets, holiday packages.
Docks – Arrange the transportation of goods.
Oil and Gas Company
Clothes Shop – Clothes and Shoes
Supermarket – Food and Household goods
Factory – Factories make finished goods from raw materials. Usually a product requires a specialised machine (imported from China/Japan/US). Each machine requires a set number of workers and has a base wastage of 10%. The workers can reduce the wastage according to their experience and general stats. Some raw materials are available locally, but others need to be imported. Factories take orders from Shops and usually expect 50% up front and 50% on delivery.
Furniture Store – Beds, Dining Room Sets, Sofas and Chair Sets.
Retail Businesses usually have the following: Sales Assistant, Cashier, Stock Control/Warehouse, Buyer, Manager
Technology Store – Telephone, Laptop, Desktop Computers, TVs
Pharmacy – drugs and medical items
Factory – Factories can make anything. They require input materials, machinery and produce products.
Restaurant – Serves different types of food. Requires Waiters/Waitresses and Cooks. Can employ a transport company to deliver food.
Pub or Club – An entertainment venue. Requires an operator license from the City Council. Pubs usually open up to 12 hours a day from 11am to 11pm. Clubs open from 8pm to 4am. Clubs usually have an entrance fee.
Laundrette
Please note: Restaurants and Laundrettes can be used by the owners to launder money, paying the cash in and either employing ghost temporary staff, or paying dividends to the owners.
Security Companies – Employ security guards to protect stock, day and night, and prevent drug dealing or extortion on their premises. Gangs may attack security guards, adding to company costs for medical bills.
IT Company – Provides business computers and software. Hosts Websites and Online Shops.
Childcare Company – A childcare company can either establish a nursery for children to attend, or act as an agency to provide nannies or baby sitters.
Transport Companies – Provide transport on demand. Employ drivers. Lots of different types of vehicles (Private Cars, Taxis, Vans, Trucks, Buses & Minibuses). They can provide transport for children (buses and taxis), this requires a children’s supervisor in addition to the driver. Staff: Drivers, Despatcher, Administrator, Manager
Staff Agency – Provide temporary staff to businesses, education and health to cover illnesses, resignations, and shortages. Minimum wage is £1,000 per game day, and one game hour of work. Staff are then paid double the usual wage for the person they are replacing. The agency also charges 10% of the agency staff wage. Organisations pay an annual registration fee of £1,000 which can be allocated against the agency fees. There is a waiting time of one month after the first registration fee is paid before a member of staff can be supplied. Individuals pay £50 to register with an Agency, and then £20 per month to remain registered.
Most roles do not require specific skills, although the best suited member of staff should be provided. Teaching requires a teaching certificate. Police requires a Police Vocational certificate. Nurses and Doctors require the basic qualification.
Recruitment Agency To hire someone you need to place an advert with a recruitment agency. It costs £100 to place the advert, and then 5% of the initial annual salary as a fee when a person is hired. Minimum wage is £12 per hour. Individuals pay £50 per annum to be registered with the Recruitment Agency.
Undertaker / Funeral Home Deals with deaths of population. Venue for wake / service. Cremation. Memorial Gardens. Rent a memorial.
Church Venue for a service with gives boosts to stats. Venue for baby naming, weddings / partnership services, funerals. Supported by fees from services and subscriptions from members. Staff include pastor, cleaners.
Hall – Church or Village Venue for meetings or celebrations. Either owned by City Council or Church – booking system. Staff is a manager and cleaners. Can be used for occasional entertainment, which may need a temporary licence.