To open your first store in Mall Simulator Together, you need to earn $3,000 cash by working as a janitor, then navigate to the Real Estate Kiosk on the first floor to purchase the lease for the cheapest available shop, typically labeled "Small Store 1A". This process is the foundational first step to building your retail empire, moving you from a wage worker to a business owner. This guide breaks down every single action required, from earning your first dollar to making your first sale.
Before You Can Buy: The Grind to $3,000
You don't start with enough capital to immediately become a proprietor. The game requires you to engage in some manual labor to build your seed money. This initial phase is a deliberate tutorial on the mall's layout and basic mechanics.
Your Starting Wallet: What the Game Gives You
When you first load into the game, you spawn with a meager $250 in your pocket. This is enough to buy some food from the vending machines but is nowhere near the capital needed for a store lease. Your first and only objective should be to increase this number to the magic $3,000 mark.
The Janitor Job: Your First Income Stream
The only job available to a new player is being a janitor. It’s not glamorous, but it’s reliable and the sole method for earning your startup funds. There's no application process; you just need to find the right equipment.
- Find the Janitor's Closet: Head to the main hallway on the first floor. Tucked away near the public restrooms is the Janitor's Closet. Inside, you'll find a mop, a bucket, and trash bags. Pick them up to begin working.
- Perform the Tasks: Your work involves two main activities. You can clean up spills and puddles that appear randomly on the floor, or you can collect trash bags from the various bins scattered throughout the mall and deposit them in the large dumpster out back.
- Track Your Earnings: Each task provides a small but immediate cash reward. Cleaning a spill typically nets you around $15, while successfully disposing of a full trash bag earns you $25. These payouts are consistent and add up quickly if you work efficiently.
Infographic showing janitor job payouts in Mall Simulator Together.
How Long Does It Take?
Starting with $250, you need to earn an additional $2,750. If you focus solely on taking out the trash ($25 per bag), you'll need to dispose of 110 bags. If you mix in mopping spills, the time can vary. Most players report that a focused grind can take anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes of dedicated janitorial work to reach the $3,000 goal. It's a test of patience that filters out those not ready for the responsibilities of virtual shopkeeping.
Purchasing Your First Store Lease
Once your bank account hits $3,000, you can stop mopping floors and start building your future. It's time to head to the central hub of mall commerce and make your first major investment.
Locating the Real Estate Kiosk
The Real Estate Kiosk is impossible to miss. It's located directly in the center of the main atrium on the ground floor, right between the two main escalators. It's a small, standalone booth with a large screen displaying available properties. Interact with the terminal to begin the purchasing process.
Navigating the Purchase Menu
The kiosk's interface is straightforward. It presents a list of all available retail spaces in the mall, along with their size, location, and, most importantly, their lease price. For your first purchase, your choice is already made for you.
- Sort by Price: The first thing you should do is sort the list by price, from lowest to highest.
- Identify Your Target: The cheapest option will be a "Small Store," usually designated as "Small Store 1A" or a similar name, with a lease price of exactly $3,000.
- Confirm the Purchase: Select this store and click the "Purchase Lease" button. The $3,000 will be immediately deducted from your account, and you will receive the key to your new property.
Annotated diagram of the real estate purchase menu in the game.
Understanding the Costs: Lease vs. Everything Else
A critical mistake for new players is assuming the $3,000 is the total startup cost. It is not. The $3,000 only covers the right to occupy the space. You will have $0 left over. You will need to immediately return to janitorial work to earn more money for the essentials: cleaning supplies, furniture, and your initial product inventory. Budget at least another $1,000-$1,500 for these setup costs before you can realistically open for business.
The Grand Opening: Setting Up Your Shop from Scratch
With the keys in hand, you can now enter your store. It will be a dirty, empty box. Your next job is to transform it into a place where customers will want to spend their money. This process involves several distinct steps, all managed through the computer terminal inside your new store.
Comic grid showing the four steps of setting up your first store.
Step 1: Cleaning Your New Space
Before you can even think about shelves, your store needs a deep clean. It will be covered in dust, grime, and possibly some leftover trash. You'll need to purchase cleaning supplies from the general supply store within the mall and manually clean your space. This is a one-time task but is required before you can place any furniture.
