Early Licenses: What to Buy First

Licenses expand catalog / VIP shelf income. Early ones players cite most: Repair Goods (~$1,000) and Outdoor Goods (~$2,000). Exact unlock timing and prices change with patches — treat this as a buy-order framework, not a spreadsheet.

Community-reported prices Dollar amounts below come from walkthroughs and early community guides. Always read the on-screen shop price in your build. We do not invent Steam scores, redeem codes, or official logos.

1. Why licenses beat random upgrades early

A wider catalog means bigger VIP tickets and fuller shelves — your first robot only sells what you have unlocked. Licenses complement automation instead of competing with it: the bot runs the counter while new SKUs raise the value of each sale.

Wider catalog → larger VIP / shelf tickets.
Pairs with your first hire so the bot has more goods to fulfill.
Cash funnel and hire order: First robot & early money · warehouse L2 gate: Warehouse upgrades.

2. Suggested buy order (early game)

Priority	License (community)	Ballpark	Buy when…
1	Repair Goods	~$1,000	Store door habit solid; labeling comfortable
2	Outdoor Goods	~$2,000	After first robot or if VIP demand is clearly blocked on outdoor SKUs
3	Next income license that unlocks	varies	Only if it clearly expands VIP / shelf vs buying another bot

Confirm in-game If your catalog shows different names or prices, trust the UI. This table is a soft priority list from community walkthroughs, not a patch-locked spreadsheet.

3. Robot vs license: cash priority

Default: bank toward warehouse Level 2 and your first robot (unload / counter chore) before a second license — see warehouse upgrades. Manual dock and checkout drain more time than a slightly thinner catalog.

Exception: buy the license if it unlocks right as VIP queues stall and the robot is still far away.
Once the first hire is online, the next clear income license usually beats cosmetics or the expensive cleaner.
Later drones, billboards, and battle-arc spend: Automation tips.

4. How to verify in your build

Read the on-screen price and unlock text before purchasing.
Note which shelves / VIP jobs appear after the buy — that is your ROI check.
Do not trust old demo prices blindly; Oct 2026 launch patches may have moved numbers.

5. Common mistakes

Buying every license before the first robot — you stay stuck on the dock.
Ignoring repair kits / energy while chasing licenses — bots die mid-shift.
Crossing roads with cargo while rushing VIP unlocks — traffic resets and damages packages (see Day 1 checklist).

6. FAQ

Are licenses permanent?: Typically yes once purchased — confirm in your build’s shop / inventory UI.
Do I need both Repair Goods and Outdoor Goods?: They are a strong early pair per community walkthroughs. Confirm ROI in your run; skip or delay Outdoor if cash is still bottlenecked on the first robot.
Exclusive VIP licenses later?: Higher-tier / exclusive VIP unlocks show up later in the automation arc — deep dive: VIP customers & exclusive orders; overview: Automation tips.
Can I get a refund?: Unknown / confirm in build. Guides assume purchases stick.

Next reads First robot money · Warehouse upgrades · Automation tips · Beginner guide · Day-1 checklist · FAQ