Why should I manage businesses?

[The Minted Lady]

I've finally gotten to the point in the story where I can manage a business. The tutorial was interesting, but then I noticed it said you can't get money from the businesses you run. So I have to wonder what the point is? Does it impact the main story at all? Or is it just another minigame that I could potentially do for some rewards? Are there unique rewards to this minigame?

[Lar Dass]

you get 3 million yen after every showdown shareholder meeting, it doesnt impact the main story but you get some really powerful skills with it which will help in combat

[skullymex]

It's the fastest way to earn money in my experience

[Kuma]

-The minigame unlocks a side companion (Eri), and progressing in the minigame is the only way to increase her bond level.
-This minigame is required to unlock some achievements.
-It's fun and you get some money out of it as well.

[Rubyeyed]

What you get: a companion - Eri (btw Eri is like a ghost, she doesnt take part in chats, she is not in cutscenes etc.), a special attack - orbital laser and some normal unique attacks which are also ok, 3mil cash after you win a shareholders meeting but the reward increases gradually, it's not 3 mil at start. Also, talking with the chicken in your office will get you eggs (RNG based which ones). Eggs are needed for some delivery quests. It takes a while though to get one, you have to button mash through quite a few "conversations".

btw, don't grind that much money in this minigame because in the end it's just a waste of time. Get only as much as you need and for serious cash you can repeat the final dungeon which when just rushed through gives you 10+ mil a boss and there are quite a few bosses. On top of that final dungeon takes roughly as long as 2 minigame runs so you are getting like what 60 mil vs 6 gain for the time invested.

Just saying. Weapon upgrades grow in price exponentially after the EX upgrade and upgrading them a lot is better done after you beat the main game and just want to keep playing.

[The Minted Lady]

I mainly just need money to upgrade the weapon/armor crafter, and get better gear. It's been a while since my characters have been able to get decent armor. So if this minigame can get me decent money for that, I guess I'll give it a try.

[Rubyeyed]

Originally posted by The Minted Lady:

I mainly just need money to upgrade the weapon/armor crafter, and get better gear. It's been a while since my characters have been able to get decent armor. So if this minigame can get me decent money for that, I guess I'll give it a try.

Focus on upgrading weapons, gear you will get at Sotenbori arena which is the mid point of the game. Armor is not upgadable so when you get a piece you are basically set and there is so much gear waiting for you you will end with a lot of duplicates. Crafting armor is not the best investment that's all I'm saying.

[The Minted Lady]

I've been trying to focus on weapons but unfortunately even then, the enemies still get time to hit my characters. That's the biggest issue I'm facing right now: Nanba and Saeko are both low HP targets and they get taken out fairly quickly if I'm not careful.

[BoxingBud]

Don't you unlock a Character by maxxing it too? Forget her name.

[The Minted Lady]

Maybe, but right now I don't think this minigame is for me. I have even checked out the guide on Steam and managing businesses just seems more complicated than not. I'm not looking to get 100% achievements, and I've already gotten access to that sewer area that's supposed to really reward you for fighting through it. It's a bummer that it's not more enjoyable for me, but I will probably skip this part of the game.

[The Minted Lady]

Okay. After letting my frustration cool down, I gave it another shot. I did manage to get to the top 100, but I played as incredibly simply as possible. Matched people with businesses based on their icons. Used the auto function to raise their happiness when necessary. Gave people raises when they threatened to leave. Tried one investment which failed miserably. And finally figured out the rock>paper>scissors gameplay of the stakeholder meetings. Haven't lost a single one since the first.

Eri has already joined my party. I've also been told things will be more difficult now, so I'm wondering what changes at this point. I see a side story unfolding. If I can kwep this going with simple moves, then it may not be so bad.

[BoxingBud]

Having Eri and Saeko means the women in your team can change jobs easier since one can stay a hostess (best healer) while the other is what other class you want her to level up in.

[Aluminum Elite Master]

Originally posted by skullymex:

It's the fastest way to earn money in my experience

This was also my take on it.

Without the DLC even, it's a pretty easy mini-game once you master the board meetings (that part is slightly trickier, as it's not totally explained well IMO).

The business management gives executive bonuses after board meetings that are effectively a regular salary of 100,000 yen eventually. In contrast, most battles available at the same moment that business management unlocks will give 2,000 yen a pop.

So, upgrading gear and maxing out your stock of MP and HP restoring consumables is far quicker to do with a few rounds of business management than with grinding 20 or 30 battles for not even quite the same amount of money.

[Mithra Invictus]

It is a very good way to farm money, specially if you want to upgrade your items.

[BoxingBud]

Isn't the extra character worth it more? I could be wrong, but I think getting an additional character and they can be a hostess is a bit of a game changer in battle when it comes to just having Mukoda.

[The Minted Lady]

Eh. I get the points on why I should play this; just not really having fun trying it.

Right now I'm at Rank 30 and need to reach Rank 20. I'm finding it difficult to keep people levelled to deal with the shareholders' questions. I'm also wondering what would happen if I gave up Ichiban Confections to buy a more lucrative shop, because right now my issue is having these entry-level shops that aren't making enough confident money. I can do a max of 5, and I replaced two businesses with others that seemed to be more worth it financially. My last reward for doing the shareholder meeting was 500k.

It honestly feels like such a slog trying to get through this. I need the 20 mil to upgrade the Romance Workshop, and I am nowhere near it. I wish this part of the game was somehow more efficient.