Step 2: The Essential Furniture Purchase
Access the computer in your store and open the "Furniture" tab. This is your catalog for everything you need to display products and process sales. To keep your initial costs down, buy only the bare minimum:
- Cash Register Counter (1): Absolutely mandatory for making sales. (~$250)
- Basic Wall Shelves (2-3): To hold your products. Start with the cheapest option. (~$100 each)
- Cash Register (1): The electronic device itself. (~$150)
An initial furniture budget of around $500 is a safe and realistic target. You can always add more decorative or high-capacity items later as you turn a profit.
Step 3: Ordering Your First Batch of Stock
Now, switch to the "Suppliers" tab on your computer. This is where you order the products you'll sell. New players have access to a limited range of suppliers, often starting with categories like electronics, snacks, or basic toys.
For your very first order, be conservative. Do not spend all your remaining money on inventory. A good strategy is to choose one product type with a decent margin—like headphones or sodas—and order a small quantity, perhaps 10-20 units. This limits your risk if the product doesn't sell as well as you hoped.
Step 4: Stocking Shelves and Setting Prices
Once your delivery boxes arrive, you must manually unpack them and place each item on your shelves. After placing an item, you can interact with it to set the sale price. A smart starting point for pricing is a 30% markup over the wholesale cost. For example, if you bought an item for $10, selling it for $13 is a reasonable starting price that covers your costs and generates a small profit without scaring away early customers.
Your First Day of Business: Tips for Success
With your store cleaned, furnished, and stocked, you're ready to open. This is where the simulation truly begins.
- Opening the Gates: Flip the "Open/Closed" sign on your door to officially open for business. Customers (NPCs) will begin to wander in.
- Man the Register: Stay behind your counter. Customers will bring items to you, and you simply need to process the transaction. This is the core gameplay loop.
- Restock as Needed: Keep an eye on your shelves. When an item sells out, grab another from your storage boxes and place it back on the shelf. If you run out completely, you'll need to place another supplier order.
- Close and Re-invest: At the end of the day (or when you're ready for a break), close your shop. Tally your profits and use that money to wisely order more stock for the next day, gradually expanding your product variety and quantity.
Common First-Store Mistakes to Avoid
Many new entrepreneurs in Mall Simulator Together fail within the first few days. Avoid these common pitfalls:
Infographic of common mistakes to avoid when opening your first store.
- Spending Every Dollar on the Lease: Never leave yourself with $0 after buying the store. Always grind an extra $500-$1000 for initial setup costs before you even visit the Real Estate Kiosk.
- Buying a Bigger Store First: The temptation to buy a medium or large store is a trap. The overhead, cleaning time, and inventory costs will bankrupt you. Always start with the cheapest $3,000 option.
- Overstocking One Product: Don't buy 100 units of a single item. If it doesn't sell, your capital is tied up in useless inventory. Diversify with small quantities of 2-3 different products.
- Aggressive Pricing: Setting your markup to 100% might seem like a great idea, but NPCs are price-sensitive. If your prices are too high, they will leave without buying anything. Stick to a 25-40% markup range initially.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How long does it take to get the first store in Mall Simulator Together? It typically takes a player between 60 and 90 minutes of focused janitor work to earn the required $3,000 for the cheapest store lease.
What's the cheapest store I can buy? The cheapest store is the "Small Store" which costs exactly $3,000 for the lease. It's the only viable option for a new player.
Can I get a loan to open my first store? No, the game does not have a banking or loan system at the start. You must earn all of your initial capital through the janitor job.
What should I sell in my first store? Good starting products are high-turnover, low-cost items like sodas from the snack category or headphones from the electronics category. They provide a steady, if small, stream of income.
From pushing a mop to stocking your own shelves, opening your first store is the most rewarding milestone in Mall Simulator Together. It's a grind, but the feeling of making that first sale in a business you built from nothing is the entire point of the game. Follow these steps, avoid the common mistakes, and you'll be on your way to building a mall-wide empire.