Skyrim's vast world offers more than just dragons and dungeons; it presents savvy players with opportunities for economic growth. Investing in a shop can be a lucrative venture, allowing you to passively generate income and expand your influence in the game. But how do you actually do it? This guide will cover everything you need to know about acquiring and managing your very own Skyrim business.
What Shops Can I Invest In?
The ability to invest in a shop in Skyrim is tied to the ownership of certain establishments. You can't just walk into any shop and buy a share. Instead, you must complete specific quests or storylines to gain ownership of pre-determined locations. These locations typically involve a questline that culminates in you inheriting or purchasing the shop outright.
The primary example is the Honeyside house in Riften. Completing the questline associated with this property not only gives you a house but also ownership of the Honeyside shop. This is essentially your flagship investment opportunity in Skyrim. There are no other shops you can directly "invest in" in the traditional sense of buying shares or partial ownership.
How Do I Become the Owner of Honeyside and its Associated Shop?
Becoming the owner of Honeyside in Riften involves the questline "A Chance Arrangement". This quest is initiated by speaking to Aringoth, the jarl's steward in Riften. He will request your assistance with finding a suitable candidate to own a property. Eventually, this questline will lead you to purchasing Honeyside. Once you own Honeyside, you can place merchants within the shop to generate income.
What Happens After I Own the Shop?
Once you own Honeyside, you'll have a shop where you can display your wares. While you can't directly manage the stock like you can your own inventory, the profit generated from the shop's sales will add up, and you can use these funds however you choose.
This is where the passive income aspect comes into play. You don't need to actively manage the shop, yet you will still receive gold based on the items your shop sells. The type of items and the amount of gold you'll make from them will depend on what you stock the shop with.
How Can I Maximize Profits From My Shop?
While you can't directly control what your shop sells, you can influence profitability:
- Stock it with Valuable Items: While you can't directly control the items that are displayed and sold, it's strongly implied that the items you place in the shop's display cases are those which will then be sold. Items of high value, such as enchanted weapons and armor, will generate more profit.
- Regularly Check Your Profits: Even though it is passive income, periodically checking your income is a good habit.
What are other ways to make money in Skyrim?
While owning a shop offers passive income, other methods can boost your in-game wealth:
- Smithing and Enchanting: Creating and enchanting high-value weapons and armor can be a very profitable endeavor.
- Alchemy: Brewing powerful potions and selling them generates significant profits.
- Treasure Hunting: Exploring dungeons and ruins can lead to valuable loot.
Can I invest in other businesses in Skyrim?
No. Unlike the Honeyside property, there are no other business opportunities in Skyrim that allow for similar investment and passive income generation. The Honeyside questline is unique in this regard.
This guide offers a comprehensive overview of how to invest in a shop in Skyrim—specifically, the Honeyside shop. Remember that consistent effort and strategic choices (like stocking your shop with high-value goods) are crucial to maximizing your profits. Good luck with your business ventures in Skyrim!
